Pressure Equalizing Tool for Downhole Ball Valve Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Downhole tools face operational challenges due to high differential pressures that prevent movable components from moving, as existing equalization mechanisms either add to the pressure differential or require additional valves within the tool housing, leading to frictional loading issues that can damage actuation systems.
Innovation Solution
A pressure equalizing tool is deployed to temporarily separate components in a downhole tool, allowing pressure equalization before the tool is actuated, using built-in flexibility to anchor and release the equalizing tool, which can be run on wireline or coiled tubing, and operates by physically separating the ball from its seat to equalize the annular space with tubing pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball is closed to seal the valve, then the valve sealing function is improved, but the differential pressure across the ball increases causing excessive frictional loading that prevents the ball from opening
Solution Approach 1:
The equalizing tool is deployed and activated before the ball valve actuation to pre-equalize the differential pressure across the ball. This preliminary pressure equalization removes the excessive frictional loading barrier, allowing the subsequent ball actuation to occur smoothly without being hindered by high differential pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The equalizing tool acts as an intermediary device between the external actuation system and the ball valve. It temporarily introduces a controlled pressure equalization pathway through the annular space, mediating the pressure differential that would otherwise prevent ball movement, and then removes itself to restore normal valve operation.
2Reliability
If additional valves are added to the tool housing to equalize pressure, then the pressure equalization function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of integrating multiple valves into the tool housing, the equalizing function is extracted and implemented as a separate, temporary equalizing tool that can be deployed and removed independently. This externalizes the complexity rather than embedding it within the permanent tool housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The equalizing tool is designed as a disposable, single-use component that performs its function and then is removed. It does not require permanent installation or complex integration, simplifying the overall device architecture while providing the necessary pressure equalization capability when needed.
3Reliability
If pressure is applied above the closed ball to increase sealing force, then the sealing function is improved, but the differential pressure across the ball increases aggravating the contact loading problem
Solution Approach 1:
The equalizing tool is activated before any sealing force is applied to pre-equalize the pressure differential across the ball. This removes the harmful frictional loading barrier in advance, allowing subsequent sealing operations to proceed without the ball being hindered by excessive contact forces from high differential pressures.
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 the downhole tool to operate normally by equalizing pressure across the component, reducing frictional loading and preventing damage to the actuation system, allowing components to move without additional valves or modifications to the tool housing.
Implementation Method 1
separate two members that are in sealing contact using built in flexibility of these parts to move relatively to each other. There after the tool is released and removed. The ball is allowed to go back to contact with the seat when the equalizing tool is released and removed from the tubing
Implementation Method 2
a resilient seal in contact with the ball
Implementation Method 3
pressure can build on the ball under conditions where the differential across the ball from tubing to the annular space results in increased contact frictional force so that the mechanism that would rotate the ball under normal operation is not strong enough to turn the ball back to the open position
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure equalizing tool can be run into a downhole tool on wireline or coiled tubing preferably and temporarily secured before being actuated to separate two components in a downhole tool that are in a sealing relation but are configured to be temporarily movable so as to allow pressure equalization before the downhole component is actuated. Once pressure is equalized the equalizing tool is released, usually with an applied pick up force and the downhole tool being equalized as to differential pressure can be operated with the preexisting actuation parts that are on the downhole tool. In a preferred embodiment the downhole tool is a ball valve and the equalizing tool is temporarily secured to the ball valve housing to temporarily part the ball from the uphole seat to equalize an annular space around the ball with tubing pressure. The ball is allowed to go back to contact with the seat when the equalizing tool is released and removed from the tubing.