Downhole valve assembly
AssigneeNCS Multistage Inc.
InventorsMichael WERRIES, Jesse POWELL, James KING
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly for downhole completion operations and method for using the assembly is described. The valve assembly relies on non-polymeric interfaces between the valve components for sealing the valves without elastomeric materials, thereby making the valve assembly suitable for high temperature well operations, such as 320° C. to 600° C. which are typically encountered in geothermal well operations. The valve assembly includes a first seat which receives an actuating member to actuate the opening of ports in the housing, thereby allowing for fluid injection into the formation adjacent the valve assembly through the ports. A seal assembly suitable for use in high temperature well operations is also described.
Claims21
1-104. (canceled)
A valve assembly for downhole use in a high temperature well comprising:
- a tubular housing having:
- an inner surface defining a central bore extending through the valve assembly;
- and
- at least one port extending from the inner surface to an outer surface of the tubular housing to allow fluid communication between the central bore and outside the tubular housing;
- a plug disposed in the at least one port and changeable from a closed position, in which the plug maintains a fluid seal in the at least one port, to an open position, in which fluid is allowed to flow through the at least one port;
- and
- a first sleeve disposed in the central bore and longitudinally slidable with respect to the tubular housing from a first position to a second position which changes the plug from the closed position to the open position;
- wherein the plug and the tubular housing are metal such that the fluid seal between the plug and the at least one port is a metal-on-metal seal.
A valve assembly for downhole use in a high temperature well comprising:
- a tubular housing having:
- an inner surface defining a central bore extending through the valve assembly;
- and
- at least one port extending from the inner surface to an outer surface of the tubular housing to allow fluid communication between the central bore and outside the tubular housing;
- a plug disposed in the at least one port and changeable from a closed position, in which the plug restricts fluid flow through the at least one port, to an open position, in which fluid is allowed to flow through the at least one port;
- and
- a first seat disposed in the central bore adapted to receive a first isolating member, wherein upon seating of the first isolating member in the first seat, fluid flow is restricted through the central bore to allow an increase in fluid pressure in the central bore to change the plug from the closed position to the open position;
- wherein the plug and the tubular housing are metal such that the fluid seal between the plug and the at least one port is a metal-on-metal seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.