Variable orifice gas lift valve for high flow rates with detachable power source and method of using
AssigneeCamco International Inc.
InventorRonald E. Pringle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a surface controlled gas lift valve designed for high flow rates and used in a subterranean well, comprising: a valve for sealable insertion in a mandrel, having a variable orifice which alternately permits, prohibits, or throttles fluid flow into the valve, and a detachable and/or remote actuator are disclosed. Methods of actuating the valve include electro-hydraulic, hydraulic, and pneumo-hydraulic, while sensors relay the position of the variable orifice and critical fluid pressures to a panel on the surface. The orifice valve and the actuator while operatively connected, may be separately installed in or retrieved from by either wireline or coiled tubing intervention methods.
Claims45
A gas lift valve for use in a subterranean well, comprising:
- a valve body with a longitudinal bore therethrough for sealable insertion in a mandrel;
- a variable orifice valve in the body for controlling fluid flow into the body;
- and,
- an actuating piston connected to the variable orifice valve and located in a housing external to the valve body.
A gas lift valve for variably introducing injection gas into a subterranean well, comprising:
- a valve body with a longitudinal bore therethrough for sealable insertion in a mandrel;
- a variable orifice valve in the body for controlling flow of injection gas into the body;
- and,
- a moveable hydraulic piston connected to and offset from the variable orifice valve and in communication with a source of pressurized fluid;
- whereby the amount of injection gas introduced into the well through the variable orifice valve is controlled by varying the amount of pressurized fluid being applied to the moveable hydraulic piston.
A gas lift valve for variably introducing injection gas into a subterranean well, comprising:
- a valve body with a longitudinal bore therethrough for sealable insertion in a mandrel;
- a hydraulic control line connected to the gas lift valve for providing a supply of pressurized fluid thereto;
- a variable orifice valve in the body for controlling flow of injection gas into the body;
- a spring biasing the variable orifice valve in a full closed position;
- and,
- an actuating piston located in a downhole housing external to the valve body, connected to the variable orifice valve and in communication with the control line;
- whereby the amount of injection gas introduced into the well through the variable orifice valve is controlled by varying the amount of pressurized fluid being applied to the actuating piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.