US20210355931A1 - Flow router with retrievable valve assembly - Google Patents
Flow router with retrievable valve assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20210355931A1 US20210355931A1 US17/389,640 US202117389640A US2021355931A1 US 20210355931 A1 US20210355931 A1 US 20210355931A1 US 202117389640 A US202117389640 A US 202117389640A US 2021355931 A1 US2021355931 A1 US 2021355931A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- shuttle
- assembly
- retrievable
- pump
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 47
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 29
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims 8
- 239000003129 oil well Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 9
- 210000002445 nipple Anatomy 0.000 description 6
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 3
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 2
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005461 lubrication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B47/00—Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B34/00—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells
- E21B34/06—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells
- E21B34/08—Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells in wells responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
- E21B43/121—Lifting well fluids
- E21B43/126—Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by drives outside the borehole, e.g. by a rotary or oscillating drive
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/12—Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells
- E21B43/121—Lifting well fluids
- E21B43/128—Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B2200/00—Special features related to earth drilling for obtaining oil, gas or water
- E21B2200/05—Flapper valves
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/0318—Processes
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/7722—Line condition change responsive valves
- Y10T137/7837—Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type]
- Y10T137/7854—In couplings for coaxial conduits, e.g., drill pipe check valves
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/8593—Systems
- Y10T137/877—With flow control means for branched passages
- Y10T137/87788—With valve or movable deflector at junction
Definitions
- the present invention relates to fluid flow components and systems using those components.
- the present invention relates to a flow router with a retrievable assembly.
- downhole production strings including pumps and valves for lifting fluids such as particulate laden liquids and slurries present a maintenance problem.
- both pumps and valves can lose capacity and in cases be rendered inoperative when conditions including fluid conditions and fluid velocities fall outside an intended operating range. Such unintended operating conditions can foul, plug, and damage equipment.
- a flow router is for inclusion in a production tubing string that is for insertion in a well casing, the flow router comprising: a retrievable assembly removably inserted in a perforated cover with a bypass flow annulus therebetween; a valve of the retrievable assembly including a valve body that extends between opposed first and second ends of the valve and defines an axial flowpath; a valve body spill port that defines a radial flowpath, the spill port in fluid communication with the bypass flow annulus via the cover perforation; a shuttle inserted in the valve body for selectively blocking the spill port; a lid rotatably affixed to a shuttle lid end, the lid for selectively blocking a shuttle through hole; the valve for passing an axial flow when (i) the shuttle blocks the spill port and (ii) the lid does not block the through hole; and, the valve for blocking an axial flow when (i) the lid blocks the shuttle through hole and (ii) the shuttle does
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a production string portion including a flow router.
- FIG. 2 shows a production string portion including the flow router of FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 3-6 show a first embodiment of the flow router of FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 7A-C and FIG. 8 show a second embodiment of the flow router of FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 9A-B are charts showing exemplary steps for installation and retrieval of a retrievable assembly of the flow router of FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 10-12 show pump off controller configurations including configurations that may utilize the flow router of FIG. 1 .
- Embodiments of the present invention relate to fluid flow components and systems using those components.
- embodiments of the present invention relate to a flow router with a retrievable assembly as may be used in fluid flow systems such as downhole hydrocarbon production strings.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention 100 .
- a bypass valve 108 is interconnected with a pump 104 via a pump outlet 106 .
- the pump includes a pump inlet 102 and the valve includes a valve outlet 110 and a valve spill port 112 . Flow from the spill port 112 passes through a perforation(s) 128 in a valve cover 130 .
- the valve 108 is included in an assembly that is retrievable from the cover. Together, the retrievable assembly and cover may be referred to as a flow router 132 .
- the inlets, outlets and ports are or include one or more of a fitting, flange, pipe, tubing, or similar fluid conveyance part(s).
- the pump 104 is a downhole pump in a hydrocarbon production string and downstream of the valve 108 is a production string head end 140 .
- FIG. 2 shows portions of a downhole production string 200 .
- the production string includes the bypass valve 108 within a perforated spool, cover, or cover assembly 230 that may be part of or distinct from production tubing.
- the valve is interposed between the pump 104 and a tubing string portion or an upper tubing string portion 204 .
- a surround or casing 208 surrounds one or more of the tubing string, valve, and pump.
- an annulus such as an outer annulus 206 is formed between the tubing string and the casing.
- a production flow is indicated by an upwardly pointed arrow 102 while a backflow is indicated by a downwardly pointed arrow 202 .
- a bypass flow 232 may exit the valve and enter the outer annulus via the perforated cover 230 when there is a backflow 202 .
- the bypass valve serves to isolate backflows, for example to isolate backflows from one or more of the valve, portions of the valve, and/or the pump.
- the valve 108 may be fixed at level L 2 adjacent to or near the pump 104 during normal operation of the string 200 . And, as indicated by dashed lines, the valve 108 may be suspended from a line 280 at level L 1 during either of a valve removal or valve installation.
- Lines include any means known to skilled artisans for manipulating downhole appliances, for example wirelines and related tools/services that may be provided by vendors such as Schlumberger®.
- FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of portions of the production string 300 .
- a tubing string 204 is for mating with a perforated valve cover 230 such that when the valve 108 is inserted in the valve cover a flowpath along a common longitudinal axis x-x is established.
- the perforated valve cover 230 has a first end 350 and a second end 352 and a sidewall 303 extending therebetween.
- One or multiple sidewall penetrations 331 (multiple shown) provide a flowpath across the cover sidewall.
- the valve cover is assembled from multiple parts.
- valve 108 has a spring end 342 and an end opposite the spring end 340 .
- valve or the valve cover includes integral or attachable means for sealing between the valve and the valve cover.
- valve cover internal sealing means 332 as shown.
- FIG. 4 shows a view of portions of the production string 400 .
- the valve 108 is inserted in the valve cover 230 and the tubing string 204 mates 415 with the valve cover at the valve cover first end 350 .
- This assemblage of parts 204 , 230 , 108 is at least partially inserted in the casing 208 .
- valve cover or valve mates with a pump outlet or conduit.
- the valve cover 230 may mate 425 with a conduit 420 that interconnects with a pump 108 to receive a pump outlet flow 102 .
- spaced apart sealing means 410 , 412 located between the valve 108 and the valve cover 230 define a first annular chamber or space 460 .
- This first annular chamber may fluidly communicate with a second annular chamber or space 470 between the valve cover and the casing 208 , for example along an axis y-y via a valve port such as a valve side port 406 and a cover penetration 331 .
