US 5,293,551 A · Monitor and control circuit for electric surface controlled subsurface valve system

Abstract

A control system for applying power to a solenoid operated valve in a well completion within a borehole. The control system includes a programmable power supply for selectively applying electric power to a solenoid coil of the valve. The control system operates to apply a higher value of current to the solenoid to open the valve and a second lower value of current to maintain the operation of the solenoid in an open state and also to interrupt all current to the solenoid to close the valve. A timer controls the length of time the higher current value can be applied to the solenoid if the valve does not open and the length of delay time which must be included before again attempting to open the valve. The control system continuously monitors the state of actuation of the valve by means of an inductance monitor for determining the position of the armature of the solenoid and, thus, the state of the valve.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A control system for applying power to a solenoid operated valve in a well completion within a borehole comprising:

programmable power supply means mounted within a surface control unit for selectively applying electric power at a first selected higher current value and a second selected lower current value to a cable connected to supply operating current to the solenoid coil of said valve;
means located in said valve and responsive to said first higher value of current for operating said solenoid to move the valve to an open state and responsive to the second lower value of current for maintaining the open state of operation of the solenoid to hold the valve open and responsive to interruption of all current to the solenoid for closing said valve;
means for continuously monitoring the state of actuation of said valve and providing an indication thereof at the well surface;
and
means within said programmable power supply means and responsive to said monitoring and indicating means for interrupting said higher value of current and applying said lower value of current in response to an indication that said valve has opened and for interrupting all current after a predetermined period of time following application of electric power at said higher current value and failure to receive an indication that said valve has opened.

2 more elements

A circuit for controlling the operation of an electric solenoid operated valve within a borehole between an open and a closed condition, comprising:

a surface control unit including means for selectively producing a programmable value of voltage and means for selecting a valve open or valve closed condition;
means located in the valve and responsive to a first selected value of electric current for actuating the solenoid to operate the valve into an open condition, a second selected value of electric current, less than said first value, for holding the solenoid in an actuated condition, and a third selected value, less than said second value, for deactuating the solenoid and operating the valve into a closed condition;
means for detecting whether the armature of the solenoid is in the valve open or valve closed condition;
an electrical cable connecting the programmable voltage producing means within the surface control unit with the electric current responsive means within the valve;
means for measuring the value of the electric current flowing through said electrical cable;
means responsive to the selection of a valve open condition for increasing the value of voltage produced by said surface control unit until the measured value of current reaches said first selectet value;
means responsive to a detection that the solenoid armature is in a valve open state for reducing the value of voltage produced by said surface control unit until the measured value of current reaches said second selected value;
means responsive to a failure to detect that the solenoid armature is in a valve open state within a preselected period of time following said selection of a valve open condition for reducing the value of voltage produced by said surface control unit until the measured value of current reaches said third selected value;
and
means responsive to the selection of a valve closed condition for decreasing the value of voltage produced by said surface control unit until the measured value of current reaches said third selected value and the valve is operated into a closed condition.

7 more elements

A circuit for controlling the operation of an electric solenoid operated valve within a borehole between an open and a closed condition, comprising:

a surface control unit including means for selectively producing a programmable value of voltage and means for selecting a valve open or valve closed condition;
means located in the valve and responsive to a first selected value of electric current for actuating the solenoid to operate the valve into an open condition, a second selected value of electric current, less than said first value, for holding the solenoid in an actuated condition, and a third selected value, less than said second value, for deactuating the solenoid and operating the valve into a closed condition;
means for detecting whether the armature of the solenoid is in the valve open or valve closed condition;
an electrical cable connecting the programmable voltage producing means within the surface control unit with the electric current responsive means within the valve;
means for measuring the value of the electric current flowing through said electrical cable;
means responsive to the selection of a valve open condition for increasing the value of voltage produced by said surface control unit until the measured value of current reaches said first selected value;
means responsive to a detection that the solenoid armature is in a valve open state for reducing the value of voltage produced by said surface control unit until the measured value of current reaches said second selected value;
means responsive to the selection of a valve closed condition for decreasing the value of voltage produced by said surface control unit until the measured value of current reaches said third selected value and the valve is operated into a closed condition;
means associated with said programmable voltage producing means and responsive to said detection means to attempt to move the armature of said solenoid into the valve open condition if said valve fails to open after a predetermined period of time;
means for establishing preselected values of temperature, pressure, and fluid flow rate;
means for monitoring values of downhole temperature, pressure and fluid flow rate through the valve;
and
means responsive to selected relationships between said monitored values and said preselected values for selecting a valve open or a valve closed condition.

10 more elements

A method of controlling the operation of a solenoid actuated valve within a well completion located in a borehole which includes an electrically conductive path from the surface of the borehole to the coil of the solenoid, said method comprising:

increasing the value of the electric current flowing through the path to said solenoid coil;
ceasing said increasing and maintaining the current value constant in response to said value reaching a first preselected value;
initializing a first timer in response to said current reaching said first preselected value;
determining whether or not said valve has opened in response to said first preselected value of current flow through the solenoid coil thereof;
and
decreasing the value of the electric current flowing through the path to said solenoid to a second preselected value, less than said first preselected value, in response to either the expiration of a first preselected period of time following initialization of said first timer or the opening of said valve.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Monitor and control circuit for electric surface controlled subsurface valve system

Life of this patent

Monitor and control circuit for electric surface controlled subsurface valve system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29