GB2471935A

GB2471935A - Electronic Down-hole Valve

Info

Publication number: GB2471935A
Application number: GB201011274A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Adam Reid
Original assignee: Red Spider Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Red Spider Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-15
Filing date: 2010-07-05
Publication date: 2011-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-05
Also published as: GB2471935B; GB0912298D0; GB201011274D0

Abstract

A down-hole valve 16 comprises a ball 12 with a through bore 18 which is mounted to rotate through 90 degrees between a closed and open position. The ball 12 is mounted on trunion plates 14 which are attached to a drive shaft of a motor 36 by a ball screw connection 38. Below the ball valve are one or more slots 22 allowing fluid to flow through the apparatus when the ball valve is in its open position. The apparatus may include a pre-programmed microprocessor 34 which controls the operation of the electric motor 36 which powers the valve. The microprocessor closes or opens the valve as a result of signals forte pressure sensors 30, 32.

Description

I

ELECTRONIC DOWNHOLE VALVE

The present invention relates to downhole electronically operated valves used to act as a means of opening and closing (multiple times) a downhole barrier used in the oil and gas industry.

Applicants have presented an electronic downhole valve in WO 2008/050116. This downhole apparatus is adapted to be run on a workstring in a well bore. The apparatus has a body including ports and a valve which is rotatable to open and close the pods to selectively allow fluid flow through the body between regions of a well bore above and below the apparatus. The valve is rotated via a gearbox and motor in the apparatus. A sealing arrangement between the valve and body is also described. A method of running the apparatus in a well bore and monitoring pressure above the apparatus in order to control opening and closing of the valve under predetermined conditions is presented. WO 2008/050116 is incorporated herein by reference.

lt is an object of the invention to provide an improved downhole apparatus over the prior art in which the flow can be directed out of side ports.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided downhole apparatus adapted to be run on a workstring, the apparatus comprising a body for connecting with a workstring; a first port at an upper end of the body and one or more radial ports provided through the body for passage of fluid between regions of the wellbore above and below the apparatus; a valve member movable relative to the body between a first position in which the pods are open to allow fluid flow therethrough, and a second position in which the pods are closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough; wherein the valve member is connected to a drive shaft of a gearbox and motor assembly to thereby be rotated with respect to the body between the first and second positions.

Preferably the radial ports have a cross sectional area significantly greater than the cross sectional area of the first port.

There will now be described, by way of example only, an embodiment of the invention with reference to the following drawings, of which: Figure 1A is a schematic illustration of a downhole apparatus according to the present invention in a closed configuration; and Figure 1 B is a schematic illustration of the downhole apparatus of Figure IA in an open configuration.

The apparatus 10 consists of a ball 12 mounted on trunions 14 oriented at degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tool 10 so that the ball rotates at 90° to the longitudinal axis of the valve 16. The Ball has a through bore 18 matching the upper inlet diameter 20 of the valve assembly. Two Slotted pods 22 are located through the main body of the valve at 180° to each other positioned below the ball. Trunion plates 14 are positioned against flattened sides of the ball and they in turn are oriented at 90° to the slotted pods. The Trunion plates are linked to a ball screw arrangement housed within the lower portion of the valve below the slotted ports. A double acting metal-to-metal seat is located at the upper side of the ball to act as a pressure seal when the ball is in its closed position. This will hold pressure from either direction (above the ball or below).

The tool would be attached to the bottom of an anchor such as a wireline lock or packer.

Other pads of the tool 10 are described with reference to WO 2008/050116. In operation an upper pressure transducer 30 would monitor pressure immediately above the ball; a lower transducer 32 would monitor pressure below the ball. A microprocessor 34 would be programmed to understand pressure changes occurring above and/or below the valve 16 and switch on or off the motor 36 driving the ball screw 38. The processor would also be programmed to determine whether the motor should be powered with normal or reversed polarity. The ball screw arrangement being linked to the trunion plates allows the microprocessor to operate the valve assembly to open or close depending on the pressure valves measured by the transducers. The microprocessor is powered by a battery 40 mounted along it. A connection 42 is located at the lowermost end of the valve so that a PC can be easily attached -to allow programming of the software and firmware prior to deployment into the well. A removeable bottom sub 44 covers the connection 42 in use.

Advantages of the design are; single metal to metal seal arrangement, large flow area, and flexibility of programming.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Downhole apparatus adapted to be run on a workstring, the apparatus comprising a body for connecting with a workstring; a first port at an upper end of the body and one or more radial ports provided through the body for passage of fluid between regions of the welibore above and below the apparatus; a valve member movable relative to the body between a first position in which the ports are open to allow fluid flow therethrough, and a second position in which the ports are closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough; wherein the valve member is connected to a drive shaft of a gearbox and motor assembly to thereby be rotated with respect to the body between the first and second positions.
2. Downhole apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radial ports have a cross sectional area significantly greater than the cross sectional area of the first port.