Outer Safety Valve Electrical Connector for Insert Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety valves in subterranean wells often malfunction, requiring costly retrieval and replacement, and lack efficient mechanisms for installing insert safety valves to maintain fluid containment.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an outer safety valve with electrical connectors that supply power to an insert safety valve, allowing for remote operation and installation of electrical actuators within the flow passage to control fluid flow, enabling the insert safety valve to function independently or in conjunction with the outer safety valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an insert safety valve is installed in an outer safety valve to replace a malfunctioning valve, then the well can maintain fluid containment without full retrieval, but the insert safety valve requires electrical power supply which complicates the valve structure
Solution Approach 1:
The insert safety valve is nested within the outer safety valve body, allowing the insert valve to be positioned inside the flow passage of the outer valve. This nesting arrangement enables the insert valve to replace a malfunctioning valve without requiring removal of the entire outer valve assembly, thereby maintaining reliability while managing structural complexity through space-efficient design.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer safety valve structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the primary safety valve and as a housing for the insert safety valve. The electrical connector in the outer valve provides power to both the outer valve's actuator and the insert valve's actuator, enabling the single outer valve structure to control two separate safety valve mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If electrical connectors are added to the outer safety valve to power the insert safety valve, then remote operation is enabled, but the electrical connection reliability may be compromised in the harsh well environment
Solution Approach 1:
An electrical connector serves as an intermediary component between the outer safety valve and the insert safety valve. This connector provides a dedicated electrical interface that transmits power and control signals to the insert valve's actuator, enabling remote operation while isolating the electrical connection from direct exposure to harsh well environment conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector is pre-installed and positioned within the outer safety valve before the insert safety valve is installed. This preliminary action ensures that electrical connections are established in advance, allowing the insert valve to be immediately activated upon installation without requiring additional connection steps in the harsh well environment.
3Loss of time
If the insert safety valve is installed inside the outer safety valve, then retrieval time and costs are reduced, but the installation process becomes more complex requiring precise alignment and electrical connection
Solution Approach 1:
The insert safety valve is designed to be nested within the outer safety valve body, with the insert valve's outer diameter configured to fit within the inner diameter of the outer valve's flow passage. This nesting design allows the insert valve to be installed through the valve body without disassembling the outer valve, significantly reducing retrieval time and enabling quick replacement of malfunctioning valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector and alignment features are pre-configured in the outer safety valve during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when the insert safety valve is installed, the electrical connections and mechanical alignments are automatically established without requiring complex field assembly procedures, thereby simplifying the installation process despite the nested configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating a valve (20) can include installing an electrical actuator (38) in a flow passage extending longitudinally through the valve, and operating a closure assembly (40) in response to electrical power being supplied to the electrical actuator. An outer safety valve (20) can include a closure assembly (24) which selectively permits and prevents flow through a longitudinal flow passage, and at least one electrical connector which electrically connects to an insert safety valve (16) positioned in the flow passage. A method of operating an outer safety valve in a subterranean well can include installing an insert safety valve (16) in the safety valve (20), and operating the insert safety valve with electrical current flowing from the safety valve to the insert safety valve.