Downhole Valve Sleeve Test Position Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional downhole valves in the oil and gas industry lock in an open position immediately after pressurization, preventing operators from inspecting the valve and other equipment for desired operability, leading to costly and time-consuming restarts if issues are detected.
Innovation Solution
A valve design that includes a housing, mandrel, and a sleeve with a metering device and chamber fluid, allowing hydrostatic pressure to be applied to move the sleeve from a closed, locked position to a test position, enabling a time period for integrity testing before locking in an open position, with flow ports for selective isolation between internal and external portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the valve locks in open position immediately after pressurization, then the valve provides quick flow establishment, but the operators cannot inspect the valve and equipment for desired operability
Solution Approach 1:
The valve transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic testable state. The sleeve is designed to move between closed/locked position and open/test position, allowing the valve to adapt its state based on operational needs. This dynamic capability enables inspection before final locking, resolving the contradiction between quick flow establishment and inspection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve performs preliminary flow establishment and then pauses in an intermediate testable state before final locking. This preliminary action sequence allows operators to inspect equipment operability before the valve commits to its final locked position, preventing premature locking while maintaining operational efficiency.
2Device complexity
If the valve locks immediately after pressurization, then the valve operation is simplified, but costly and time-consuming restarts are required if issues are detected
Solution Approach 1:
The valve performs preliminary flow establishment and then pauses in an intermediate testable state before final locking. This preliminary action sequence allows operators to inspect equipment operability before the valve commits to its final locked position, preventing premature locking while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design incorporates a buffer period in the form of the intermediate testable state that cushions against potential operational issues. By allowing inspection before final locking, the system prepares for potential problems in advance, avoiding the need for costly and time-consuming restarts while maintaining relatively simple valve operation.
3Loss of time
If the valve provides a test period before locking, then inspection time is increased, but the valve structure becomes more complex with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The valve transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic testable state. The sleeve is designed to move between closed/locked position and open/test position, allowing the valve to adapt its state based on operational needs. This dynamic capability enables inspection before final locking, resolving the contradiction between quick flow establishment and inspection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve acts as an intermediary component that enables the transition between closed/locked and open/test positions. This single intermediary element provides the test period functionality without requiring multiple complex components, thus increasing inspection time while minimizing structural complexity.
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 a temporary period for examining the valve and other tools during pressure integrity testing, allowing for potential reconfiguration if issues are found, reducing operational costs and time consumption by preventing premature locking.
Implementation Method 1
a piston coupled to the first end of the chamber, the piston configured to exert force on the chamber fluid
Implementation Method 2
the piston configured to exert force on the chamber fluid
Implementation Method 3
an inlet of a metering device coupled to the second end of the chamber, and an outlet of the metering device adjacent to the first end of the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment is provided a valve that includes a housing, a mandrel connected to the housing and defining an interior volume therebetween, a sleeve having a first end and a second end, the sleeve movably disposed in the interior volume, a chamber defined in the interior volume, the chamber having a first end and a second end, an inlet of a metering device coupled to the second end of the chamber, and an outlet of the metering device adjacent to the first end of the sleeve. In another embodiment is provided a method of using a valve that includes introducing pressure to a central bore of the valve such that a sleeve of the valve moves from a closed, locked position to a test position. The closed, locked position and the test position do not permit fluid communication between a central bore and an exterior of the valve.