Dynamic Valve Assembly for Wellbore Fluid Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corrosion and maintenance challenges arise when capillary lines are clamped to production tubes in wellbores due to pressure and material compatibility issues, leading to leakage, clogging, and the difficulty of performing maintenance without removing the production tube.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic valve assembly is run inside the production tube and latched onto a stationary valve assembly, eliminating the need for external clamping, thus reducing corrosion and allowing for maintenance without removing the production tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a capillary line is clamped to the exterior of a production tube, then the capillary line can be attached to deliver fluid into the wellbore, but corrosion occurs at the interface due to pressure, material incompatibility, and restricted access to corrosion inhibitors
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary line is moved from external attachment to internal positioning within the production tube. The capillary line travels through the interior of the production tube to the injection point, eliminating external contact and associated corrosion issues while maintaining fluid delivery function
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is extracted from the system by eliminating the need to clamp the capillary line to the production tube exterior. The capillary line is instead fed through the production tube interior, removing the harmful interface between clamp, capillary line, and production tube
2Reliability
If a capillary line is clamped to the production tube, then fluid delivery is established, but maintenance of the injection valve requires removal of the production tube
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular components: the production tube remains in place while the capillary line and injection valve form a separate, removable assembly. This allows the injection valve to be maintained or replaced by manipulating only the capillary line assembly without disturbing the production tube
Solution Approach 2:
The capillary line is made dynamically positionable within the production tube, allowing it to be fed in, positioned, and retrieved as needed. This dynamic configuration enables maintenance access to the injection valve while the production tube remains stationary and installed
3Strength
If clamps are used to attach the capillary line to the production tube, then secure attachment is achieved, but the pressure from clamps accelerates corrosion at the attachment point
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp attachment mechanism is completely removed from the system. The capillary line is positioned and secured within the production tube interior without external clamps, eliminating the source of clamp-induced corrosion while maintaining secure fluid delivery connection
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly for delivering a fluid into a wellbore includes a stationary valve assembly that is installed on a production tube that extends down into the wellbore. A dynamic valve assembly that is attached to a capillary line is lowered into the production tube, and the dynamic valve assembly releasably latched onto the stationary valve assembly. The latching of the dynamic valve assembly to the stationary valve assembly also opens a fluid connection between the dynamic valve assembly and the stationary valve assembly, thereby allowing pressurized fluid to flow from the capillary line into the wellbore via the stationary valve assembly. When it is necessary or desirable to perform maintenance or repair operations on the dynamic valve assembly or the capillary line, the dynamic valve assembly and the attached capillary line can all be withdrawn to the top of the well.