Tubing Pressure Insensitive Wireline Retrievable Safety Valve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In deep-water and ultra-deep hydrocarbon recovery settings, conventional tubing pressure sensitive safety valves are not suitable due to hydraulic pressure rating limitations, leading to a lack of available wireline retrievable safety valves that can operate at the same depth and pressure, making it difficult to quickly and affordably restore well production when a tubing pressure insensitive safety valve becomes inoperable.
Innovation Solution
A tubing pressure insensitive failsafe wireline retrievable safety valve design featuring a tool housing, a flow tube, an actuation piston with distinct actuation and pressure sides, and a fluid pathway between potential leak sites and the pressure side, including a temporary sealing member that can be removed or dissolved after installation to ensure the valve remains closed even with leaks, reducing the operating pressure requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If conventional tubing pressure sensitive safety valves are used, then the valve can be operated with standard hydraulic systems, but the valve cannot operate at deep-water and ultra-deep setting depths due to hydraulic pressure rating limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from pressure-sensitive to pressure-insensitive operation. The valve uses a constant closing force mechanism (such as a spring or weight) that maintains closure independent of tubing pressure variations, allowing operation at ultra-deep depths where conventional pressure-sensitive valves fail due to exceeding hydraulic pressure ratings
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using hydraulic pressure to maintain valve closure (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using a constant closing force that is independent of hydraulic pressure. The valve closes automatically due to the constant force, and opening requires overcoming this force through controlled means, thereby eliminating dependence on high-pressure hydraulic systems
2Reliability
If tubing pressure insensitive TRSV configurations are used, then the valve can operate at low hydraulic pressures and prevent fail-open scenarios, but conventional WRSV cannot be installed to replace inoperable valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a WRSV that can serve multiple functions: it operates as a tubing pressure insensitive failsafe valve during normal service, and simultaneously maintains compatibility with conventional TRSV hydraulic systems for control and retrieval operations. This universal design allows the same valve type to replace both tubing pressure sensitive and insensitive TRSV configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that allows the WRSV to interface with both tubing pressure insensitive TRSV configurations and conventional hydraulic control systems. This intermediary design enables the valve to function independently of tubing pressure while still accepting external control signals for opening and closing operations
3Ease of operation
If tubing pressure sensitive valves are used, then the valve can be actuated with hydraulic supply pressure greater than wellbore pressure, but the valve requires high-pressure hydraulic systems that are not available in deep-water applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-service mechanism where the valve automatically maintains its closed position through a constant closing force (spring or weight) without requiring continuous high-pressure hydraulic supply. The valve only requires occasional control signals to open, and automatically returns to closed position, eliminating the need for continuous high-pressure hydraulic systems in deep-water applications
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
Enables the valve to operate at low hydraulic pressures, ensuring the well remains closed in failure modes and allowing for quick and affordable installation of a functional safety valve, maintaining well production without the need for high-pressure hydraulic systems.
Implementation Method 1
an actuation piston disposed in the tool housing and operably connected to the flow tube, the actuation piston having an actuation side and a pressure side
Implementation Method 2
a temporary sealing member in the fluid pathway between the potential leak site and the pressure side of the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A tubing pressure insensitive failsafe wireline retrievable safety valve, borehole system having the valve and method of operation of the valve. The valve includes a tool housing, a flow tube disposed within the tool housing, an actuation piston disposed in the tool housing and operably connected to the flow tube, the actuation piston having an actuation side and a pressure side, and a fluid pathway between a potential leak site for the valve and the pressure side of the piston. A temporary sealing member is in the fluid pathway between the potential leak site and the pressure side of the piston. The method includes disposing the valve at a selected location and removing at least a portion of the temporary sealing member from the fluid pathway after landing the wireline retrievable safety valve at the selected location.