Wellhead Valve Assembly With Flap Obstruction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining whether a valve in a wellhead is obstructed is difficult due to the lack of precise information on tool positions, leading to potential damage to the valve and tools when closing, and communication gaps between control systems.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a flap arrangement and sensor that detects obstruction by monitoring the flap's position, preventing valve closure when obstructed, using electrical circuits or linear variable differential transformers to determine channel blockage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor and flap arrangement are added to detect obstruction, then the reliability of valve operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flap arrangement is positioned upstream of the valve to detect tool presence before the valve closes. This preliminary detection allows the control system to prevent valve closure when a tool is present, avoiding damage to both the valve and tool while maintaining operational safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the tool and the valve. When a tool enters the channel, it displaces the flap, which then triggers the sensor to generate an obstruction indication. This intermediary mechanism translates physical tool presence into a detectable signal without requiring direct contact between the tool and valve.
2Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring of tool position is implemented, then the precision of obstruction detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing complex real-time tracking of tool position throughout the entire system, the invention extracts only the critical information needed: whether a tool is present in the channel. The flap arrangement and sensor provide this binary obstruction indication without requiring continuous position monitoring or complex communication protocols between multiple control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap arrangement is a passive mechanical element that automatically responds to tool presence through its own displacement. It requires no power source, active control, or complex electronics to detect obstruction - the tool itself moves the flap, which then triggers the sensor. This self-service mechanism achieves reliable obstruction detection with minimal added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly for a wellhead includes a channel extending between a first end and a second end; a valve having a valve closed position in which the channel is blocked and a valve open position in which the channel is unblocked; and a flap arrangement having a flap closed position. The flap arrangement is configured to: displace from the flap closed position in an event of obstruction of the channel; and return to the flap closed position on removal of obstruction from the channel. The valve assembly further comprises a sensor, configured to determine an indication of obstruction of the channel by determining whether the flap arrangement is in the flap closed position.