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US 4,361,188 AGranted
Well apparatus actuating means having pressure accumulator means and method of use
OwnerLarry R. Russellinventor
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OwnerLarry R. Russellinventor
Estimating the term…
Well apparatus, in which a pressured fluid accumulator is used to perform a function when the apparatus is disposed downhole in a well, such as to operate a valve to control fluid flow through a tubing string in which the apparatus is disposed. The accumulator is pressure-charged after the apparatus is run into the well by exposing the accumulator to casing pressure, so that the accumulator will thereafter be at a constant pressure. Performance of functions is accomplished by varying the casing pressure to above or below accumulator pressure, and using the pressure differential between the casing and accumulator to operate an actuator, such as a piston, to perform the function. The accumulator pressure may be made as desired by adjustment of the casing pressure at the time the accumulator is charged with pressure after the apparatus has been run into the well.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding a separate fluid therein under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure said separate fluid within said accumulator from the exterior surface of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of said separate fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure and comprising a space enclosed over a portion thereof by flexible bladder means, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said flexible bladder means having tubular sleeve form and being disposed annularly around said tubular body means to provide said accumulator space therebetween, including means for sealing the ends of said flexible bladder means to said tubular body means, said apparatus including first fluid passage means communicating between said control valve means and the exterior of said flexible bladder means and including second fluid passage means communicating between the interior of said flexible bladder means and said first surface of said actuator means.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure and comprising a space enclosed over a portion thereof by flexible bladder means, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said movable means comprising valve means operable between opened and closed positions, said valve means being moved to one of its said opened and closed positions by said actuator means when said pressure at said first surface exceeds said pressure at said second surface and being moved to the other of its said opened and closed positions when said pressure at said second surface exceeds said pressure at said first surface.
Well apparatus comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding a separate fluid therein under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure said separate fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means expressed to the pressure of said separate fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said tubular body means having an outwardly enlarged portion adjacent one end of said accumulator means, said control valve means comprising at least one valve passage having a seat therearound axially through said enlarged portion and a plunger movable between positions spaced from and against said seat disposed in each said valve passage, each said plunger being biased toward a said seat by pressure within said accumulator.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding a separate fluid therein under pressure, and comprising a space enclosed over a portion thereof by flexible bladder means, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure said separate fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of said separate fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said tubular body means having an outwardly enlarged portion adjacent one end of said accumulator means, said control valve means comprising at least one valve passage having a seat therearound axially through said enlarged portion and a plunger movable between positions spaced from and against said seat disposed in each said valve passage, each said plunger being biased toward a said seat by pressure within said accumulator.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said control valve means comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, said inner sleeve being longitudinally movably disposed within said outer sleeve, aperture means through said inner and outer sleeves movable between positions in alignment and positions out of alignment by relative longitudinal movements of said inner and outer sleeves, said aperture means through one of said inner and outer sleeves communicating with a fluid flow path to the exterior of said apparatus and said aperture means through the other of said inner and outer sleeves communicating with a fluid flow path to said accumulator when said aperture means are positioned in alignment, and means for moving one of said inner and outer sleeves longitudinally to move said aperture means to said out of alignment positions to shut off fluid flow communication through said aperture means and said flow paths between the exterior of said apparatus and said accumulator whereby the pressure of fluid within said accumulator will not be affected by changes in the fluid pressure at the exterior of said accumulator.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said control valve means comprising sleeve means having aperture means therethrough communicating at its outer end with the exterior of said apparatus and with fluid pressure at the exterior of said apparatus, a control sleeve longitudinally slidably disposed within said sleeve means at said aperture means and being longitudinally movable to open and to close the inner end of said aperture means, said control sleeve having interior connection means for engaging a wireline tool run thereto through said pipe string, whereby said control valve means may be opened and closed by longitudinal movement of said control sleeve by a said wireline tool.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior surface of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said actuator means comprising a piston.
