# US 2019/0316440 A1 · Downhole valve for production or injection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0316440 A1 - Document ID: US20190316440A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/380,888 - Filed: 2019-04-10 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13 - Assignees: Oracle Downhole Services Ltd. - Applicants: Oracle Downhole Services Ltd. - Inventors: Levi Honeker; Mahlon Lisk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190316440A1 ## CPC - E21B 17/07: Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers - E21B 34/066: {electrically actuated} - E21B 4/04: Electric drives (E21B4/12 takes precedence) - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 47/07: Temperature - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a valve assembly comprising a valve section, a power section, and an electronics section. The valve assembly is configured to mate with a tubing sub (and/or mandrel) inserted in-line with a tubing string inserted into a wellbore. The valve allows for injection into or production from the tubing string. The valve assembly comprises an electric motor and a motor controller permitting fine control over the valve, as well as sensors which measure various parameters, such as fluid flow, valve position, pressure, temperature, and/or water cut. A cable connects the valve assembly to the surface and provides power and data telemetry and allows control of the valve assembly with a remote electronic signal. Multiple valve assemblies may be provided at spaced intervals along the tubing string and individually monitored and/or controlled by a remote location. Also disclosed is a method for operation of such valve assemblies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole valve, the valve comprising: an inlet port; an outlet port; a valve plug moveable between an open position and a closed position within the valve; and an electric motor coupled to the valve plug, wherein the valve is responsive to electrical signals provided by a remote location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to be coupled with a tubing sub. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to be fluidly connected to an interior portion of a tubing string. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve plug is moveable between the closed position and the open position based on actuation of the electric motor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve plug is configured to control fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve plug comprises an elongated dart, wherein the elongated dart comprises a head portion and a shaft portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the inlet port is a lateral opening and the outlet port is an axial opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, further comprising a motor controller coupled to the electric motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure or temperature sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The valve of claim 9, wherein the valve is responsive to measurements provided by the at least one sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises an electrical cable, wherein the electrical cable is electrically coupled to the remote location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, further comprising one or more drive shafts that couple the electric motor to the valve plug. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The valve of claim 12, wherein rotation of the one or more drive shafts linearly moves the valve plug. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The valve of claim 12, wherein rotation of the one or more drive shafts rotates the valve plug. ### Claim 15 A downhole valve system, the system comprising: a tubing sub with a valve opening in an exterior wall of the tubing sub; and a valve assembly coupled to the tubing sub, wherein the valve assembly comprises a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with an interior portion of the tubing sub, wherein the second port is in fluid communication with an exterior portion to the tubing sub, wherein the valve assembly is responsive to a remote electronic signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the valve assembly is configured to move between an open position and a closed position based on the remote electronic signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the tubing sub has a plurality of ends, wherein each of the plurality of ends is coupled to a length of jointed tubing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the tubing sub comprises a trough that is configured to receive the valve assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of brackets that securely attach the valve assembly to the tubing sub. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first port is positioned adjacent to the valve opening. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first port is located on a lateral portion of the valve assembly and the second port is located on an axial portion of the valve assembly. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the valve assembly comprises a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode comprises an injection mode and the second mode comprises a production mode. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the first port is an inlet port and the second port is an outlet port while the valve assembly is in the production mode, wherein the first port is an outlet port and the second port is an inlet port while the valve assembly is in the injection mode. ### Claim 24 A downhole valve system, the system comprising: a plurality of downhole valve assemblies coupled to a downhole tubular at a plurality of different locations, wherein each of the plurality of downhole valves assemblies is electrically coupled together by an electrical cable to a remote location, wherein each of the plurality of downhole valve assemblies is individually controlled from the remote location by electronic signals provided through the electrical cable. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of downhole valve assemblies comprises an electric motor that is configured to move a valve plug within the valve assembly between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the downhole tubular comprises jointed tubing, production lining, or slotted lining. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of downhole valve assemblies is coupled to the downhole tubular by a tubing sub. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of downhole valve assemblies is configured to control fluid flow between an annulus of the downhole tubular and an inner section of the downhole tubular. ### Claim 29 A method of operating a downhole valve, comprising: providing a remote electrical signal to a valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly is coupled to a tubing string; selectively actuating the valve assembly based on the remote electrical signal; and controlling fluid flow through the valve assembly between an inner portion of the tubing string and an annulus of the tubing string based on the actuation step. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the actuating step comprises actuating an electric motor on the valve assembly to move a valve plug between a closed position and an open position within the valve assembly. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising coupling a tubing sub to a tubing string and coupling the valve assembly to the tubing sub. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the actuating step comprises opening the valve assembly to a desired setpoint. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the controlling step comprises automatically adjusting a valve opening within the valve assembly based on one or more measured parameters. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein the measured parameters comprises at least one of temperature, pressure, water cut, or valve opening. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising monitoring one or more downhole parameters and controlling the valve assembly based on the monitored downhole parameters. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising providing positive feedback to a remote location of one or more valve assembly parameters. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising injecting fluid into the tubing string through the valve assembly. ### Claim 38 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, further comprising producing fluid from the tubing string through the valve assembly. ### Claim 39 A method of operating a plurality of downhole valves, comprising: providing a plurality of downhole valves coupled to a downhole tubular at a plurality of different locations, wherein each of the plurality of downhole valves assemblies is coupled together by an electrical cable; selectively actuating at least one of the plurality of downhole valves based on a remote electrical signal provided through the electrical cable; and controlling fluid flow through the at least one downhole valve between an inner portion of the tubular and an annulus portion of the tubular based on the actuation step. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, further comprising closing at least one of the plurality of downhole valves while at least some of the plurality of downhole valves are substantially open. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, further comprising opening at least one of the plurality of downhole valves while at least some of the plurality of downhole valves are substantially closed. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, further comprising individually controlling each of the plurality of downhole valves from a remote location based on communications provided by the electrical cable.