- FIG. 5-6 show valve configurations 500 , 600 .
- the valve is configured for forward flow 501 .
- the valve is configured for reverse flow 601 .
- a forward flow 501 exits the valve first end 340 while a reverse flow 601 enters the valve first end 340 .
- the valve includes a valve body 502 , a lid carrier or shuttle 520 , and a shuttle biasing means such as a spring or coil spring 550 .
- the valve body 502 is tubular with a sidewall 502 that extends between first 340 and second 342 valve ends.
- a port such as a sidewall port 503 is located in the valve body sidewall 502 .
- the port provides a flow path to a valve interior such as a chamber 507 above the valve shuttle 520 .
- the shuttle 520 is inserted in the valve body 502 and is biased to engage an inward projection or nose 504 near the valve first end 340 .
- the nose is integral with or supported by the valve body and in various embodiments abutment of the shuttle and the nose provides a first seal 560 .
- Shuttle biasing may be provided by a shuttle spring 550 that extends between a lower shuttle end 525 and a spring support such as an annular ring 506 that is integral with or supported by the valve body near the valve second end 342 . As seen, when the shuttle is in position D 1 , the shuttle blocks the sidewall port 503 , for example via a second seal 564 .
- the shuttle 520 includes a shuttle through hole 522 for passing a forward flow 501 and a means for blocking the through hole when there is a reverse flow 601 .
- the through hole blocking means is provided by a lid assembly 530 including an articulated lid 531 that is rotatably mounted to a shuttle upper end 624 as by a hinge 532 .
- Means for closing the lid 531 against the shuttle 520 to block the through hole 522 via a third seal 562 may be provided by mechanical, gravitational, and/or fluid dynamic means.
- the lid may be spring biased as by a leaf or coil spring integral with the hinge or not.
- the lid may be configured and/or shaped for actuation by fluid dynamic and/or gravitational forces.
- the shuttle 520 moves in the valve body 502 in response to forces acting on the shuttle.
- forces acting on the shuttle For example, in a forward flow state with the shuttle in position D 1 , pump 104 fluid forces exerted on the shuttle together with a spring 550 force exerted on the shuttle exceed the fluid force exerted on the shuttle by fluid in the tubing string 204 above the shuttle.
- the fluid force exerted by the fluid in the tubing string above the shuttle exceeds the pump and spring forces.
- a shuttle 520 transition from (i) D 1 and a forward flow state to (ii) D 2 and a reverse flow state occurs when the articulated lid 531 moves to block the shuttle through hole 522 such that fluid head in the tubing string 204 above the shuttle 520 acts on the blocked shuttle, compresses the spring 550 , and opens the spill port 503 .
- a shuttle transition from (i) D 2 and a reverse flow state to (ii) D 1 and a forward flow state includes moving the lid 531 to unblock the shuttle through hole 522 .
- fluid head in the tubing string 204 is no longer adequate to overcome spring 550 and pump 104 forces such that the shuttle moves toward the body first end 340 , decompresses the spring 550 , and closes the spill port 503 .
- Typical of this transition from reverse flow to forward flow is the start or resumption of proper pump operation.
- FIGS. 7A-C show a flow router 700 A-C.
- FIG. 7A shows an assembled flow router in a forward flow 701 configuration.
- FIG. 7B shows a cover assembly 700 B.
- FIG. 7C shows a removable assembly 700 C.
- the flow router 700 A includes the removable assembly 700 C inserted in the cover assembly 700 B.
- the cover assembly 700 B includes an upper tubing connector 710 that is affixed, for example via a threaded connection, to a cover body 712 .
- means for holding the retrievable assembly in place may include a locking part, abutment, or shoulder such as and abutment shoulder 716 formed on a tubing sealing ring 711 located near the upper tubing connector 710 .
- retrievable assembly 700 C guides are formed by projections 713 , 715 directed inwardly from the cover body 712 .
- the projections may be integral with or supported from the cover body.
- the retrievable assembly 700 C includes a tubular seating mandrel 744 located between and adjoining an upper fishing neck 720 and a lower valve assembly 760 .
- the fishing neck 720 provides an engagement such as an annular internal ring 722 for use with a mating wireline tool for either of retrieving (raising) or installing (lowering) the retrievable assembly 700 C via passing it through the tubing string 204 .
- a retrievable seating ring 742 encircles the mandrel above a mandrel shoulder and abuts the fishing neck.
- the seating mandrel 740 may include or support peripheral and upwardly directed locking fingers or splines 746 for engaging an internal abutment shoulder of the cover assembly, for example the shoulder 716 of the tubing sealing ring 711 . Insertion of the retrievable assembly 700 C into the cover assembly 700 B initially depresses the fingers which spring out to lock the retrievable assembly in place once they pass the shoulder.
- Taper(s) on the finger ends 748 and/or on the shoulder 716 may be used to provide a means for releasing the removable assembly 700 C from the cover assembly 700 B.
- the taper(s) enable finger(s) to slide and move radially inward which releases the finger/shoulder locking mechanism.
- the valve assembly 760 includes a valve body 763 with an adjoining lower seating nipple 776 . Similar to FIG. 5 , within the valve body is a spring 768 biased shuttle 764 with a through hole 765 and an articulated lid 762 for blocking the through hole. An annular chamber 770 between an upstanding nipple wall 777 and the body provides a space for receiving a portion of the spring.
- a floor 779 of the annular chamber 770 provides a lower spring support.
- openings 772 in the upstanding nipple wall 777 provide a means for removing and/or flushing contaminants such as sand from the annular chamber that might otherwise hinder spring operation.
- sealing rings 766 such as polymeric rings may be carried by the shuttle 764 for sealing between the shuttle and the valve body 763 .
- valve when the valve is configured for forward flow 701 , and the shuttle is in position D 1 (see also FIG. 700A ). As seen, the lid 762 does not block the shuttle 764 through hole 765 , the shuttle is raised such that a spill port 771 is blocked, and the spring 768 is expanded to hold the shuttle against an internal rim stop and/or seal 767 extending from the valve body.
- the cover assembly 700 B may include upper 713 and/or lower 715 retrievable assembly 700 C guides and/or retrievable assembly to cover assembly annular seals.
- the upper guides/seals 713 may encircle the valve assembly 760 above a valve spill port 771 and the lower guides/seals 715 may encircle the lower seating nipple 774 .
- one or multiple nipple sealing rings 776 such as polymeric sealing rings provide a seal between the nipple and the cover body 712 .
