Wellbore Isolation Valve Mechanical Latching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole valves in wellbores rely on hydraulic fluid or electricity to maintain an open configuration, which can lead to unintended closure and disruption of fluid flow when these supplies are interrupted, posing a risk to production fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A system with a housing, a valve element, a deployment sleeve, and a retraction sleeve that uses a helical flight assembly to exert an elevational force, allowing the valve element to transition between open and closed configurations without reliance on hydraulic fluid or electricity, ensuring stable fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic fluid or electricity is used to hold the safety valve in an open configuration, then the valve can remain open for production, but interruption of the supply causes the valve to close and threatens the flow of production fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with a reversed fail-safe mechanism: instead of requiring continuous energy input to remain open (hydraulic/electric), the valve naturally remains open by default and requires a specific mechanical action (deployment sleeve movement) to close. This inversion ensures that loss of hydraulic or electrical supply does not cause unintended closure, as the valve reverts to its default open state.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve utilizes the fluid flow itself to maintain the open configuration through the interaction between the deployment sleeve and valve element. The flow of production fluid creates forces that automatically keep the valve open without requiring external hydraulic fluid or electrical power, making the system self-sustaining.
2Reliability
If a deployment sleeve is used to mechanically hold the valve element in an open configuration, then the valve remains reliably open without hydraulic or electrical supply, but the device complexity increases with additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment sleeve and valve element are integrated into a single mechanical assembly where the deployment sleeve serves dual functions: it acts as both the actuating mechanism for opening the valve and as the holding structure that maintains the open configuration. This merging reduces the number of separate components compared to traditional systems with distinct actuators, holders, and sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment sleeve acts as an intermediary mechanical element that translates the actuation force into valve element movement and subsequently holds the valve in the open position. This intermediary mechanism provides a simple yet effective way to achieve reliable valve opening without complex hydraulic or electrical systems.
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 system effectively isolates wellbore sections and maintains fluid flow by using mechanical forces to keep the valve element in an open configuration, preventing unintended closure and ensuring continuous production even during interruptions in hydraulic or electrical supplies.
Implementation Method 1
a generally helical flight assembly coupled between the retraction sleeve and deployment sleeve, and through which the elevational force is transmitted from the retraction sleeve to the deployment sleeve
Implementation Method 2
a valve element selectively changeable between a closed configuration and positioned in a path of fluid flow in the wellbore to define a barrier to fluid flow in the wellbore
Implementation Method 3
a deployment sleeve axially moveable within the housing and selectively positioned adjacent the valve element when the valve element is in the open configuration and which interferes with the valve element being changed to the closed configuration
Implementation Method 4
a retraction sleeve disposed in the housing that is in lifting engagement with the deployment sleeve when the deployment sleeve is positioned adjacent the valve element, so that when the retraction sleeve is rotated an elevational force is exerted onto the deployment sleeve to move the deployment sleeve away from the valve element
Data Source
AI summary
A portion of a wellbore is put into communication or is isolated by selectively applying an axial or rotational force downhole. The axial force moves a shifting sleeve and deployment sleeve from an initial position to an opening position causing a valve element to move into an open configuration and allowing communication to the portion of the wellbore. The shifting sleeve is returned to the initial position and separated from the deployment sleeve, which is anchored to a retraction sleeve adjacent the valve element. Threads on the shifting and retraction sleeves become engaged when the deployment sleeve is moved to the opening position. The retraction sleeve is rotated by rotating the shifting sleeve, threaded engagement with the rotating retraction sleeve draws the deployment sleeve away from the valve element, and allows the valve element to move to a closed configuration.