Hydraulic control assembly
AssigneeQuartech Engineering Limited
InventorClive John French
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hydraulic control assemblies for controlling the operation of one or more downhole tools. In one embodiment of the invention, a hydraulic control assembly (10) includes a tubular member in the form of tubing (12), which carries axial chambers (14), each coupled to a downhole tool and carrying a flow controlling shuttle valve (24) and a gear rod (34). Tool control fluids inlets and outlets (18, 16) are provided in communication with each chamber (14), and flow through the chamber (14) to a downhole tool to control the tool. The shuttle valve (24) is movable by the gear rod (34) to selectively allow flow of control fluid to the tool. The gear rod (34) is movable in response to applied fluid pressure.
Claims38
A hydraulic control assembly for controlling the operation of at least a first and second downhole tool, the assembly being for location in a borehole of a well and comprising:
- a tubular member having a tool control fluid inlet means coupled by at least one control conduit to a tool control fluid source such that tool control fluid is isolated from borehole fluid, and at least a first and a second tool control fluid outlet, the first and second outlets for coupling to the respective first and second downhole tool;
- and
- a valve assembly for selectively allowing flow of tool control fluid between the tool control fluid inlet means and the first tool control fluid outlet and between the tool control fluid inlet means and the second tool control fluid outlet, to provide independent, selective control of the operation of each downhole tool.
A hydraulic control assembly for controlling the operation of at least two downhole tools, the assembly being adapted to be located in a borehole of a well and comprising:
- a piston;
- a tubular member defining at least a first and a second chamber, each chamber having at least two tool control fluid ports for allowing tool control fluid to flow through the chamber and each chamber being adapted to be selectively coupled by at least one control conduit to a tool control fluid source such that the tool control fluid is isolated from borehole fluid;
- and
- a valve assembly operatively associated with the piston, for selectively allowing flow of the tool control fluid from the tool control fluid source through one of said ports of each first and second chamber into the respective chamber, and from the respective chamber through the other one of said ports of each first and second chamber to a respective downhole tool, to provide independent, selective operation of the first and second downhole tools.
A method for independently, selectively controlling the operation of at least two fluid activated downhole tools, the method comprising the steps of:
- fluidly coupling a hydraulic control assembly having a tool control fluid inlet and at least two tool control fluid outlets to each downhole tool via first and second control fluid supply conduits, each respective first and second conduits coupled to a respective downhole tool in a closed-loop configuration;
- coupling the control assembly to a control fluid source by at least one hydraulic control conduit, to isolate the tool control fluid from borehole fluid;
- locating the downhole tools and the control assembly in a borehole;
- and
- supplying control fluid from the control fluid source through said hydraulic control conduit and injecting control fluid into each downhole tool via said respective first control fluid supply conduits, whilst simultaneously bleeding fluid out of each downhole tool via said second control fluid supply conduits, to selectively activate each downhole tool.
A hydraulic control assembly for controlling the operation of at least first and second downhole tools, the assembly being for location in a borehole of a well and comprising:
- a tubular member having a tool control fluid inlet and at least first and second tool control fluid outlets, the inlet adapted to be coupled to a tool control fluid source by at least one hydraulic control conduit such that the tool control fluid is isolated from borehole fluid;
- and
- a valve assembly for selectively allowing fluid flow between the tool control fluid source and the inlet of the tubular member and between the tool control fluid inlet and each of the first and second tool control fluid outlets, and for selectively defining independent first and second fluid flow paths between the respective first and second tool control fluid outlets and the respective first and second downhole tools, to provide independent, selective control of the operation of each downhole tool.
A hydraulic control assembly for controlling the operation of at least a first and second downhole tool, the assembly being for location in a borehole of a well and comprising:
- a tubular member having a tool control fluid inlet means and at least a first and a second tool control fluid outlet, the first and second outlets for coupling to the respective first and second downhole tool and the inlet means adapted to be coupled to a tool control fluid source by at least one control conduit such that the tool control fluid is isolated from borehole fluid;
- and
- a valve assembly for selectively allowing flow of tool control fluid between the tool control fluid source and the inlet means, between the inlet means and the first tool control fluid outlet and between the inlet means and the second tool control fluid outlet, to provide independent, selective control of the operation of each downhole tool.
A method for independently, selectively controlling the operation of at least two fluid activated downhole tools, the method comprising the steps of:
- fluidly coupling a hydraulic control assembly having a tool control fluid inlet and at least two tool control fluid outlets to each downhole tool via first and second control fluid supply conduits, each respective first and second conduits coupled to a respective downhole tool in a closed-loop configuration;
- fluidly coupling the tool control fluid inlet to a tool control fluid source by at least one hydraulic control conduit such that the control fluid is isolated from borehole fluid;
- locating the downhole tools and the control assembly in a borehole;
- supplying tool control fluid from the tool control fluid source to the tool control fluid inlet through said hydraulic control conduit;
- supplying control fluid from the hydraulic control assembly to each downhole tool via said respective first control fluid supply conduits, whilst simultaneously bleeding fluid out of each downhole tool via said second control fluid supply conduits, to selectively activate each downhole tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.