- flows 102 that enter the flow router 700 A pass through the valve assembly 760 , pass through the seating mandrel 740 , and pass through the fishing neck 720 before leaving the removable assembly.
- FIG. 8 shows the assembled removable assembly and cover assembly of FIG. 7A in a reverse flow configuration 801 .
- flows 811 leaving the assembly 800 via penetrations 714 in the cover body 712 result from a reverse flow 801 that enters the valve assembly 760 , leaves the valve assembly via the valve spill port 771 , travels through an annulus 703 between the between the valve body 763 and the cover body 712 , and enters the cover penetration(s) 714 .
- FIGS. 9A-B show examples 900 A-B of use of a retrievable assembly such as the ones described above.
- FIG. 9A shows a sequence of steps wherein one or more steps may be included in establishing production from a reservoir served by a production string including an in-line cover in a tubing string, the in-line cover for receiving the retrievable assembly.
- a well hole leading to a reservoir may be lined with a casing 902 .
- a tubing string e.g. 204 with an in-line perforated cover e.g. 700 B and end-of-the-line submersible pump such as an electric pump is assembled 904 and lowered into the casing (e.g. 208 ) 906 .
- the tubing string is fixed in place 908 .
- a retrievable assembly e.g. 700 C is suspended via wireline (see e.g. FIG. 2 ) and a wireline tool that mates with a fishing neck e.g. 720 of the retrievable valve assembly 910 .
- the retrievable assembly is lowered within the tubing string until it is seated or locked in the valve cover 912 .
- the production string is otherwise readied as needed with subsequent pump operation and surfacing fluid from the reservoir 914 .
- FIG. 9B shows a sequence of steps wherein one or more steps may be included in recovering the retrievable assembly 700 C, for example a recovery subsequent to a pump 104 shut down.
- the pump 104 is initially operating and surfacing fluid 920 before a pump shut down 922 .
- a fishing neck engagement tool is lowered on a wireline (see e.g. FIG. 2 ) and engages the fishing neck (e.g. 720 ) 924 of the retrievable assembly 700 C.
- the wireline is configured to pull the retrievable assembly to the surface 926 .
- Pulling the retrievable valve with sufficient wireline force the retrievable valve assembly is lifted as by breaking free locks holding it in the cover (e.g. 700 B) 928 . Once free, the retrievable valve assembly is recovered from the tubing by lifting and/or spooling up the wireline 930 .
- steps 910 - 914 may also be performed after the steps 924 - 930 to reinstall the recoverable valve assembly into the in-line valve cover.
- valve cover and retrievable valve assembly may be configured in a production string for use as a pump-off controller.
- FIG. 10 shows an illustrative example in the form of a schematic diagram of a pump-off controller installation in a production string 1000 .
- a portion of the production string 1012 includes a pump 1002 lifting product from a reservoir 1014 to a higher level such as a surface level 1016 .
- a pump-off controller 1008 receives power from a power supply 1007 and provides power to the pump 1010 in accordance with a control algorithm.
- a pressure indicating device 1004 monitors a pressure near a pump discharge 1011 and provides a signal indicative of pressure 1006 to the pump-off controller. If the pump-off controller determines the indicated pressure is below a preselected low-pressure set point, it stops the supply of electric power to the pump.
- Conditions causing low pump discharge pressure include insufficient product at the pump inlet 1013 (sometimes described as a “dry suction”), pump fouling, and pump damage. Attempting to run the pump under any of these conditions has the potential to damage or further damage the pump.
- FIG. 11 shows a pump-off controller embodiment of the present invention 1100 .
- a production string 1101 includes a pump 1136 interposed between (i) a valve such as a bypass valve 1134 in a flow router and (ii) a reservoir 1138 .
- Product the pump lifts from the reservoir 1129 passes first through the pump and then through the valve 1134 .
- the valve discharges 1121 into a tubing space 1104 of a tubing string 1102 that is surrounded by a casing 1112 creating an annulus 1114 between the outer casing and the inner tubing 1102 .
- FIG. 12 shows a mode of bypass valve operation that substitutes for or augments a production string pump-off controller 1200 .
- the pressure differential (P 111 >P 222 ) driving the flow in a production string 1101 begins to fall 1204 .
- low flow conditions cause the shuttle articulated lid 762 to close which blocks flow through the valve along its centerline.
- the shuttle moves to compress a spring e.g. 768 and unblocks the spill port/opens the bypass 1206 .
- flow through the valve e.g.
- the shuttles 520 , 664 of FIGS. 5, 7C with articulated lids 531 , 762 are exemplary of the shuttles disclosed herein. Further included are shuttles with slotted and/or multipart lids.
- valve bypass from the spill ports is returned to the reservoir 1127 in the replenishment step 1210 .
- filling the reservoir with the fluid from the valve bypass serves to provide fluid to the suction of the pump 1136 , lift the shuttle e.g., 764 , lift the shuttle articulated lid e.g., 762 , and unblock flow through the valve along its centerline y-y where forward flow such as normal forward flow is re-established in step 1212 . Re-establishment of normal flow is followed by a return to normal operation in step 1214 .
- the pump-off control steps of FIG. 12 result, in various embodiments, in cyclic flows through a pump such as a continuously operating pump.
- the time between these cyclic flows may be shorter than would occur with a traditional valve in a traditional production string configuration because such strings are unable to bypass flow to the reservoir.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Details Of Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
- Rotary Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a flow router for inclusion in a production string that is for insertion in a well casing, the flow router comprising a retrievable assembly removably inserted in a perforated cover and a valve of the retrievable assembly including a valve body extending between opposed first and second ends of the valve to define an axial flow path, the retrievable assembly retrievable to and removable from an open end of the production string.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/967,706 filed May 1, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,085,436) which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/702,085 filed May 1, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,030,644) which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/446,195 filed Apr. 13, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,562,418), which a) claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. No. 61/611,453 filed Mar. 15, 2012 and b) is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/089,312 filed Apr. 19, 2011 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,955,601) which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/766,141 filed Apr. 23, 2010 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,545,190). All of these applications are incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties and for all purposes.
- The present invention relates to fluid flow components and systems using those components. In particular, the present invention relates to a flow router with a retrievable assembly.
- Pumps and valves located in hard to reach places present maintenance and maintenance downtime issues. Where pumps and valves are used to produce a natural resource such as a hydrocarbon, downtime can result in lost production and increased expenses for workmen and materials.
