US 8,757,265 B1Granted

Frac valve

AssigneeEirCan Downhole Technologies, LLC

InventorsChristopher J. Cuffe, John Cuffe

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Abstract

Frac valves used in completing oil and gas wells are provided. The valves comprise a cylindrical housing adapted for assembly into a liner for a well. The valve housing defines a conduit for the passage of fluids through the housing. Preferably the conduit has a substantially uniform diameter. The housing has a port which can allow fluids to pass from the conduit to the exterior of the valve. The port may be shut off or left open by a valve body mounted on the housing. Preferably, the valve body is mounted between inner and outer walls provided in the housing. An actuator is provided to move the valve body between its open and closed positions. It comprises a receiver that is adapted to receive an activation signal. Thus, the valve may be actuated by introducing a transmitter into the housing conduit which transmits an activation signal.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A frac valve for a well liner, said frac valve being adapted for use in fracturing a well formation and comprising:

(a) a cylindrical housing adapted for assembly into said liner for a well and defining a conduit for passage of fluids through said housing;
(b) said housing having an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall and said outer wall being spaced from each other to define an annular space therebetween and each having a plurality of ports therein allowing passage of fluids between said conduit and the exterior of said housing;
(c) a valve body mounted in said annular space between said inner wall and said outer wall, said valve body comprising a cylindrical sleeve which is repeatably moveable between a closed position in which fluid communication between said ports is shut off and an open position in which fluid may flow between said conduit and the exterior of said housing through said ports;
and
(d) an actuator adapted to move said sleeve between said closed position and said open position;
(e) wherein said actuator comprises a receiver adapted to receive an activation signal from a transmitter introduced into said conduit;
and
(f) wherein said housing comprises a first set of vent ports in said inner wall and disposed in said annular space above said sleeve and a second set of vent ports in said inner wall and disposed in said annular space below said sleeve, said sets of vent ports adapted to cooperate with each other to allow fluid to be displaced from and flow into said annular space upon movement of said sleeve between said closed position and said open position.

5 more elements

A method of fracturing a formation in a well, said method comprising:

(a) installing a liner in said well, said liner comprising an uphole frac valve and a downhole frac valve, said frac valves each comprising:
i) cylindrical housing adapted for assembly into said liner, said housing defining a conduit for passage of fluids through said housing and a port allowing passage of fluids;
ii) a valve body mounted on said housing and adapted for movement between a closed position in which fluid communication through said port is shut off and an open position in which fluid may flow between said conduit and the exterior of said housing through said port;
and
iii) an actuator adapted to move said valve body from said closed position to said open position and comprising a receiver;
(b) actuating said frac valves to fracture said formation in a predetermined sequence;
(c) wherein said actuation of said frac valves comprises actuating said downstream frac valve by introducing a transmitter into said conduit of said downhole frac valve through said conduit of said uphole valve, said transmitter being encoded with an activation signal which is received by said receiver in said actuator of said downhole frac valve;
(d) wherein said ports in said uphole frac valve and said downhole frac valve and said transmitter are sized such that said transmitter is precluded from passing through said ports in said uphole frac valve and is capable of passing through said ports in said downhole frac valve.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.