Method for providing operation of apparatus downhole in a well, comprising running a pressure accumulator of variable internal volume containing a separate fluid at an initial pressure into a well from the surface with at least a portion of the exterior of said accumulator exposed to fluid pressure in the well increasing the fluid pressure in the well to above hydrostatic pressure, whereby the internal volume of the accumulator is reduced in response to said increased fluid pressure in the well to increase said initial pressure in the accumulator to a higher final fluid pressure, and lowering said fluid pressure in the well to operate apparatus downhole in the well by application of the differential between said higher final fluid pressure and said fluid pressure in the well across a piston.
Method for providing operation of apparatus downhole in a well, comprising running a pressure accumulator of variable internal volume containing fluid at an initial pressure into a well from the surface with at least a portion of the exterior of said accumulator exposed to fluid pressure in the well, whereby the internal volume of the accumulator is reduced in response to said fluid pressure in the well to increase said initial pressure in the accumulator to a higher final fluid pressure, and varying said fluid pressure in the well to operate apparatus downhole in the well by application of the differential between said final fluid pressure and said fluid pressure in the well across a piston, including maintaining the highest pressure of said fluid pressure in the well reached prior to said varying thereof for apparatus operation at said portion of the exterior of said accumulator, including closing fluid communication between the exterior of said apparatus and said portion of the exterior of said accumulator to prevent variation thereafter of said final fluid pressure.
Method for charging a fluid pressure accumulator, said accumulator including means for equalizing internal accumulator pressure with casing hydrostatic fluid pressure external of said accumulator, comprising precharging the interior of the accumulator with compressible fluid at an initial pressure at the surface, running the accumulator into a well through fluid in the well at normal hydrostatic casing pressure, increasing the hydrostatic casing pressure to increase the pressure within the accumulator to a final pressure substantially greater than the normal hydrostatic casing pressure in the casing at the location in the well to which the accumulator is run and decreasing the casing pressure to normal hydrostatic casing pressure.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said accumulator means comprising a chamber closed by a free-floating piston at one side thereof, one side of said free-floating piston being exposed to fluid pressure within said accumulator means and the other side of said free-floating piston being exposed to said pressured fluid admitted through said control valve to cause pressuring of the fluid within said accumulator.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure and comprising a space enclosed over a portion thereof by flexible bladder means, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said flexible bladder means having tubular sleeve form and being disposed annularly around said tubular body means to provide said accumulator space therebetween, including means for sealing the ends of said flexible bladder means to said tubular body means, said apparatus including first fluid passage means communicating between said control valve means and the exterior of said flexible bladder means and including second fluid passage means communicating between the interior of said flexible bladder means and said first surface of said actuator means, said movable means comprising valve means operable between opened and closed positions, said valve means being moved to one of its said opened and closed positions by said actuator means when said pressure at said first surface exceeds said pressure at said second surface and being moved to the other of its said opened and closed positions when said pressure at said second surface exceeds said pressure at said first surface.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding fluid under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure fluid within said accumulator from the exterior surface of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said accumulator means comprising a space enclosed over a portion thereof by flexible bladder means, including means for releasing fluid pressure from said accumulator.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding a separate fluid therein under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure said separate fluid within said accumulator from the exterior surface of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of said separate fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said accumulator means comprising a space enclosed over a portion thereof by flexible bladder means including means for releasing fluid pressure from said accumulator.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at its upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding a separate fluid therein under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure said separate fluid within said accumulator from the exterior surface of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of said separate fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, said accumulator means comprising a space enclosed over a portion thereof by flexible bladder means, including quantities of oil and gas precharged within said accumulator.
Well apparatus, comprising tubular body means having connection means at is upper and lower ends whereby said apparatus may be lowered into a well connected in a pipe string, pressure accumulator means associated with said tubular body means for holding a separate fluid therein under pressure, control valve means for admitting pressuring fluid to pressure said separate fluid within said accumulator from the exterior surface of said apparatus, means for preventing movement of said control valve means to open to prevent outflow of said pressuring fluid, actuator means exposed to the pressure of said separate fluid within said accumulator at a first surface and exposed to the pressure of fluid at the exterior of said apparatus at a second surface whereby said actuator means may be operated in response to pressure differentials between said pressures at said first and second surfaces, and movable means adapted to be operated by operation of said actuator means, including quantities of oil and gas precharged within said accumulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.