Sliding Valve Locking Ring Fracking Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fracking operations, cascading ball-actuated sliding valves face challenges due to the need for smaller bores downhole, leading to reduced flow rates, and existing locking systems for downhole tools lack consistent and reliable engagement and actuation.
Innovation Solution
A sliding valve design featuring a valve body with a longitudinal bore and a sliding sleeve that includes a unique locking profile for a collet member, with a stop ring having a hardened stop shoulder to prevent downhole motion and enhance engagement, allowing for consistent and reliable actuation and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If smaller bores are used in downhole sliding valves to allow smaller balls to pass through, then ball actuation is enabled, but fluid flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple sliding valves, each with its own ball actuation mechanism. Each valve can be independently actuated by dropping a ball of appropriate size into its bore, allowing selective opening of individual valves without requiring the entire system to use the smallest bore size.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sliding valves are cascaded in series within the wellbore, with each valve containing its own ball and actuation mechanism. The valves are arranged so that balls of different sizes can reach their respective target valves, with uphole valves having larger bores that allow passage of balls for downhole valves.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cascaded sliding valves are used for fracking, then selective formation treatment is enabled, but bore size must reduce from uphole to downhole
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic control of fluid flow by selectively opening or closing individual sliding valves through ball actuation. This enables adaptive fracking operations where specific formations can be treated independently while maintaining overall system flow capacity.
3Reliability
If existing locking systems are used for downhole tools, then tool positioning is achieved, but engagement consistency and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism uses a standardized profile system where the collet member has a profiled outer surface that matches a corresponding profiled inner surface in the sliding valve. This profile copying ensures consistent engagement geometry across multiple valves and actuation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system utilizes controlled radial expansion of the collet member as a key parameter change. When the ball is dropped and pressurized fluid acts on the ball, the collet expands radially to engage the profiled surface of the sliding valve, providing reliable mechanical interlocking through parameter change rather than complex mechanical structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding valve for opening one or more fluid ports in a piping string, having a valve body and a sliding sleeve in a longitudinal bore thereof. The valve body has one or more fluid ports in an uphole portion thereof. The sliding sleeve is movable in the valve body between an uphole closed position closing the one or more fluid ports and a downhole open position opening the ports. The sliding sleeve has a longitudinal bore for receiving a collet, and/or a stop ring and/or a protective sleeve. The stop ring forms a stop shoulder for preventing downhole movement of the collet relative to the sliding sleeve.