- In particular, downhole production strings including pumps and valves for lifting fluids such as particulate laden liquids and slurries present a maintenance problem. Here, both pumps and valves can lose capacity and in cases be rendered inoperative when conditions including fluid conditions and fluid velocities fall outside an intended operating range. Such unintended operating conditions can foul, plug, and damage equipment.
- Despite the industry's hesitance to adopt new technology, there remains a need to improve production strings.
- The present invention provides a flow router with a retrievable assembly. In an embodiment, a flow router is for inclusion in a production tubing string that is for insertion in a well casing, the flow router comprising: a retrievable assembly removably inserted in a perforated cover with a bypass flow annulus therebetween; a valve of the retrievable assembly including a valve body that extends between opposed first and second ends of the valve and defines an axial flowpath; a valve body spill port that defines a radial flowpath, the spill port in fluid communication with the bypass flow annulus via the cover perforation; a shuttle inserted in the valve body for selectively blocking the spill port; a lid rotatably affixed to a shuttle lid end, the lid for selectively blocking a shuttle through hole; the valve for passing an axial flow when (i) the shuttle blocks the spill port and (ii) the lid does not block the through hole; and, the valve for blocking an axial flow when (i) the lid blocks the shuttle through hole and (ii) the shuttle does not block the spill port; wherein the retrievable assembly is retrievable to and removable from an open end of the tubing string and wherein the retrievable assembly is insertable in the tubing string for insertion in the cover.
- The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures. These figures, incorporated herein and forming part of the specification, illustrate the invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain its principles enabling a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention.
-
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a production string portion including a flow router. -
FIG. 2 shows a production string portion including the flow router ofFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 3-6 show a first embodiment of the flow router ofFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 7A-C andFIG. 8 show a second embodiment of the flow router ofFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 9A-B are charts showing exemplary steps for installation and retrieval of a retrievable assembly of the flow router ofFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 10-12 show pump off controller configurations including configurations that may utilize the flow router ofFIG. 1 . - The disclosure provided in the following pages describes examples of some embodiments of the invention. The designs, figures, and description are non-limiting examples of certain embodiments of the invention. For example, other embodiments of the disclosed device may or may not include the features described herein. Moreover, disclosed advantages and benefits may apply to only certain embodiments of the invention and should not be used to limit the disclosed invention.
- To the extent parts, components and functions of the described invention exchange fluids, the associated interconnections and couplings may be direct or indirect unless explicitly described as being limited to one and/or the other. Notably, indirectly connected parts, components and functions may have interposed devices and/or functions known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.
- Embodiments of the present invention relate to fluid flow components and systems using those components. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to a flow router with a retrievable assembly as may be used in fluid flow systems such as downhole hydrocarbon production strings.
-
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of theinvention 100. Abypass valve 108 is interconnected with apump 104 via apump outlet 106. The pump includes apump inlet 102 and the valve includes avalve outlet 110 and avalve spill port 112. Flow from thespill port 112 passes through a perforation(s) 128 in avalve cover 130. As described here and below, thevalve 108 is included in an assembly that is retrievable from the cover. Together, the retrievable assembly and cover may be referred to as aflow router 132. In some embodiments, the inlets, outlets and ports are or include one or more of a fitting, flange, pipe, tubing, or similar fluid conveyance part(s). In some embodiments, thepump 104 is a downhole pump in a hydrocarbon production string and downstream of thevalve 108 is a productionstring head end 140. -
FIG. 2 shows portions of adownhole production string 200. The production string includes thebypass valve 108 within a perforated spool, cover, orcover assembly 230 that may be part of or distinct from production tubing. The valve is interposed between thepump 104 and a tubing string portion or an uppertubing string portion 204. In some embodiments, a surround orcasing 208 surrounds one or more of the tubing string, valve, and pump. Here, an annulus such as anouter annulus 206 is formed between the tubing string and the casing. A production flow is indicated by an upwardlypointed arrow 102 while a backflow is indicated by a downwardlypointed arrow 202. - A
bypass flow 232 may exit the valve and enter the outer annulus via theperforated cover 230 when there is abackflow 202. In some embodiments, the bypass valve serves to isolate backflows, for example to isolate backflows from one or more of the valve, portions of the valve, and/or the pump. - As indicated by the solid lines, the
valve 108 may be fixed at level L2 adjacent to or near thepump 104 during normal operation of thestring 200. And, as indicated by dashed lines, thevalve 108 may be suspended from aline 280 at level L1 during either of a valve removal or valve installation. Lines include any means known to skilled artisans for manipulating downhole appliances, for example wirelines and related tools/services that may be provided by vendors such as Schlumberger®. -
FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of portions of theproduction string 300. In particular, atubing string 204 is for mating with aperforated valve cover 230 such that when thevalve 108 is inserted in the valve cover a flowpath along a common longitudinal axis x-x is established. - As shown, the
perforated valve cover 230 has afirst end 350 and asecond end 352 and asidewall 303 extending therebetween. One or multiple sidewall penetrations 331 (multiple shown) provide a flowpath across the cover sidewall. In some embodiments, the valve cover is assembled from multiple parts. - As shown, the
valve 108 has aspring end 342 and an end opposite thespring end 340. In various embodiments, the valve or the valve cover includes integral or attachable means for sealing between the valve and the valve cover. For example, valve cover internal sealing means 332 as shown. -
FIG. 4 shows a view of portions of theproduction string 400. As shown, thevalve 108 is inserted in thevalve cover 230 and thetubing string 204mates 415 with the valve cover at the valve coverfirst end 350. This assemblage ofparts casing 208. - The valve cover or valve mates with a pump outlet or conduit. For example, the
valve cover 230 may mate 425 with aconduit 420 that interconnects with apump 108 to receive apump outlet flow 102. - In various embodiments, spaced apart sealing means 410, 412 located between the
valve 108 and thevalve cover 230 define a first annular chamber orspace 460. This first annular chamber may fluidly communicate with a second annular chamber orspace 470 between the valve cover and thecasing 208, for example along an axis y-y via a valve port such as avalve side port 406 and acover penetration 331. -
