Flow Control Shuttle Actuation via Shear Pin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control mechanisms in the oil and gas industry require additional tools and significant time to operate, often necessitating large volumes of fluid and high-pressure differentials, and can produce contaminants in the well bore or tubulars.
Innovation Solution
A flow control shuttle comprising a body with a shear pin and locking pin configuration that secures the pins during material flow, allowing the shuttle to actuate from a closed to an open position without releasing contaminants, utilizing spring-loaded elements to maintain the shuttle within a housing and control fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If glass or ceramic plugs are used to control flow, then flow control capability is achieved, but contaminants are released into the well bore or tubulars
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful byproduct generation mechanism by using a metal shuttle that deforms elastically instead of shattering like glass or ceramic plugs. The shuttle is contained within a housing that prevents any contaminants from entering the well bore or tubulars, thus eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining flow control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal shuttle is designed to be recoverable and reusable rather than disposable. After actuation, the shuttle can be retrieved from the housing and reused in subsequent operations, eliminating the need to discard contaminated glass or ceramic plugs and reducing waste and contamination risks.
2Ease of operation
If additional tools are used to actuate flow control mechanisms, then flow control is achieved, but operational complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control mechanism is designed to be self-actuating using the existing material flow itself as the actuating force. The shuttle is positioned such that the flow of material directly pushes it from the initial position to the actuated position, eliminating the need for additional external tools or complex actuation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the flow control function with the existing material flow, using the material flow itself to perform the actuation function. This combines two functions (material transport and flow control actuation) into a single integrated system, reducing the need for separate tools and simplifying the overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If large volumes of fluid and high-pressure differentials are used to operate mechanisms, then flow control is achieved, but energy consumption and operational time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism uses the existing material flow pressure to actuate the shuttle automatically. The shuttle is designed with appropriate mass and surface area characteristics so that the normal operational material flow generates sufficient force to push the shuttle from its initial position to the actuated position without requiring additional pressure differentials or energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the actuation mechanism by using a metal shuttle with specific mass, shape, and surface area characteristics that allow it to be moved by the existing material flow pressure. The elastic deformation capability of the metal shuttle also allows it to respond to smaller pressure changes compared to rigid glass or ceramic plugs.
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 efficient and clean control of fluid flow by actuating from a closed to an open position without releasing contaminants, reducing the need for additional tools and minimizing pressure requirements, thus improving operational efficiency and maintaining a contaminant-free flow.
Implementation Method 1
A flow control device may include a flow control shuttle, a shear pin, and a locking pin. The flow control device may be operated without a pressure differential across the flow control device or with a reduced pressure differential across the flow control device.
Implementation Method 2
In certain aspects, the method includes maintaining actuary elements within the flow control shuttle. In some examples, maintaining actuary elements within the flow control shuttle comprises employing spring-loaded elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow control shuttle to provide the ability to block flow in either direction initially, while allowing a high-pressure differential capacity in one direction and does not produce free floating pieces of the plug in the flow stream after actuation. The mechanism is actuated by a pressure differential opposite the high-pressure direction, in which the actuation pressure can be set independently of the pressure rating of the high-pressure direction. Upon actuation the flow path opens allowing flow in either direction by moving a shuttle plug from a sealed to an unsealed configuration. The direction of high pressure and actuation pressure can be chosen by direction of installation on based what is required for the application. This mechanism can be incorporated into an existing tool or a new tool design, or can be provided as a standalone tool.