Gate Valve with Grooved Port for Drilling Mud Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional chokes used in managed pressure drilling (MPD) are not suitable for high-pressure applications and struggle with passing drill cuttings and trash due to their design, which results in flow restrictions and pressure fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve with a groove or recess in the gate port that allows for low flow regulation and passage of cuttings, featuring a balanced gate mechanism with resilient layers and a straight flow passage, enabling efficient flow control and quick opening/closing for managing drilling mud pressure and well killing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional chokes with right-angled flow paths are used, then flow control capability is provided, but drill cuttings and trash cannot pass through due to flow restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional right-angled flow path by implementing a substantially straight flow passage that extends through the gate valve body from inlet to outlet. This inversion allows drill cuttings and trash to pass through the valve in the same direction as the fluid flow, eliminating the flow restrictions and blockages that occur with traditional angled designs.
2Stress or pressure
If traditional chokes are used for pressure control, then pressure regulation is achieved, but pressure fluctuations occur due to inability to pass cuttings
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the flow path from right-angled to straight-through, the valve eliminates turbulent flow patterns and flow restrictions that cause pressure fluctuations. The straight flow passage maintains stable pressure by allowing continuous, unrestricted passage of cuttings and fluid in the same direction.
3Ease of operation
If standard choke designs are used, then flow control is provided, but the design is complicated and not suitable for MPD applications
Solution Approach 1:
The gate valve design combines multiple functions into a single device: it provides flow control through gate movement, allows unrestricted passage of cuttings through the straight flow passage, and maintains pressure stability. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate choke components while being specifically optimized for MPD applications with low backpressure requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent simplifies the overall device by inverting from a complex choke design with right-angled paths to a simpler gate valve with straight-through flow. This structural inversion reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall construction while maintaining all necessary flow control functions.
4Stress or pressure
If small flow ports are used in chokes for MPD, then pressure control at low backpressure is achieved, but cuttings cannot pass through
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using small restricted ports that block cuttings, the patent inverts to a full-bore straight flow passage design. The gate valve maintains the full internal diameter throughout the flow path, allowing both low backpressure control and unrestricted passage of cuttings and trash to occur simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A gate valve is provided for returned drilling mud pressure control and/or well killing. The gate valve includes a flow passage; and a gate member movable for intersecting the flow passage. The gate member includes a gate port which extends from one face to an opposite face of the gate member and is alignable with the flow passage for allowing material in the flow passage to pass through the gate member, and a groove or recess is provided in an inner wall of the gate port, the groove or recess extending from the one face to the opposite face of the gate member. A method is provided for returned drilling mud pressure control and/or well killing, and uses of a gate valve.