VR Plug Assembly With Biased Valve for Wellhead Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control assemblies in wellhead systems face challenges in efficiently managing fluid flow and sealing, particularly in wellhead components, where they may not effectively adapt to changes in pressure or mechanical disruptions, leading to suboptimal performance and potential leaks.
Innovation Solution
A valve removal (VR) plug assembly with a biased valve member and an energizing plug body that can override the biasing mechanism, allowing for automatic sealing and fluid flow control, including a pin mechanism to maintain the open position and ensure fluid communication between the wellhead and bore, even in the event of mechanical separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow control assembly is positioned within a wellhead passageway to control fluid flow, then fluid flow into and out of the wellbore can be managed, but the assembly may not effectively adapt to mechanical disruptions or pressure changes, leading to potential leaks and suboptimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, allowing the flow control assembly to dynamically adapt to mechanical disruptions or pressure changes. The biased valve member can automatically transition to a closed sealing position when disconnection or disruption occurs, ensuring reliable sealing while maintaining adaptability to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The biased valve member automatically responds to mechanical disruptions or pressure changes without external intervention. When the assembly is disconnected or disruption occurs, the biasing mechanism automatically moves the valve member to the closed position, providing self-service sealing that enhances both reliability and adaptability.
2Reliability
If a valve removal plug assembly is used to control fluid flow in a wellhead, then automatic sealing can be achieved when disconnected, but additional components increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The biased valve member automatically transitions to a closed sealing position when the assembly is disconnected from the wellhead, achieving automatic sealing without requiring external control systems or additional complex components. This self-service mechanism enhances reliability while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control assembly is designed as a removable plug that can be extracted from the wellhead passageway. This modular design allows the assembly to be installed or removed as needed, and the automatic sealing feature ensures reliability even when disconnected, without requiring the entire wellhead system to be complex.
3Productivity
If a pin mechanism is added to maintain the open position of the valve member, then fluid communication can be ensured during operation, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed as a separate, removable component that can be inserted to maintain the valve member in the open position during fluid flow operations. This extracted element provides a simple mechanical solution to ensure fluid communication without requiring a complex integrated mechanism, and can be easily removed when not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin mechanism allows the valve member to be held in a dynamic open position during production operations, ensuring efficient fluid communication. The simplicity of the pin design minimizes added complexity while maintaining the ability to control fluid flow efficiently when needed.
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
The VR plug assembly effectively manages fluid flow by automatically sealing when disconnected from the wellhead, ensuring reliable operation and minimizing leaks, while allowing for efficient fluid injection and extraction by adapting to changes in pressure and mechanical states.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member configured to bias the valve member toward a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a flow control assembly having a first portion configured to be positioned within and coupled to a first passageway formed in a wellhead component and a second portion configured to be coupled to a second passageway formed in a body that is configured to be coupled to the wellhead component. An actuator of the second portion is configured to drive a valve member of the first portion into an open position to enable fluid flow across the flow control assembly.