# US 2020/0399982 A1 · Valve with integrated fluid reservoir

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- Number: US 2020/0399982 A1
- Document ID: US20200399982A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/637,632
- Filed: 2019-08-22
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-24
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Inventors: Caleb Thomas Warren; Geir Gjelstad; Thomas Frosell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399982A1

## CPC

- E21B 34/08: responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence)
- E21B 34/14: operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)}
- E21B 43/12: Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00)
- E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives}
- E21B 43/32: Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells
- E21B 2200/06: Sleeve valves
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

Certain aspects and features of the disclosure relate to a valve device for use in a wellbore. In one example, the valve device includes a body containing swell fluid, a swellable elastomer, and a piston. The swell fluid can contact the swellable elastomer, causing the swellable elastomer to swell. The swellable elastomer can swell and contact the piston. The swellable elastomer can move the piston from a first position to a second position. In the second position, the piston can open, close, or restrict one or more flow paths through the valve device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valve for use in a wellbore, the valve comprising:
a body defining a chamber for receiving and storing swell fluid prior to inserting the valve into the wellbore;
a swellable elastomer disposed in the body adjacent the chamber so as to swell in response to contact with the swell fluid from the chamber; and
a piston disposed in the body, the piston movable from a first position to a second position in response to the swellable elastomer swelling to change a flow path between an open state and a closed state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, further comprising a destructible barrier disposed in the body between the chamber and the swellable elastomer, the barrier separating the swell fluid from the swellable elastomer when intact and allowing the swell fluid to contact the swellable elastomer when not intact.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The valve of claim 2, wherein the barrier is breakable in response to hydrostatic pressure in the chamber or applied pressure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The valve of claim 2, further comprising a mesh disk disposed in the body between the barrier and the swellable elastomer, the mesh disk preventing the swellable elastomer from expanding in a direction opposite the piston and defining openings allowing the swell fluid to flow between the chamber and the swellable elastomer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The valve of claim 4, wherein the piston is a first piston and the valve further comprises a second piston disposed in the body adjacent the chamber, the second piston moveable from a first position to a second position to aid in the swell fluid contacting the swellable elastomer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, wherein the open state of the flow path allows fluid to flow through openings defined by sidewalls of the body and the closed state of the flow path prevents fluid from flowing through the openings.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, wherein the piston comprises a lock ring, the lock ring engagable with sidewalls of the body when the piston moves from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 8

A method of manipulating a valve in a wellbore, the method comprising:
storing swell fluid within a valve body prior to inserting the valve into the wellbore;
expanding a swellable elastomer disposed in the valve body towards a piston moveable from a first position to a second position within the valve body; and
applying a force to the piston, the force applied by the swellable elastomer contacting the piston after swelling in response to the swell fluid to change a flow path between an open state and a closed state.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising separating the swell fluid from the swellable elastomer with a destructible barrier prior to swelling the swellable elastomer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising destroying the destructible barrier to allow the swell fluid to contact the swellable elastomer, the destructible barrier destroyed by increasing hydrostatic pressure in the body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the piston is a first piston and further comprising moving a second piston positioned adjacent to the swell fluid to aid the swell fluid in contacting the swellable elastomer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising moving the piston from a first position to a second position, the piston moving in response to the force applied by the swellable elastomer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the open state of the flow path allows fluid to flow through openings in the body and the closed state of the flow path prevents fluid from flowing through the openings.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising locking the piston in place after the piston has moved from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 15

A valve assembly comprising:
a chamber for receiving and storing swell fluid prior to inserting the valve assembly into a wellbore;
a swellable elastomer; and
a piston that is movable in response to the swellable elastomer swelling subsequent to contacting the swell fluid to change a flow path between any of an open state, a closed state, or a restricted state.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The valve assembly of claim 15, further comprising a destructible barrier between the chamber and the swellable elastomer, the destructible barrier fluidly separating the swell fluid from the swellable elastomer when intact and allowing the swell fluid to contact the swellable elastomer when not intact.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the barrier is breakable in response to hydrostatic pressure in the chamber or applied pressure.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The valve assembly of claim 16, further comprising a mesh disk between the barrier and the swellable elastomer, the mesh disk preventing the swellable elastomer from expanding in a direction opposite the piston and defining openings allowing the swell fluid to flow between the chamber and the swellable elastomer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The valve assembly of claim 18, wherein the piston is a first piston and the valve further comprising a second piston adjacent the chamber, the piston moveable to aid in the swell fluid contacting the swellable elastomer.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the piston comprises a lock ring, the lock ring preventing the piston from moving between the open state, the closed state, or the restricted state.