Selective Wellbore Pressure Isolation Valve Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore servicing operations face challenges in reliably isolating wellbore pressure during trip-in and trip-out procedures, leading to potential backflow and safety issues due to the complexity of breaking and making connections in jointed tubing configurations.
Innovation Solution
A wellbore servicing apparatus with a tubular body and sliding sleeves that transition valve assemblies between activated and deactivated modes, allowing selective control of fluid flow directions to manage pressure isolation during different operational modes, including trip-in, operational, and trip-out configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If work string connections are broken and made during trip-in and trip-out operations, then the work string can be positioned or removed from the wellbore, but the work string pressure cannot be isolated leading to potential backflow and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation device is pre-installed within the work string before trip-in operations begin. The valve assemblies are initially in an open position allowing fluid communication, and are selectively closed before connections are broken during trip-in and trip-out operations, preventing backflow while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assemblies act as intermediary elements between the work string interior and the external environment. These valves provide a controlled interface that can selectively isolate pressure while allowing the work string to be disconnected from surface equipment during trip operations
2Device complexity
If a single valve assembly is used for pressure isolation, then the device structure is simpler, but the valve cannot provide selective isolation in multiple operational modes (trip-in, operational, trip-out)
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure isolation function is segmented into multiple valve assemblies (first and second valve assemblies) positioned at different locations within the work string. Each valve can be independently controlled to provide different isolation configurations suitable for trip-in, operational, and trip-out modes
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assemblies are designed to be dynamically adjustable between open and closed positions. Sliding sleeves can be moved to different positions to activate or deactivate specific valves, allowing the system to adapt to different operational modes as needed
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a tubular body defining a flowbore, a first valve that, when activated, restricts fluid communication via the flowbore in a first direction and allows fluid communication in a second direction, and, when deactivated, allows fluid communication in the first and second directions, a first sleeve slidable from a first to a second position that, when in the first position, the first valve is activated, and, when in the second position, the first valve is deactivated, a second valve, that, when activated, restricts fluid communication in the first direction and allows fluid communication in the second direction, and, when deactivated, allows fluid communication in the first and second directions, and a second sleeve slidable from a first to a second position, that, when in the first position, the second valve is deactivated, and, when in the second position, the second valve is activated.