FIG. 5-6 show valve configurations FIG. 5 , the valve is configured forforward flow 501. InFIG. 6 , the valve is configured forreverse flow 601. As shown, aforward flow 501 exits the valvefirst end 340 while areverse flow 601 enters the valvefirst end 340. - The valve includes a
valve body 502, a lid carrier orshuttle 520, and a shuttle biasing means such as a spring orcoil spring 550. Thevalve body 502 is tubular with asidewall 502 that extends between first 340 and second 342 valve ends. A port such as asidewall port 503 is located in thevalve body sidewall 502. The port provides a flow path to a valve interior such as achamber 507 above thevalve shuttle 520. - The
shuttle 520 is inserted in thevalve body 502 and is biased to engage an inward projection ornose 504 near the valvefirst end 340. In various embodiments, the nose is integral with or supported by the valve body and in various embodiments abutment of the shuttle and the nose provides afirst seal 560. - Shuttle biasing may be provided by a
shuttle spring 550 that extends between alower shuttle end 525 and a spring support such as anannular ring 506 that is integral with or supported by the valve body near the valvesecond end 342. As seen, when the shuttle is in position D1, the shuttle blocks thesidewall port 503, for example via asecond seal 564. - The
shuttle 520 includes a shuttle throughhole 522 for passing aforward flow 501 and a means for blocking the through hole when there is areverse flow 601. In an embodiment, the through hole blocking means is provided by alid assembly 530 including an articulatedlid 531 that is rotatably mounted to a shuttleupper end 624 as by ahinge 532. - Means for closing the
lid 531 against theshuttle 520 to block the throughhole 522 via athird seal 562 may be provided by mechanical, gravitational, and/or fluid dynamic means. For example, the lid may be spring biased as by a leaf or coil spring integral with the hinge or not. And, for example, the lid may be configured and/or shaped for actuation by fluid dynamic and/or gravitational forces. - Referring to the
forward flow 501 configuration ofFIG. 5 , in position D1, the shuttle is up, thelid 531 does not block the shuttle throughhole 522, and thespill port 503 is closed. Referring to thereverse flow 601 configuration ofFIG. 6 , in positon D2, the shuttle is down, the lid blocks the shuttle through hole, and the spill port is open. - Notably, the
shuttle 520 moves in thevalve body 502 in response to forces acting on the shuttle. For example, in a forward flow state with the shuttle in position D1, pump 104 fluid forces exerted on the shuttle together with aspring 550 force exerted on the shuttle exceed the fluid force exerted on the shuttle by fluid in thetubing string 204 above the shuttle. And, for example, in a reverse flow state with the shuttle in position D2 (where D2−D1=D3), the fluid force exerted by the fluid in the tubing string above the shuttle exceeds the pump and spring forces. - In an embodiment, a
shuttle 520 transition from (i) D1 and a forward flow state to (ii) D2 and a reverse flow state occurs when the articulatedlid 531 moves to block the shuttle throughhole 522 such that fluid head in thetubing string 204 above theshuttle 520 acts on the blocked shuttle, compresses thespring 550, and opens thespill port 503. - And, in an embodiment, a shuttle transition from (i) D2 and a reverse flow state to (ii) D1 and a forward flow state includes moving the
lid 531 to unblock the shuttle throughhole 522. Here, fluid head in thetubing string 204 is no longer adequate to overcomespring 550 and pump 104 forces such that the shuttle moves toward the bodyfirst end 340, decompresses thespring 550, and closes thespill port 503. Typical of this transition from reverse flow to forward flow is the start or resumption of proper pump operation. -
FIGS. 7A-C show aflow router 700A-C.FIG. 7A shows an assembled flow router in aforward flow 701 configuration.FIG. 7B shows acover assembly 700B.FIG. 7C shows aremovable assembly 700C. As shown inFIG. 7A , theflow router 700A includes theremovable assembly 700C inserted in thecover assembly 700B. - As seen in
FIG. 7B , thecover assembly 700B includes anupper tubing connector 710 that is affixed, for example via a threaded connection, to acover body 712. When theretrievable assembly 700C is inserted into thecover assembly 700B (as by lowering on a wireline), means for holding the retrievable assembly in place may include a locking part, abutment, or shoulder such as andabutment shoulder 716 formed on atubing sealing ring 711 located near theupper tubing connector 710. - In some embodiments,
retrievable assembly 700C guides are formed byprojections cover body 712. The projections may be integral with or supported from the cover body. - As shown in
FIG. 7C , theretrievable assembly 700C includes atubular seating mandrel 744 located between and adjoining anupper fishing neck 720 and alower valve assembly 760. Thefishing neck 720 provides an engagement such as an annularinternal ring 722 for use with a mating wireline tool for either of retrieving (raising) or installing (lowering) theretrievable assembly 700C via passing it through thetubing string 204. In various embodiments, aretrievable seating ring 742 encircles the mandrel above a mandrel shoulder and abuts the fishing neck. - In addition to providing a flow path between the
fishing neck 720 andvalve assembly 760, theseating mandrel 740 may include or support peripheral and upwardly directed locking fingers orsplines 746 for engaging an internal abutment shoulder of the cover assembly, for example theshoulder 716 of thetubing sealing ring 711. Insertion of theretrievable assembly 700C into thecover assembly 700B initially depresses the fingers which spring out to lock the retrievable assembly in place once they pass the shoulder. - Taper(s) on the finger ends 748 and/or on the
shoulder 716 may be used to provide a means for releasing theremovable assembly 700C from thecover assembly 700B. In particular, when sufficient force is applied to remove theretrievable assembly 700C from the cover assembly as by a connected wireline (see e.g.FIG. 2 ), the taper(s) enable finger(s) to slide and move radially inward which releases the finger/shoulder locking mechanism. - The
valve assembly 760 includes avalve body 763 with an adjoininglower seating nipple 776. Similar toFIG. 5 , within the valve body is aspring 768biased shuttle 764 with a throughhole 765 and an articulatedlid 762 for blocking the through hole. Anannular chamber 770 between anupstanding nipple wall 777 and the body provides a space for receiving a portion of the spring. - In various embodiments a
floor 779 of theannular chamber 770 provides a lower spring support. And, invarious embodiments openings 772 in theupstanding nipple wall 777 provide a means for removing and/or flushing contaminants such as sand from the annular chamber that might otherwise hinder spring operation. In some embodiments, sealingrings 766 such as polymeric rings may be carried by theshuttle 764 for sealing between the shuttle and thevalve body 763. - Similar to
FIG. 5 , when the valve is configured forforward flow 701, and the shuttle is in position D1 (see alsoFIG. 700A ). As seen, thelid 762 does not block theshuttle 764 throughhole 765, the shuttle is raised such that aspill port 771 is blocked, and thespring 768 is expanded to hold the shuttle against an internal rim stop and/or seal 767 extending from the valve body. - As mentioned above, the
cover assembly 700B may include upper 713 and/or lower 715retrievable assembly 700C guides and/or retrievable assembly to cover assembly annular seals. The upper guides/seals 713 may encircle thevalve assembly 760 above avalve spill port 771 and the lower guides/seals 715 may encircle thelower seating nipple 774. In various embodiments one or multiple nipple sealing rings 776 (four shown) such as polymeric sealing rings provide a seal between the nipple and thecover body 712. - In various forward flow embodiments, flows 102 that enter the
