Hydraulically operated fluid metering apparatus for use in a subterranean well, and associated methods
AssigneeWelldynamics, Inc.
InventorsDaniel G. Purkis, Michael A. Reid, Jimmie Robert Williamson, Jr.
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Abstract
A hydraulically operated fluid metering apparatus provides discharge of a known volume of fluid to an actuator of a well tool. In one described embodiment, the fluid metering apparatus is connected to a hydraulic input of a well tool actuator. Discharge of the known volume of fluid to the actuator input causes a piston of the actuator to displace a known distance, thereby producing a known increment of actuation of the well tool. The discharge of the known volume of fluid may be repeated to produce a desired total degree of actuation of the well tool.
Claims48
A method of metering a known volume of fluid into an actuator for a well tool positioned in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- interconnecting a hydraulic output of a fluid metering apparatus to a hydraulic input of the actuator;
- applying pressure to only a single hydraulic input of the fluid metering apparatus;
- and
- discharging the known volume of fluid from the fluid metering apparatus output in response to the pressure applying step.
A fluid metering apparatus for use in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a piston;
- first and second chambers on opposite sides of the piston;
- a hydraulic input in fluid communication with the first chamber,
- the piston displacing in response to pressure on the hydraulic input;
- a hydraulic output in fluid communication with the second chamber;
- and
- a valve responsive to displacement of the piston, the valve selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication between the first and second chambers.
A fluid metering apparatus for use in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a piston;
- first and second chambers on opposite sides of the piston;
- a hydraulic input in fluid communication with the first chamber;
- a hydraulic output in fluid communication with the second chamber;
- a valve responsive to displacement of the piston, the valve selectively permitting and preventing fluid communication between the first and second chambers;
- and
- a latching device, the latching device securing the valve in an open configuration when the piston has displaced from a first position to a second position thereof, and the latching device permitting the valve to close after the piston has displaced from the second to the first position.
A method of metering a known volume of fluid into an actuator for a well tool positioned in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- interconnecting a hydraulic output of a fluid metering apparatus to a hydraulic input of the actuator;
- and
- applying pressure to a hydraulic input of the fluid metering apparatus, thereby displacing a piston of the fluid metering apparatus while a valve of the fluid metering apparatus is closed, admitting fluid from the fluid metering apparatus input into a first chamber of the fluid metering apparatus, and discharging the known volume of fluid from a second chamber of the fluid metering apparatus to the fluid metering apparatus output.
A fluid metering apparatus for use in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a bore formed therein;
- a piston reciprocably received in the bore, the piston sealingly engaging the bore at a first diameter and defining first and second chambers on opposite sides of the piston, and the piston being sealingly engageable with the housing at a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
- first and second hydraulic inputs, the second input being in fluid communication with the first chamber;
- first and second hydraulic outputs, the first output being in fluid communication with the first input;
- a first check valve permitting fluid flow from the first input and the first output to the second chamber, but preventing fluid flow from the second chamber to the first input and first output;
- and
- a second check valve preventing fluid flow from the second input and the second output to the second chamber, but permitting fluid flow from the second chamber to the second input and the second output.
A method of metering a known volume of fluid into an actuator for a well tool positioned in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- interconnecting first and second hydraulic outputs of a fluid metering apparatus to respective first and second hydraulic inputs of the actuator, the fluid metering apparatus first output being in fluid communication with a first chamber on one side of a piston of the actuator, and the fluid metering apparatus second output being in fluid communication with a second chamber on an opposite side of the actuator piston;
- applying pressure to a first hydraulic input of the fluid metering apparatus, thereby displacing the known volume of fluid from the fluid metering apparatus first hydraulic input into a first chamber of the fluid metering apparatus;
- and
- applying pressure to a second hydraulic input of the fluid metering apparatus, thereby displacing the known volume of fluid from the fluid metering apparatus first chamber into the actuator second chamber, and thereby displacing the actuator piston.
A fluid metering apparatus for use in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
- a piston;
- first and second chambers on opposite sides of the piston;
- a hydraulic input in fluid communication with the first chamber;
- a hydraulic output in fluid communication with the second chamber;
- and
- a check valve being closed when a first pressure differential from the first chamber to the second chamber displaces the piston in a first direction and discharges fluid from the output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.