Safety valve with electrical actuators

An electric safety valve assembly, comprising:

• a flapper;
• a return spring;
• an internal tubing sleeve;
• an actuator comprising an extendable and retractable piston;
• an electric magnet;
• a magnet;
• and
• one or more features configured to provide a mechanical advantage to enhance a holding force of the electric magnet with the magnet,
• wherein one of the electric magnet and the magnet is operably coupled to the piston, and the other of the electric magnet and the magnet is operably coupled to the internal tubing sleeve, and
• wherein during an opening sequence of the safety valve in use, activation of the electric magnet is configured to operably couple the electric magnet and the magnet such that axial movement of the piston causes axial movement of the internal tubing sleeve to open the flapper, and wherein subsequent deactivation of the electric magnet is configured to operably de-couple the electric magnet and the magnet such that force of the return spring causes axial movement of the internal tubing sleeve to allow the flapper to close.

A method of operating an electric downhole safety valve, the electric downhole safety valve comprising a flapper, an internal tubing sleeve, a return spring, an actuator comprising a piston, downhole electronics, an electric magnet, and a magnet, wherein one of the electric magnet and the magnet is operably coupled to the piston, and the other of the electric magnet and the magnet is coupled to, embedded in, or surrounded by a cover operably coupled to the internal tubing sleeve, the method comprising:

• maintaining the electric magnet and the magnet in a sealed common fluid zone;
• providing a command from the surface to the downhole electronics;
• in response to the command from the surface, activating the electric magnet;
• axially moving the piston, thereby shifting the internal tubing sleeve from a closed position to an open position;
• compressing the return spring;
• and
• opening the flapper.