Hydrostatic-Insensitive Wellbore Safety Valve With One Control Line

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation and operation of safety valves in wellbores with high hydrostatic pressure are hindered by the need for additional control lines, which are costly and complicate the process, and existing solutions are not robust enough to withstand such pressures without requiring a workover or additional lines.

Innovation Solution

A single control line safety valve design that incorporates a balance piston and pressure lock mechanism, allowing operation without additional lines, and is insensitive to hydrostatic and tubing pressures, using a hydraulic system to translate pistons and control the valve's opening and closing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a balance line is used to counteract hydrostatic pressure, then the safety valve can operate in high hydrostatic pressure environments, but an additional control line is required which increases cost and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety valve operation in high hydrostatic pressureVSAvoidnumber of control lines

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the balance line and control line functions into a single integrated control line. The control line serves dual purposes: it provides both the balancing pressure to counteract hydrostatic forces on the valve components and the control pressure to operate the valve. This eliminates the need for separate balance and control lines, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability in high hydrostatic pressure environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control line is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a balance line (counteracting hydrostatic pressure on the valve mechanism) and a control line (providing operating pressure to the valve). This multi-functionality allows the system to operate safely in high hydrostatic pressure environments without requiring additional dedicated balance lines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a second control line is added for balance pressure, then hydrostatic pressure can be countered, but installation cost and operational complexity increase prohibitively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrostatic pressure effect on valve componentsVSAvoidinstallation and operational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the balance function and control function into a single control line, eliminating the need for a second control line. The control line is configured to deliver both balancing pressure (to counteract hydrostatic effects) and control pressure (to operate the valve), thereby reducing installation costs and operational complexity while still protecting against harmful hydrostatic pressure effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If existing safety valves are used in high hydrostatic pressure, then they can provide safety function, but they require workover or additional lines to operate reliably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety valve functionalityVSAvoidcompatibility with existing wellbores

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic pressure balancing mechanism where the control line actively manages pressure distribution to the valve components. The system dynamically adjusts pressure delivery to counteract hydrostatic forces during operation, allowing the valve to function reliably in high hydrostatic pressure environments without requiring wellbore workover or additional infrastructure, thereby improving adaptability to existing wells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 reliable operation of safety valves in high-pressure environments without additional control lines, reducing operational costs and maintaining valve functionality even under extreme conditions.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

For wellbores with high hydrostatic pressure, a balance line may be used to counteract the hydrostatic pressure acting on the valve components.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure balancing: Pascal's Law

Data Source

PatentUS12410681B2Tubing and control line hydrostatic-insensitive single control line safety valve

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Safety valves and methods of using safety valves. The safety valve is provided to a wellbore having a hydrostatic pressure. The safety valve is configured to operate at tubing well pressure. Pressure is applied to the safety valve with a single control line. The safety valve uses an accumulator in fluidic communication with the control line such that pressure acting on the accumulator is fluidically connected to pressure in the control line. The safety valve is insensitive to the hydrostatic pressure.