Downhole Fluid Microsampling With Staged Hydraulic Valve Sequencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole fluid sampling tools are limited by the number of electrically or hydraulically actuated valves, which restricts the collection of large quantities of downhole fluid samples.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize at least two hydraulic pressure lines to alternately actuate hydraulic valves in an interlinked series, allowing for a larger number of fluid samples to be collected without additional electrical actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrically or hydraulically actuated valves are used to isolate each fluid sample, then sample isolation reliability is improved, but the number of samples that can be collected is limited by the number of actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the actuation function into two independent stages: a primary actuator that controls a first valve, and a secondary actuator that controls a second valve. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limitation of having only one actuator per sample by creating a cascaded control structure where one actuator can indirectly control multiple samples through the interlinked valve arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested control structure where the secondary actuator and second valve are nested within the control pathway of the primary actuator and first valve. The interlinked series arrangement allows the primary valve to control flow to multiple secondary valves, creating a hierarchical control system that multiplies the effective number of isolated samples beyond the number of physical actuators.
2Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated actuator is assigned to each fluid sample vessel, then valve control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The primary actuator serves multiple functions: it directly controls the first valve for primary isolation and indirectly controls multiple second valves through the interlinked series arrangement. This multi-functionality allows a single actuator to perform what would traditionally require multiple actuators, reducing device complexity while maintaining control precision through the staged hydraulic actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The first valve acts as an intermediary element between the primary actuator and the multiple second valves. By positioning the first valve in the hydraulic line that supplies pressure to the second valves, the system creates a mediated control pathway where the primary actuator's action is transmitted and distributed to multiple downstream valves, enabling precise control without requiring direct actuation of each valve.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple hydraulic pressure lines are used to alternately actuate valves, then the number of collectable samples is increased, but hydraulic system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic alternation between two hydraulic pressure lines to achieve sequential actuation of multiple valves. By cycling the pressure application in a periodic manner between the first and second hydraulic lines, the system can systematically open and close valves in a predetermined sequence, enabling collection of multiple samples without requiring a separate continuous pressure line for each valve, thus managing hydraulic complexity while increasing sample capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the collection of a large collection of downhole fluid samples efficiently, overcoming the limitations of traditional tools by allowing more samples to be collected with a smaller number of actuators.
Implementation Method 1
utilize at least two hydraulic pressure lines to alternately actuate hydraulic valves disposed in an interlinked series
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for capturing a large collection of downhole fluid samples and, more particularly, disclosed are methods and systems for using at least two hydraulic pressure lines to alternatingly actuate hydraulic valves disposed in an interlinked series to obtain any large collection of hydraulically actuated components to be energized in sequence. A large collection of downhole fluid samples may be defined as any number of downhole fluid samples wherein the number of downhole fluid samples is larger than the number of actuators.