flow router 700A pass through thevalve assembly 760, pass through theseating mandrel 740, and pass through thefishing neck 720 before leaving the removable assembly. -
FIG. 8 shows the assembled removable assembly and cover assembly ofFIG. 7A in areverse flow configuration 801. - Similar to
FIG. 6 , when the valve is configured forreverse flow 801, thelid 762 blocks theshuttle 764 throughhole 766, the shuttle is lowered to position D2 (where D2−D1=D3), such that thespill port 771 is open and theshuttle spring 768 is compressed. - Because the shuttle through
hole 766 is blocked by thelid 762,reverse flow 801 entering theassembly 800 subsequently leaves the assembly as flows 811 throughpenetrations 714 in thecover body 712. To the extent theassembly 800 is located within acasing 208, an annular flowpath therebetween may provide for returning spilled fluid to a suction of apump 104. - In various embodiments, flows 811 leaving the
assembly 800 viapenetrations 714 in thecover body 712 result from areverse flow 801 that enters thevalve assembly 760, leaves the valve assembly via thevalve spill port 771, travels through anannulus 703 between the between thevalve body 763 and thecover body 712, and enters the cover penetration(s) 714. -
FIGS. 9A-B show examples 900A-B of use of a retrievable assembly such as the ones described above. -
FIG. 9A shows a sequence of steps wherein one or more steps may be included in establishing production from a reservoir served by a production string including an in-line cover in a tubing string, the in-line cover for receiving the retrievable assembly. - A well hole leading to a reservoir may be lined with a
casing 902. A tubing string e.g. 204 with an in-line perforated cover e.g. 700B and end-of-the-line submersible pump such as an electric pump is assembled 904 and lowered into the casing (e.g. 208) 906. When the pump reaches its intended location in or near the reservoir, the tubing string is fixed inplace 908. With the tubing string fixed in place in the casing, a retrievable assembly e.g. 700C is suspended via wireline (see e.g.FIG. 2 ) and a wireline tool that mates with a fishing neck e.g. 720 of theretrievable valve assembly 910. The retrievable assembly is lowered within the tubing string until it is seated or locked in thevalve cover 912. After recovery of the wireline and wireline tool, the production string is otherwise readied as needed with subsequent pump operation and surfacing fluid from thereservoir 914. -
FIG. 9B shows a sequence of steps wherein one or more steps may be included in recovering theretrievable assembly 700C, for example a recovery subsequent to apump 104 shut down. - Here, the
pump 104 is initially operating and surfacingfluid 920 before a pump shut down 922. After the pump is shut down, a fishing neck engagement tool is lowered on a wireline (see e.g.FIG. 2 ) and engages the fishing neck (e.g. 720) 924 of theretrievable assembly 700C. With the tool engaged, the wireline is configured to pull the retrievable assembly to thesurface 926. Pulling the retrievable valve with sufficient wireline force, the retrievable valve assembly is lifted as by breaking free locks holding it in the cover (e.g. 700B) 928. Once free, the retrievable valve assembly is recovered from the tubing by lifting and/or spooling up thewireline 930. - It can be appreciated that the above steps 910-914 may also be performed after the steps 924-930 to reinstall the recoverable valve assembly into the in-line valve cover.
- In various embodiments, the above described valve cover and retrievable valve assembly may be configured in a production string for use as a pump-off controller.
-
FIG. 10 shows an illustrative example in the form of a schematic diagram of a pump-off controller installation in aproduction string 1000. A portion of theproduction string 1012 includes apump 1002 lifting product from areservoir 1014 to a higher level such as asurface level 1016. A pump-off controller 1008 receives power from apower supply 1007 and provides power to thepump 1010 in accordance with a control algorithm. For example, apressure indicating device 1004 monitors a pressure near apump discharge 1011 and provides a signal indicative ofpressure 1006 to the pump-off controller. If the pump-off controller determines the indicated pressure is below a preselected low-pressure set point, it stops the supply of electric power to the pump. Conditions causing low pump discharge pressure include insufficient product at the pump inlet 1013 (sometimes described as a “dry suction”), pump fouling, and pump damage. Attempting to run the pump under any of these conditions has the potential to damage or further damage the pump. -
FIG. 11 shows a pump-off controller embodiment of thepresent invention 1100. Aproduction string 1101 includes apump 1136 interposed between (i) a valve such as abypass valve 1134 in a flow router and (ii) areservoir 1138. Product the pump lifts from thereservoir 1129 passes first through the pump and then through thevalve 1134. The valve discharges 1121 into atubing space 1104 of atubing string 1102 that is surrounded by acasing 1112 creating anannulus 1114 between the outer casing and theinner tubing 1102. -
FIG. 12 shows a mode of bypass valve operation that substitutes for or augments a production string pump-off controller 1200. For example, after a period ofnormal operation 1202, the pressure differential (P111>P222) driving the flow in aproduction string 1101 begins to fall 1204. As explained above, low flow conditions cause the shuttle articulatedlid 762 to close which blocks flow through the valve along its centerline. When the forces on the shuttle including force applied by theshuttle spring 768 are insufficient to maintain the shuttle in a position blocking thespill port 771, the shuttle moves to compress a spring e.g. 768 and unblocks the spill port/opens thebypass 1206. Duringbypass operation 1208, flow through the valve e.g. 760 along the valve centerline is blocked and the spill port(s) is open, product flows 1123 from theupper tubing string 204, enters avalve outlet chamber 819, and exits thevalve 1125 through its spill port(s) 771. The spill port empties into a space such as an annulus between the tubing and thecasing 1114 and is returned 1127 to thereservoir 1138 and/or a suction of thepump 1136. Here, theshuttles 520, 664 ofFIGS. 5, 7C with articulatedlids - Because the
annulus 1114 is fluidly coupled to the reservoir 1138 (e.g. as shown inFIG. 8 ), valve bypass from the spill ports is returned to thereservoir 1127 in thereplenishment step 1210. In various embodiments, filling the reservoir with the fluid from the valve bypass serves to provide fluid to the suction of thepump 1136, lift the shuttle e.g., 764, lift the shuttle articulated lid e.g., 762, and unblock flow through the valve along its centerline y-y where forward flow such as normal forward flow is re-established instep 1212. Re-establishment of normal flow is followed by a return to normal operation instep 1214. - The pump-off control steps of
FIG. 12 result, in various embodiments, in cyclic flows through a pump such as a continuously operating pump. The time between these cyclic flows may be shorter than would occur with a traditional valve in a traditional production string configuration because such strings are unable to bypass flow to the reservoir. - As persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, many production string pumps rely on the pumped product as pump lubrication and coolant. Therefore, reducing the duration of dry pumping periods reduces pump damage due to operation with insufficient lubricant and/or coolant. The benefits include one or more of longer pump life, fewer outages, and higher production from tight reservoirs.
