Downhole Standing Valve Unseating Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for removing and replacing the standing valve in hydrocarbon recovery operations are time-consuming and challenging, often requiring rotation of the rod string and threading down into the wellbore, which can be hindered by debris, thread damage, or rust, leading to substantial losses in time and money.
Innovation Solution
A standing valve puller that threadedly connects to the standing valve at the surface, allowing retrieval using the traveling valve, enabling quick disconnection and reconnection, and featuring a latch mechanism for easy unseating without rotation of the rod string, facilitating maintenance or replacement without removing the rod string from the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing methods for removing standing valve are used (rotation of rod string and threading down), then the standing valve can be removed, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The unseating tool is pre-assembled and threaded onto the standing valve at the surface before being deployed into the wellbore. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex downhole assembly operations and enables quick unseating when maintenance is needed, directly addressing the time loss issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the standing valve removal operation from the complex rod string rotation and threading process. By using a dedicated unseating tool that can be independently deployed and operated, the valve removal function is separated from the main production operations, enabling faster and more efficient maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If rotation of rod string is required for valve removal, then the standing valve can be unseated, but thread damage, debris, or rust can hinder the process
Solution Approach 1:
The unseating tool acts as an intermediary device between the standing valve and the rod string. Instead of directly rotating the rod string to remove the valve, the tool is deployed as a mediator that can be lowered into position and used to unseat the valve through controlled mechanical action, eliminating the reliability issues associated with thread connections during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the valve removal operation into distinct functional components: the unseating tool with its own activation mechanism, separate from the rod string. This segmentation allows the valve unseating function to be performed independently without compromising the integrity of the rod string thread connections.
3Ease of repair
If rod string must be removed from wellbore for valve maintenance, then the standing valve can be replaced, but operational time and costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The unseating tool is designed to be self-contained and self-activating. It includes its own engagement mechanism that can be triggered from the surface to unseat the standing valve without requiring the rod string to be removed. This self-service capability enables maintenance operations while the wellbore remains in production, preserving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The unseating tool serves multiple functions: it can be deployed and stored in the wellbore during normal production, then activated on-demand for valve maintenance, and finally retrieved or left in place. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to choose between maintaining productivity and enabling easy repair.
Data Source
AI summary
A standing valve puller is provided. The standing valve puller is configured to latch onto an engagement pin when the engagement pin is run into the standing valve puller within a wellbore, downhole. The standing valve puller generally includes a tubular housing having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end comprises a pair of pivoting arms dimensioned to receive the engagement pin, while the lower end offers a threaded connector that connects to a standing valve. When the engagement pin is lowered through a through-opening preserved within the arms, the arms pivot to latch onto the engagement pin. When the engagement pin is lowered again, the arms pivot away from the engagement pin, providing a “latch and release” cycle. A method of unseating a standing valve from a seating nipple in a wellbore is also provided herein.