Downhole Valve Actuating Apparatus with Secondary Piston Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Downhole valves in well completion often fail to open or close, leading to costly production downtime and potential well damage due to the need for remedial actions like milling or drilling, which are undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A downhole actuating apparatus with a tubular body and axial bore, featuring an inlet port for fluid communication uphole and a piston member that can be actuated by fluid pressure to operate the valve, providing a secondary mechanism to open or close failed valves, and a mechanically actuated operating member that primes the apparatus for use by engaging with downhole tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve fails to open or close, then production downtime occurs and costly remedial actions are required, but installing a secondary actuating mechanism increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating apparatus is pre-installed in the wellbore alongside the primary valve actuation system during well completion. The device includes a tubular body with an axial bore that can receive a piston member, and control lines are预先 laid for fluid communication. This preliminary setup ensures that if the primary actuation fails, the secondary mechanism is already in place and can be activated without requiring additional intervention or increasing operational complexity during critical moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating apparatus serves as an intermediary backup system between the primary valve actuation mechanism and the valve itself. It includes a piston member that can be driven by fluid pressure through control lines to directly actuate the valve, providing an intermediate actuation path when the primary system fails. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by adding reliability without requiring complex real-time decision systems.
2Productivity
If milling or drilling is used to remove a failed valve, then the valve can be removed to restore flow, but this causes damage to the wellbore and production tubing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using destructive milling or drilling to remove a failed valve, the actuating apparatus extracts the problem by providing an alternative actuation path. The device includes a piston member that can be driven through the tubular body's axial bore to directly operate the failed valve, bypassing the need to remove the valve entirely. This extraction approach restores productivity by circumventing the harmful extraction methods that damage the wellbore.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating apparatus changes the actuation parameters by using fluid pressure applied through control lines to drive the piston member, rather than relying on the primary actuation system that has failed. This parameter change allows the valve to be operated through a different mechanical pathway, avoiding the need for destructive removal and preventing wellbore damage while restoring production flow.
3Ease of operation
If control lines are used to close valves during workover, then valve closure can be achieved, but if the valve fails to close, workover cannot continue
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating apparatus is pre-installed with control lines that can be connected to surface equipment during workover operations. The device includes a piston member positioned within the tubular body that can be driven by fluid pressure to directly close the valve. This preliminary setup ensures that if the primary control line system fails to close the valve, the secondary actuation mechanism is ready to be activated without delaying the workover operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating apparatus provides an intermediary closure mechanism that operates independently of the primary control line system. The piston member can be driven through the tubular body to directly actuate the valve closure, serving as a mediator when the primary control system fails. This intermediary approach enhances reliability by providing a backup closure path that does not compromise ease of operation during workover.
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
Minimizes production downtime by providing a reliable secondary actuator to restore valve functionality, reducing the need for costly remedial actions and ensuring the well's integrity during workover operations.
Implementation Method 1
an actuating member operable by application of fluid pressure from a region uphole of the actuating apparatus via the inlet port to actuate the valve
Data Source
AI summary
An actuating apparatus for a downhole valve including a tubular body. The tubular body includes an axial bore that extends through the body. An inlet port extends radially and at least partially through the tubular body. When open, the inlet port is arranged to be in fluid communication with a region uphole of the actuating apparatus. The actuating apparatus also includes an actuating member that is operable by application of fluid pressure from a region uphole of the actuating apparatus via an open inlet port to actuate the valve.