Method and apparatus for providing controlled force transference to a wellbore tool
OwnerBrett W. Bouldin, Steven C. Owens +2inventors
InventorsBrett W. Bouldin, Steven C. Owens, Dave E. Rothers, Kevin R. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for actuating one or more downhole well tools carried by a production or workstring conduit having an imperforate wall and for blocking fluid communication between an activating fluid body and a second fluid source within said well across dynamic seals between actuating members of the well tool, by producing selective signals through the conduit wall detectable by a member to produce an activating signal for actuating the downhole well tool by a downhole energy source.
Claims43
An actuator apparatus for use in a subterranean wellbore having a wellbore tool disposed therein which is operable in a plurality of operating modes and is switchable between selected modes of said plurality of operating modes upon receipt of a selected force pattern with respect to time by at least one force receptor member, wherein said subterranean wellbore has at least one tubular conduit disposed therein, one of which carries said wellbore tool, and wherein said subterranean wellbore includes at least one fluid column disposed therein which is in contact with said at least one tubular conduit, comprising:
- an electrically-actuable force generator assembly in force-transferring communication with said at least one force receptor member;
- a controller, electrically coupled to said electrically-actuable force generator assembly, operable in a plurality of operating modes, including:
- a programming mode of operation, wherein said controller receives selected force parameters which define said selected force pattern with respect to time which is required to switch said wellbore tool between selected modes of operation of said plurality of operating modes;
- an armed mode of operation, wherein said controller continually monitors for receipt of an actuation signal for initiation of force transfer to said wellbore tool;
- and
- a force moderation mode of operation, wherein said controller continually monitors force transference from said electrically-actuable force generator to said at least one force generator to said at least one force receptor member and selectively actuates said electrically-actuable force generator to obtain said selected force pattern.
An actuator apparatus, for use in a subterranean wellbore having a wellbore tool disposed therein which is operable in a plurality of operating modes and is switchable between selected modes of said plurality of operating modes upon receipt of force of a selected force level by at least one force receptor member, comprising:
- a movable force-transferring member which is secured in a selected position relative to said wellbore tool and is in force-transferring communication with said at least one force receptor member of said wellbore tool, said movable force-transferring member also at least in-part defining a pressure containment member;
- a sensor for detecting pressure in said pressure containment member and providing an electrical signal corresponding thereto;
- an electrically-actuable pressure generation member in communication with said pressure containment member;
- and
- a controller member coupled to said sensor and said electrically-actuable pressure generation member, which continuously compares said electrical signal of said sensor to a preselected pressure criteria and selectively electrically actuates said electrically-actuable pressure generation member to pressurize said containment member and drive said movable force-transferring member to apply said selected force level to said wellbore tool to switch it between selected modes of operation of said plurality of operating modes.
An actuator apparatus for use in a subterranean wellbore having a wellbore tool disposed therein which is operable in a plurality of operating modes upon receipt of a selected force pattern with respect to time by at least one force receptor member, wherein said subterranean wellbore has at least one tubular conduit disposed therein, one of which carries one fluid column disposed therein which is in contact with said at least one tubular conduit, comprising:
- an electrically actuable force generator assembly in force-transferring communication with said at least one force receptor member:
- a controller, electrically coupled to said electrically-actuable force generator assembly, operable in a plurality of operating modes, including:
- a force moderation mode of operation, wherein said controller continually monitors force transference from said electrically-actuable force generator to said at least one force generator to said at least one force receptor member and selectively actuates said electrically-actuable force generator to obtain said selected force pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.