Downhole Fluid Microsampling Using Staged Hydraulic Valve Actuation
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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 fluid samples, making it difficult to efficiently capture and analyze multiple samples from a reservoir.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using at least two hydraulic pressure lines to alternatingly actuate hydraulic valves in sequence, allowing a larger number of samples to be collected without additional electrical support, using a small set of directly controlled actuators to indirectly actuate a larger set of valves, enabling the collection of up to 10 or more downhole fluid samples.
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 available
Solution Approach 1:
A single electrically actuated valve serves as an intermediary control element that regulates hydraulic pressure flow to multiple downstream hydraulic valves. This intermediary valve amplifies the control capability, allowing one electrical actuator to indirectly control multiple sample isolation points, thereby increasing the number of collectable samples without proportionally increasing electrical actuator count
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic pressure as the primary actuation mechanism for sample isolation valves. Hydraulic actuators are employed throughout the system, with a single electrical valve controlling hydraulic pressure distribution to multiple hydraulic valves, leveraging hydraulic power to achieve reliable isolation of multiple samples with limited electrical control resources
2Device complexity
If a single hydraulic pressure line is used to actuate valves, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to collect multiple samples simultaneously or in sequence is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pressure distribution system is segmented into multiple independent pressure lines, each capable of selectively actuating specific hydraulic valves. This segmentation allows different samples to be isolated in sequence or simultaneously by controlling different pressure lines, thereby increasing sample collection productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular pressure line design
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 number of representative downhole fluid samples, facilitating comprehensive reservoir characterization and analysis, including chemical and physical properties, thereby improving the accuracy of reservoir evaluation and production strategies.
Implementation Method 1
A downhole hydraulic pump creates a hydraulic pressure that is communicated, via at least two pressure lines and at least one solenoid valve, to at least two hydraulically actuated valves
Implementation Method 2
An algorithm then elevates and relieves pressure on a primary bus, then elevates and relieves pressure on a secondary bus, then repeats itself until all valves have received power
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.