- The present invention is disclosed in the form of exemplary embodiments; however, it should not be limited to these embodiments. Rather, the present invention should be limited only by the claims which follow where the terms of the claims are given the meaning a person of ordinary skill in the art would find them to have.
Claims (11)
1. A production string comprising:
production tubing, casing, and a flow router for insertion in the casing;
the flow router including a retrievable assembly removably inserted in a perforated cover, the retrievable assembly including a valve body, a valve shuttle, and a spring that biases the shuttle;
a perforated cover inlet for receiving a pumped flow and a perforated cover exit for forwarding the pumped flow to production tubing;
the valve shuttle within the valve body and the valve body inserted in the perforated cover;
a first annulus between the retrievable assembly and the perforated cover and a second annulus between the perforated cover and the casing;
a valve body spill port in fluid communication with the first annulus via the cover perforation and the first annulus in fluid communication with the second annulus via the perforations in the cover;
the valve for passing an axial flow when (i) the shuttle blocks the spill port and (ii) a shuttle through hole is not blocked; and,
the valve for blocking an axial flow when (i) the shuttle through hole is blocked and (ii) the shuttle does not block the spill port;
wherein the retrievable assembly is retrievable to and removable from an open end of the production string.
2. The production string of claim 1 wherein spring expansion tends to close the spill port.
3. The production string of claim 2 wherein a spring end is near the perforated cover inlet.
4. A method of protecting a pump in a downhole production string, the pump taking suction from a reservoir, the method comprising the steps of:
locating a flow router in the production string between the pump and a tubing string, the flow router including an assembly removable from a perforated cover, the removable assembly including a bypass valve;
providing a reservoir production flowpath through the pump, the flow router and the tubing string;
providing a reservoir return flowpath through an annulus encircling the production flowpath;
wherein during a reservoir production operation, surfacing fluid via the production flowpath when a shuttle of the valve blocks a valve spill port and when a shuttle through hole is not blocked;
wherein during a reservoir production operation, fluid is surfaced via the production flowpath when the valve shuttle blocks a valve spill port and when a shuttle through hole is not blocked;
wherein during a reservoir replenishment operation for protecting the pump, fluid is returned to the reservoir via the return flowpath when the shuttle does not block the valve spill port and when the shuttle through hole is blocked;
wherein during a removable assembly recovery operation, the removable assembly is recovered from an open end of the production tubing; and,
wherein during a removable assembly installation operation, the removable assembly is installed in the perforated cover.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein a spring biases the shuttle such that it tends to close the spill port.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein a spring end is near a perforated cover inlet.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein a production flow tends to unblock the shuttle through hole.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the spring is compressed during a transition from a reservoir production operation to a reservoir replenishment operation.
9. A retrievable assembly method for producing an oil well comprising the steps of:
lining the well with a casing;
assembling a tubing string including an in-line perforated valve cover and an end-of-line pump;
lowering the tubing string into the casing;
when the pump reaches its intended location with respect to a reservoir, fixing the tubing string in place;
providing a retrievable valve assembly including a bypass valve with a valve body enclosing a spring biased shuttle;
suspending the retrievable valve assembly from a wireline;
lowering the retrievable valve assembly into the tubing using the wireline until it is seated and locked in the valve cover;
recovering the wireline;
operating the pump and beginning to surface fluid from the reservoir;
shutting the pump down;
lowering the wireline and coupling the wireline to the retrievable valve assembly;
with the wireline, pulling the retrievable valve assembly toward the surface with sufficient force to release locks holding it in the cover; and,
spooling the wireline and raising the retrievable valve assembly until it is recovered from the tubing;
wherein the valve is mechanically operated and valve operation is autonomous.
10. The retrievable assembly method of claim 9 wherein the spring biases the shuttle such that it tends to close a spill port.
11. The retrievable assembly method of claim 10 wherein a spring end is near a perforated cover inlet.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/389,640 US20210355931A1 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2021-07-30 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/766,141 US8545190B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2010-04-23 | Valve with shuttle for use in a flow management system |
US13/089,312 US8955601B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2011-04-19 | Flow management system and method |
US201261611543P | 2012-03-15 | 2012-03-15 | |
US13/446,195 US9562418B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2012-04-13 | Valve with shuttle |
US14/702,085 US10030644B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2015-05-01 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
US15/967,706 US11085436B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2018-05-01 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
US17/389,640 US20210355931A1 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2021-07-30 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/967,706 Continuation US11085436B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2018-05-01 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20210355931A1 true US20210355931A1 (en) | 2021-11-18 |
Family
ID=53797663
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/702,085 Active 2031-01-18 US10030644B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2015-05-01 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
US15/967,706 Active 2030-12-09 US11085436B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2018-05-01 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
US17/389,640 Abandoned US20210355931A1 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2021-07-30 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
Family Applications Before (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/702,085 Active 2031-01-18 US10030644B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2015-05-01 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
