Valve and position control using magnetorheological fluids
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMichael Fripp, Darren Barlow, Brandon Soileau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Magnetorheological fluids, which solidify in response to a magnetic field, offer the ability to simplify many of the valves and control systems used downhole in the search for and production of oil and gas. They lessen the need for moving parts, provide solid-state valves, and can provide a differential movement of fluid through the valves by varying the strength of the magnetic field. Combinations of permanent and electro-magnets can improve safety by providing valves that fail, when power is lost, in either an open or closed position, depending on design. A number of examples are given.
Claims55
A fluid control device used in a borehole, comprising:
- a housing containing a first piston;
- a magnetorheological fluid disposed within said housing;
- a magnetic assembly capable of switchably creating a magnetic field which passes through said housing;
- wherein blockage of the flow of magnetorheological fluid through said housing by a magnetic field impedes movement of said piston.
A system for drilling or producing oil and gas, comprising:
- a string of tools deployed in a borehole;
- a housing containing a first piston;
- a magnetorheological fluid disposed within said housing;
- a magnetic assembly capable of switchably creating a magnetic field which passes through said housing;
- wherein blockage of the flow of magnetorheological fluid through said housing by a magnetic field impedes movement of said piston.
A method of blocking or delaying a downhole event, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a housing containing a piston in such a manner that completion of said downhole event is dependent on said piston arriving at a given location within said housing;
- disposing a magnetorheological fluid within said housing in such a manner that said piston is blocked from said given location;
- creating a magnetic field through at least a portion of said magnetorheological fluid.
A position control device, comprising:
- an outer section of pipe, capable of connection to a string of tools in a borehole;
- an inner section of pipe, slideably connected to said outer pipe;
- wherein movement of said inner pipe within said outer pipe is partially controlled by the flow of a magnetorheological fluid through a magnetic assembly.
A system for drilling or producing oil or gas, comprising:
- a string of tools deployed in a borehole, wherein said string of tools includes
- an outer section of pipe, capable of connection to said string of tools;
- and
- an inner section of pipe, slideably connected to said outer pipe;
- wherein movement of said inner pipe within said outer pipe is partially controlled by the flow of a magnetorheological fluid through a magnetic assembly.
A method of controlling the relative position, in a borehole, of an outer section of pipe relative to an inner section of pipe, comprising the steps of:
- tying the movement of said inner section of pipe relative to said outer section of pipe to a piston that moves within a chamber filled with magnetorheological fluid;
- applying a magnetic field to a portion of said magnetorheological fluid that affects movement of said piston within said chamber.
A logic circuit wherein logical values are embodied as solid state valves, each comprising a magnetic assembly controlling the passage of a magnetorheological fluid.
A system for drilling or producing oil or gas, comprising
- a string of tools deployed in a borehole;
- and
- a plurality of solid state valves, each solid state valve comprising a magnetic assembly controlling the passage of a magnetorheological fluid, said plurality of solid state valves being part of said string of tools;
- wherein said plurality of solid state valves are connected to provide control inputs for ones of said string of tools.
A method of controlling a downhole device, comprising the steps of:
- assigning a logical value to a magnetorheological valve being open and an opposite value to said magnetorheological valve being closed;
- connecting a plurality of magnetorheological valves together to accept at least one input and produce at least one output;
- wherein said output provides a control for said downhole device.
A device for preventing the flow of fluids through a downhole region, comprising:
- a magnetic assembly capable of switchably producing a magnetic field through said downhole region;
- and
- a volume of magnetorheological fluid;
- wherein the passage of non-magnetorheological fluids can be blocked by the presence of magnetorheological fluid under the influence of said magnetic assembly.
A system for drilling or producing oil or gas, comprising:
- a string of tools deployed in a borehole;
- a magnetic assembly, capable of switchably producing a magnetic field through said downhole region, that is a part of said string of tools;
- and
- a volume of magnetorheological fluid;
- wherein the passage of non-magnetorheological fluids can be blocked by the presence of magnetorheological fluid under the influence of said magnetic assembly.
A method of drilling or producing oil or gas, comprising the steps of:
- deploying a volume of magnetorheological fluid under the influence of a magnetic field in a region in which it is desired to block the flow of non-magnetorheological fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.