Electrohydraulic Subsurface Safety Valve Without Control Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsurface safety valves (SSSVs) face challenges in maintaining containment of wellbore fluids, particularly in deepwater and environmentally sensitive areas, due to limitations in hydraulic control and balance lines, which can lead to uncontrolled releases.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve (ESCSSV) utilizing an electro/hydraulic valve, which includes an electro/thermal expansion pump or electro/mechanical pump, eliminating the need for additional surface hydraulic control and balance lines, ensuring the valve can fail safely in a closed position to contain wellbore fluids and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hydraulic control lines are used to control subsurface safety valves, then the valve can be operated from the surface, but the system becomes vulnerable to uncontrolled releases and requires additional surface hydraulic control infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the surface hydraulic control lines and balance lines from the system by transitioning to an electrically controlled actuator. This removal of external hydraulic infrastructure directly reduces system complexity while maintaining or improving reliability through electrical control signaling from the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hydraulic control system with an electrical control system. The electrically controlled actuator uses electrical signals transmitted from the surface to actuate the valve, substituting the mechanical hydraulic linkage with an electrical field-based control mechanism, thereby eliminating the need for physical hydraulic control lines.
2Reliability
If the valve is designed to fail safely in closed position, then containment is improved, but the valve mechanism requires higher reliability components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the valve to default to the closed position, which is the safe containment state. The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to automatically close the valve in case of actuator failure or loss of electrical power, ensuring that the valve fails safely without requiring complex additional safety components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism provides beforehand cushioning by storing potential energy in the spring that automatically acts to close the valve. This pre-stored mechanical energy ensures that even if the electrical control system fails, the valve will return to its safe closed position, providing a passive safety mechanism.
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
The ESCSSV enhances failsafe capabilities by maintaining the ability to close and contain wellbore fluids even if damaged, ensuring reliable operation and longevity, with increased reliability and reduced risk of uncontrolled releases.
Implementation Method 1
an electro/thermal expansion pump
Implementation Method 2
an electro/mechanical pump
Implementation Method 3
an inlet check valve positioned in fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid inlet and an outlet check valve positioned in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and a hydraulically controlled actuation member
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve, and a method of operating an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve. The electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, in one aspect, includes a fluid chamber, and an electro/thermal expansion pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and further wherein an inlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid inlet and an outlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and a hydraulically controlled actuation member.