Unloading valve and a gas lift system and a method of installing such a gas lift system
AssigneeShell USA, Inc.
InventorsMarco Muijderman, Wouter Johannes Gregorius Keultjes, Erik Kerst Cornelissen, Coen Van Schie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unloading valve, which allows fluid flow in a flow direction through the unloading valve up to a predetermined maximum flow rate, and which blocks fluid flow in a blocking direction. The unloading valve is specifically suited for use in a continuous gas lift system. It can be installed in a wellbore tubular by punching it into the wall of the wellbore tubular using a punch tool run within the tubular bore.
Claims9
A gas lift system for use in
- a wellbore tubular arranged in a borehole, comprising a tubular bore, and an annular space surrounding the wellbore tubular which annular space is accessible for fluid flow, the gas lift system comprising;
- an unloading valve arranged in a wall of the wellbore tubular for allowing fluid flow from the annular space into the tubular bore, the unloading valve comprising:
- an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port;
- a valve float;
- an inlet valve seat arranged at the inlet port to receive the valve float thereby sealing the inlet port;
- an outlet valve seat arranged at the outlet port to receive the valve float thereby sealing the outlet port;
- a bias spring acting on the valve float, to impose a bias force on the valve float towards the inlet valve seat;
- wherein the valve float is movably arranged in the fluid flow path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and is bidirectionally movable between the inlet valve seat and the outlet valve seat,
- wherein the unloading valve allows fluid flow in a flow direction from the annular space into the tubular bore when the valve float is in an intermediate position between the inlet valve seat and the outlet valve seat and wherein the unloading valve closes in the flow direction when a predetermined maximum flow rate is exceeded;
- a binary check valve arranged in the wellbore tubular at a depth below the unloading valve,
- wherein the binary check valve allows fluid flow from the annular space into the tubular bore at any flow rate and blocks flow in opposite direction.
A method of installing a gas lift system in a borehole in an earth formation comprising a wellbore tubular arranged with the borehole, comprising a tubular bore, and an annular space surrounding the wellbore tubular which annular space is accessible for fluid flow, said method comprising steps of:
- providing an unloading valve comprising:
- an inlet port, an outlet port, and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, which allows fluid flow in a flow direction from the inlet port to the outlet port through the unloading valve;
- a valve float;
- an inlet valve seat arranged at the inlet port to receive the valve float thereby sealing the inlet port;
- an outlet valve seat arranged at the outlet port to receive the valve float thereby sealing the outlet port;
- a bias spring acting on the valve float, to impose a bias force on the valve float towards the inlet valve seat, whereby the valve float allows fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port up to a predetermined maximum, and blocks fluid flow in a blocking direction which is opposite of the flow direction;
- wherein the valve float is movably arranged in the fluid flow path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and wherein the valve float is bidirectionally movable between the inlet valve seat and the outlet valve seat;
- providing a binary check valve which allows fluid flow from the annular space into the tubular bore at any flow rate and blocks flow in opposite direction;
- providing a punch tool;
- running the punch tool into the tubular bore to a first desired depth;
- punching the unloading valve into a wall of the wellbore tubular, whereby the flow direction of the unloading valve is directed from the annular space into the tubular bore;
- running the punch tool into the tubular bore to a second desired depth below the first desired depth;
- punching the binary check valve into the wall of the wellbore tubular at the second desired depth, whereby the binary check valve allows fluid flow from the annular space into the tubular bore;
- removing the punch tool from the tubular bore while leaving the unloading valve and the binary check valve behind in the wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.