Hydraulic metering system for downhole hydraulic actuation
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsSrinivas Poluchalla, Virinchi Mallela, Francesco Vaghi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A technique provides enhanced control over a variety of hydraulically actuated devices, e.g. flow control valves. A hydraulic control module is placed in hydraulic communication with an actuator of a hydraulically actuated device. The hydraulic control module comprises features which prevent hydraulic locking of the system. Additionally, the control module may comprise metering features to enable metered flow of actuating fluid. The features may include valves, mini-indexers, flowline configurations, or other features which maintain the ability to shift the hydraulically actuated device and/or provide metering of the actuating fluid.
Claims20
A system for use in a well, comprising:
- a well string deployed in a wellbore, the well string comprising a flow control valve and a control module for controlling flow positions of the flow control valve via positioning of an actuator piston in the flow control valve, the control module comprising:
- a hydraulic circuit arranged to enable incremental movement of the actuator piston away from a default position, the hydraulic circuit further enabling rapid, continuous return of the actuator piston to the default position, the hydraulic circuit having:
- a metering system to provide the incremental movement based on changing pressure levels applied to the hydraulic circuit;
- and
- a hydraulic override arrangement to provide the rapid, continuous return of the actuator piston to the default position.
A system, comprising:
- a hydraulically controlled device shiftable to different operational positions via movement of a hydraulic actuator piston;
- and
- a control module hydraulically coupled with the hydraulic actuator piston and also with a hydraulic control line supplying hydraulic actuating fluid at desired pressure levels, the control module comprising:
- a metering system to meter delivery of hydraulic actuating fluid to the hydraulic actuator piston to cause controlled shifting of the hydraulic actuator piston to a plurality of incremental positions;
- and
- a plurality of valves providing a hydraulic override arrangement enabling selective transition of the hydraulic actuator piston back to an original position without hydraulic lock.
A method, comprising:
- positioning a hydraulically actuated device in a wellbore;
- changing operational positions of the hydraulically actuated device via an actuator piston;
- fluidly coupling the actuator piston with a hydraulic circuit located downhole in the wellbore;
- using the hydraulic circuit to meter predetermined amounts of actuating fluid to move the actuator piston in desired increments;
- preventing hydraulic lock of the hydraulic circuit by enabling hydraulic override to selectively shift the actuator piston to a default position;
- and
- controlling the hydraulic circuit via changing pressure levels delivered downhole to the hydraulic circuit via a hydraulic control line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.