Resettable Toe Valve Parallel Flowpaths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toe valves lack the ability to be reset quickly and efficiently during pressure tests, which can be time-consuming and may require multiple cycles, especially when leaks are identified, as they often require significant pressure changes and may not allow for continuous operation without premature activation.
Innovation Solution
A toe valve design featuring a fluid circuit with parallel actuation and reset flowpaths, where the resistance to fluid flow is significantly higher in the actuation path than in the reset path, allowing for rapid resetting and prolonged delays for pressure tests, utilizing a flow restrictor and one-way check valve to control fluid flow, enabling the valve to be reset multiple times without losing functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If existing toe valves are used during pressure tests, then the valve can maintain its closed position, but the resetting process is time-consuming and requires multiple cycles with significant pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid circuit is segmented into two separate flowpaths: an actuation flowpath with high resistance for controlled opening, and a reset flowpath with low resistance for rapid closing. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function - slow actuation for pressure testing and fast resetting for efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance parameter of the fluid flow paths is changed differently for actuation versus reset operations. The actuation flowpath maintains high resistance to enable prolonged delay, while the reset flowpath uses low resistance (via check valve) to enable rapid resetting, fundamentally changing the time parameter for each operation mode.
2Productivity
If the valve is designed for rapid resetting, then the pressure test efficiency improves, but the ability to maintain prolonged delay for pressure testing may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid circuit is divided into two independent flowpaths with different resistance characteristics. The actuation flowpath (high resistance) controls the opening timing to maintain prolonged delay, while the reset flowpath (low resistance) enables rapid closing, allowing both prolonged delay and rapid resetting to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve acts as an intermediary element that selectively directs fluid flow. During reset, it provides a low-resistance bypass path for rapid closing; during actuation, it restricts flow to maintain high resistance and prolonged delay, mediating between the two conflicting requirements.
3Device complexity
If a simple fluid circuit is used, then the device complexity is low, but the valve cannot be reset quickly or efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
A check valve is introduced as an intermediary component that automatically directs fluid flow based on pressure differential. This simple mechanical element provides the intelligence needed for differential resistance without complex control systems, enabling rapid resetting with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid circuit is designed to be self-regulating through the check valve, which automatically switches between actuation and reset modes based on flow direction and pressure conditions. No external control or complex timing mechanisms are needed - the circuit serves itself by exploiting natural fluid dynamics.
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 rapid resetting of the valve during pressure tests, allowing for continuous operation and efficient completion of pressure tests without prolonged interruptions, with the ability to be actuated multiple times, thus improving the reliability and efficiency of the valve's performance.
Implementation Method 1
the resistance to fluid flow is significantly higher in the actuation path than in the reset path
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a flow restrictor and one-way check valve to control fluid flow
Implementation Method 3
fluid pressure differential across the closure member moves the closure member from a closed position to an open position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A toe valve to control the injection of fluid into a toe of an oil or gas well and including: a body with a bore, the body having a port adapted to permit fluid flow between the bore and an outlet on an external surface of the toe valve when the port is open; a closure member adapted to move from an initial closed position in which the port is closed, to an open position in which the port is open; and an actuating mechanism which can be actuated to urge the closure member from the initial closed position toward the open position, and which can be reset when the closure member is moving between the closed and open positions to return the closure member to the initial closed position.