Variable orifice gas lift valve for high flow rates with detachable power source and method of using
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
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.
Claims16
A method of using a valve in a subterranean well, comprising:
- installing a first mandrel in a well production;
- installing a variable orifice valve in the first mandrel;
- installing a controllable actuator in a housing external to the first mandrel;
- and,
- controlling the variable orifice valve by controlling the actuator from the surface.
A valve for variably controlling the flow of a fluid through a mandrel, comprising:
- a first mandrel being installed in a well production string;
- a valve having a variable orifice installed in the first mandrel, the valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the mandrel;
- and
- an actuating piston for controlling the valve, the actuating piston being installed in the first mandrel, in communication with and controllable from an actuator installed in a housing external to the first mandrel.
A method of using a valve in a subterranean well, comprising:
- installing a first mandrel in a well production;
- installing a variable orifice valve in the first mandrel;
- installing a controllable actuator external to the first mandrel;
- and,
- controlling the variable orifice valve by controlling the actuator from the surface.
A valve for variably controlling the flow of a fluid through a mandrel, comprising:
- a first mandrel being installed in a well production string;
- a valve having a variable orifice installed in the first mandrel, the valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the mandrel;
- and
- an actuator for controlling the valve, the actuator being installed external to the first mandrel, in communication with and controllable from a control panel, and connected to the valve by a first and second hydraulic control line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.