US15/967,706 Active 2030-12-09 US11085436B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2018-05-01 | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US10030644B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2017053624A1 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2017-03-30 | Production Tool Solution, Inc. | Gas separator |
AU2016101791A4 (en) | 2016-07-14 | 2016-11-10 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Diverter valve for progressing cavity pump |
US10941869B2 (en) * | 2018-04-25 | 2021-03-09 | Joshua Terry Prather | Dual lock flow gate |
MX2023001581A (en) * | 2018-06-07 | 2023-03-08 | The Bentley Group Ltd | Flow control valve. |
WO2020096568A1 (en) * | 2018-11-06 | 2020-05-14 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Apparatus, systems, and methods for dampening a wellbore pressure pulse during reverse circulation cementing |
Family Cites Families (35)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1091463A (en) | 1913-11-17 | 1914-03-24 | Louis N Vincent | Drain-valve. |
US2256704A (en) | 1938-10-17 | 1941-09-23 | Merla Tool Company | Flow device |
US2575677A (en) | 1950-11-03 | 1951-11-20 | Reaction Motors Inc | Pump discharge valve |
US2669248A (en) | 1952-04-07 | 1954-02-16 | Shell Dev | Reverse flow by-pass valve |
US3027907A (en) | 1957-03-29 | 1962-04-03 | Luther E Lee | Combination valve |
US3498056A (en) | 1968-04-03 | 1970-03-03 | Avco Corp | Pressurizing and drain valve |
US3713703A (en) | 1971-03-11 | 1973-01-30 | Deere & Co | Shuttle valve |
US3818929A (en) | 1973-04-23 | 1974-06-25 | H Braukmann | Reduced pressure backflow preventer valve |
US3905382A (en) | 1973-09-28 | 1975-09-16 | William Waterston | Back flow preventor |
US3952766A (en) | 1974-08-13 | 1976-04-27 | Jh Industries, Inc. | Backflow preventer |
US4057074A (en) | 1976-08-24 | 1977-11-08 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Energy Research And Development Administration | Bidirectional piston valve |
US4461353A (en) * | 1982-07-22 | 1984-07-24 | Otis Engineering Corporation | Well safety valve |
DE3233982C1 (en) | 1982-09-14 | 1983-10-27 | Christensen, Inc., 84115 Salt Lake City, Utah | Auxiliary controlled valve located in a drill string |
US4880060A (en) | 1988-08-31 | 1989-11-14 | Halliburton Company | Valve control system |
EP0520212B1 (en) | 1991-06-24 | 1995-09-13 | Smc Kabushiki Kaisha | Speed controller |
JP2540427B2 (en) | 1992-12-09 | 1996-10-02 | 株式会社荏原製作所 | Plunger pump device with shuttle valve |
US5439022A (en) | 1994-02-14 | 1995-08-08 | Summers; Daniel A. | Lavage valve |
US5842521A (en) * | 1997-01-29 | 1998-12-01 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Downhole pressure relief valve for well pump |
US5873414A (en) | 1997-09-03 | 1999-02-23 | Pegasus International, Inc. | Bypass valve for downhole motor |
CA2302538C (en) | 1999-03-24 | 2005-03-15 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Production tubing shunt valve |
US6227299B1 (en) * | 1999-07-13 | 2001-05-08 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Flapper valve with biasing flapper closure assembly |
US6655405B2 (en) | 2001-01-31 | 2003-12-02 | Cilmore Valve Co. | BOP operating system with quick dump valve |
US6571876B2 (en) * | 2001-05-24 | 2003-06-03 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Fill up tool and mud saver for top drives |
US6863124B2 (en) | 2001-12-21 | 2005-03-08 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Sealed ESP motor system |
US6868772B2 (en) | 2002-10-08 | 2005-03-22 | Imi Norgren, Inc. | Fluid control valve |
US7228914B2 (en) | 2003-11-03 | 2007-06-12 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Interventionless reservoir control systems |
US7927083B2 (en) | 2004-10-07 | 2011-04-19 | Pentagon Optimization Services Inc. | Downhole pump |
US7443067B2 (en) | 2005-05-03 | 2008-10-28 | Franklin Electric Co., Inc. | Pump-motor assembly lead protector and assembly method |
GB2466547B (en) | 2006-08-19 | 2011-01-12 | Pump Tools Ltd | Apparatus for selectively controlling fluid flow |
US7628170B2 (en) | 2007-09-05 | 2009-12-08 | Emerson Electric Co. | Flow control valve |
US7708074B2 (en) * | 2007-09-14 | 2010-05-04 | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Downhole valve for preventing zonal cross-flow |
US7666013B1 (en) | 2008-10-20 | 2010-02-23 | Borets Company LLC | Adapter for motor lead extension to electric submersible pump |
US8397742B2 (en) | 2008-12-20 | 2013-03-19 | Dtl Technologies, L.P. | Shuttle valve |
IT1394048B1 (en) | 2009-04-16 | 2012-05-25 | Pedrollo Spa | SUBMERSIBLE PUMP WITH PROTECTED ELECTRIC CABLES |
CN202612126U (en) | 2011-11-18 | 2012-12-19 | 江苏国泉泵业制造有限公司 | Tubular pump with compact structure |
-
2015
- 2015-05-01 US US14/702,085 patent/US10030644B2/en active Active
-
2018
- 2018-05-01 US US15/967,706 patent/US11085436B2/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-07-30 US US17/389,640 patent/US20210355931A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20180274529A1 (en) | 2018-09-27 |
US10030644B2 (en) | 2018-07-24 |
US20150233207A1 (en) | 2015-08-20 |
US11085436B2 (en) | 2021-08-10 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20210355931A1 (en) | Flow router with retrievable valve assembly | |
US10711570B2 (en) | Valve with pump rotor passage for use in downhole production strings | |
US6668925B2 (en) | ESP pump for gassy wells | |
US7363983B2 (en) | ESP/gas lift back-up | |
CA2302538C (en) | Production tubing shunt valve | |
RU2320859C1 (en) | Systems for non-penetrating productive reservoir control | |
US7963334B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for continuously injecting fluid in a wellbore while maintaining safety valve operation | |
US20050095156A1 (en) | Method and apparatus to isolate a wellbore during pump workover | |
US20090294131A1 (en) | Christmas Tree and Wellhead Design | |
WO2004055318A2 (en) | Horizontal spool tree with improved porting | |
CA2325954A1 (en) | Downhole pump installation/removal system and method | |
AU2009223251B2 (en) | Improved gas lift system | |
US8613311B2 (en) | Apparatus and methods for well completion design to avoid erosion and high friction loss for power cable deployed electric submersible pump systems | |
US7195072B2 (en) | Installation of downhole electrical power cable and safety valve assembly | |
RU2539045C2 (en) | Rapid-moving eduction column, method for its installation (versions) and safety device for it | |
WO2007026141A1 (en) | Improvements in or relating to esp completion systems | |
CN109072679B (en) | Downhole tool with open/closed axial and lateral fluid passages | |
US11353028B2 (en) | Electric submersible pump with discharge recycle | |
US11168547B2 (en) | Progressive cavity pump and methods for using the same | |
US11788379B2 (en) | Gas venting in subterranean wells | |
US11492880B2 (en) | Gas operated, retrievable well pump for assisting gas lift | |
US20170226831A1 (en) | Downhole lift gas injection system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |