Wellbore Injection Valve Segmented Sealing High Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment fluid injection valves for wellbores face challenges such as high pressure failures, fouling, and corrosion due to chemical treatment fluids, leading to reliability issues and short lifespan, especially when operating at depths with high working pressures.
Innovation Solution
A treatment fluid injection valve design featuring a tubular housing with a piston member that moves between closed and open positions, utilizing a sleeve member with lateral fluid openings and a sealing mechanism to maintain low leak rates and adjust flow areas, reducing fouling and corrosion risks, and incorporating a spring for automatic closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a treatment fluid injection valve is used at high working pressure (100-300 bar) in deep wellbores, then the valve can control treatment fluid injection at the required depth, but the valve is subject to high pressure failures leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into multiple sealing elements distributed along the piston member, rather than relying on a single sealing point. This segmentation of the sealing function allows the valve to better distribute and withstand high pressure loads across multiple points, reducing the risk of pressure-induced failure and improving overall reliability at high working pressures of 100-300 bar
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are made from elastomeric material that can be selected to have specific pressure resistance properties. The use of elastomeric composite materials provides both flexibility for sealing and sufficient strength to withstand high working pressures without failure, thereby improving valve reliability in deep wellbore applications
2Adaptability or versatility
If the treatment fluid contains chemicals such as foam generating agents, then the treatment fluid can perform enhanced oil recovery functions, but the chemicals lead to fouling and corrosion of the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body and internal components are designed to be replaceable as a single assembly. When fouling or corrosion occurs due to chemical treatment fluids, the entire valve assembly can be quickly replaced rather than attempting complex cleaning or repair operations downhole. This disposable approach maintains treatment fluid versatility while accepting that the valve will eventually degrade from chemical exposure
Solution Approach 2:
Different elastomeric materials with varying chemical resistance properties can be selected based on the specific treatment fluid chemistry. By changing the material parameters (chemical composition, cross-linking density, hardness) of the sealing elements, the valve can be optimized for resistance to specific chemicals like foam generating agents, reducing fouling and corrosion while maintaining full treatment fluid functionality
3Length of moving object
If the treatment fluid injection valve is situated at considerable depth below surface, then the valve can inject treatment fluid at the production zone, but the valve is subject to high working pressure and chemical exposure increasing failure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into multiple elastomeric sealing elements along the piston, distributing the high pressure and chemical exposure stresses across multiple components rather than a single critical sealing point. This reduces the probability of complete valve failure due to localized damage at depth
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design allows for self-diagnosis of sealing element condition through pressure differential indicators or flow characteristics that can be monitored from surface. When degradation is detected, the valve can be replaced on a predictive maintenance schedule rather than waiting for actual failure, improving reliability for long conduit applications where intervention is difficult
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 valve achieves zero to low leak rates at high pressures, extends operational lifespan, and allows for accurate metering of treatment fluids, reducing maintenance and failure risks, enabling continuous operation for extended periods without failure.
Implementation Method 1
the piston member being moveably disposed within the sleeve axial fluid passage between a closed position and an open position, wherein the piston member in the closed position blocks treatment fluid flow from the housing axial fluid passage toward the sleeve axial fluid passage, and wherein the piston member in the open position permits treatment fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
a spring member configured to exert a force on the piston member for returning the piston member to the closed position
Implementation Method 3
The outer circumferential surface of the piston member is provided with a sealing member which radially protrudes from the outer circumferential surface and engages with the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve member in a sealing manner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides a valve and method for injecting a treatment fluid into a production zone of a hydrocarbon production well. The valve comprises a tubular housing comprising a housing axial fluid passage, a fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the housing axial fluid passage, and a lateral fluid outlet; a sleeve member having a sleeve axial fluid passage and at least one lateral fluid opening, the sleeve member being fixedly arranged within the tubular housing, wherein the sleeve axial fluid passage is aligned with the housing axial fluid passage, and wherein the at least one lateral fluid opening is aligned with the lateral fluid outlet; and a piston member being moveably disposed within the sleeve axial fluid passage between a closed position and an open position, wherein the piston member in the closed position blocks treatment fluid flow from the housing axial fluid passage toward the sleeve axial fluid passage, and wherein the piston member in the open position permits treatment fluid flow from the fluid inlet through the housing axial fluid passage, the sleeve axial fluid passage, and the at least one lateral fluid opening in the sleeve member toward the lateral fluid outlet of the tubular housing.