Subsurface Safety Valve Electric Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing subsurface safety valves in oil and gas applications rely on hydraulic pressure, which can be costly and prone to failure, lacking robust and efficient alternatives for reliable fluid isolation.

Innovation Solution

The development of electrically driven subsurface safety valves that convert rotary motion into linear motion to actuate a valve, featuring a gear assembly with a one-way clutch and a retention mechanism to maintain a compressed state, ensuring the valve remains closed without power and quickly isolates wellbore fluids upon signal loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydraulic pressure actuation is used in subsurface safety valves, then the valve can be operated remotely via control line, but the system becomes more costly and more prone to failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve reliabilityVSAvoidhydraulic system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the hydraulic pressure actuation system with an electric motor-driven system. The electric motor (26) drives a gear assembly (12) that converts rotary motion to linear motion of the actuating member (14), eliminating the need for hydraulic pressure supply lines and differential pistons, thereby reducing system complexity and potential failure points while maintaining remote operability through electrical signals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the hydraulic pressure actuation mechanism from the subsurface safety valve system. By eliminating the hydraulic control line conduit, differential piston, and associated hydraulic components, the patent simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving the same valve actuation function through an electrically-driven mechanical system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If hydraulic pressure is continuously applied to keep valve open, then flow is maintained, but energy is continuously consumed and wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow maintenanceVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electric motor-driven gear assembly performs preliminary action by actively actuating the valve open or closed based on control signals. The one-way clutch mechanism pre-positions the actuating member in the desired state, and the retention mechanism maintains this position without requiring continuous energy input, eliminating the need for continuous hydraulic pressure to sustain valve position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous hydraulic pressure application, the system uses periodic electrical signaling to activate the electric motor only when valve state changes are required. The motor operates intermittently to reposition the actuating member, while the retention mechanism maintains the valve in its current state without additional energy consumption, reducing overall energy usage compared to continuous hydraulic actuation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the valve is designed to fail open for flow continuity, then productivity is maintained, but safety is compromised in case of failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow continuityVSAvoidsafety isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the retention mechanism to default to the closed (safe) position in case of failure. The spring-loaded retention mechanism (58) with one-way clutch (48) is configured to automatically engage and lock the actuating member in the valve-closed position if power or control signals are lost, preventing unintended fluid release and ensuring safety isolation takes precedence over flow continuity during failure conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

This solution provides a cost-effective, robust, and efficient alternative with reduced wear and longer lifespan, ensuring safe and reliable isolation of wellbore fluids, preventing accidental releases and environmental harm.

Implementation Method 1

the member is configured to compress an elastic member. In some examples, the member is configured to decompress the elastic member upon loss of a signal to the drive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the ratcheted elastic member is configured to maintain a compressed state after linear motion of the member stops

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRatchet mechanism: Ratchet

Data Source

PatentUS12110762B2Subsurface safety valve and method of operating a subsurface safety valve

Publication Date: 2024.10.08 EXPRO NORTH SEA LIMITED

AI summary

A subsurface safety valve that includes an assembly configured to convert rotary motion from an electrically controlled drive into linear motion of a member. The member is configured to actuate a valve and to decompress an elastic member upon loss of a signal to the electrically controlled drive, and to compress the elastic member when the electrically controlled drive receives a signal.