Pilot Ball Valve for Wellbore Fluid Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional check valves in the oil and gas industry face reliability issues due to wear and corrosion from abrasive fluid flows, leading to valve failure, especially in high vibration and high-pressure environments.
Innovation Solution
A valve system featuring a ball with a bore and at least one pilot, combined with a pusher rod and compressible spring, allows for one-way fluid flow by aligning the internal bore of the pusher rod with the ball's bore, preventing direct fluid contact with seals and seats, thus reducing wear and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional check valves are used in abrasive fluid flow environments, then fluid flow control is achieved, but wear and corrosion on seats and seals increase leading to valve failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful direct contact between abrasive fluid flow and the sealing components (seat and seal). The ball valve design allows fluid to flow through the ball's bore rather than directly contacting the seat and seal, thereby removing the source of wear and corrosion while maintaining flow control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball with its internal bore acts as an intermediary element that guides fluid flow away from the sealing surfaces. Instead of fluid directly impacting the seat and seal, it passes through the ball's bore, reducing mechanical wear and chemical corrosion on these critical components.
2Productivity
If check valves operate in high vibration environments with high fluid flow, then fluid flow control is maintained, but misalignment between sealing member and valve seat increases wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes a spherical ball as the valve element, which inherently provides self-alignment capabilities. The curved surface of the ball naturally conforms to the seat geometry, maintaining proper sealing alignment even under high vibration conditions and high fluid flow rates, thereby preventing misalignment-induced wear.
3Ease of operation
If direct fluid flow passes through conventional check valves, then fluid flow control is achieved, but corrosion on seats and seals occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the corrosive fluid flow path away from the sealing components. By designing the ball with an internal bore that directs fluid flow through its center, the seat and seal are removed from the direct fluid contact path, eliminating corrosion while preserving flow control operation.
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 system enhances the reliability of fluid control by minimizing wear and corrosion, ensuring consistent operation in abrasive and high-stress environments, and preventing well control issues like blowouts.
Implementation Method 1
The pusher rod is attached to the tubular housing with a compressible spring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method enable control of fluid flow in a drilling or casing string. The apparatus comprises a pusher rod, with a bore for fluid flow, contacting a rotatable ball with an internal bore comprising at least one pilot, wherein the seat between the pusher rod and the interior of the tubular prevents fluid flow. Pressure changes on the pusher rod rotate the bore of the ball in and out of contact with the bore of the pusher rod, to enable or prevent fluid flow, respectively. A method of use opens the ball by exerting pressure on the pusher rod to enable flow, and stops flow through pressure exerted on the bottom of the ball, causing the ball to rotate the exterior surface to the internal bore of the pusher rod. An accumulator can control operation of the valve by selectively exerting fluid pressure on the pusher rod.