Safety valve with electrical actuator and tubing pressure balancing
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJimmie R. Williamson, Jr., Bruce E. Scott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A well tool for use with a subterranean well can include a flow passage extending longitudinally through the well tool, an internal chamber containing a dielectric fluid, and a flow path which alternates direction, and which provides pressure communication between the internal chamber and the flow passage. A method of controlling operation of a well tool can include actuating an actuator positioned in an internal chamber of the well tool, a dielectric fluid being disposed in the chamber, and the chamber being pressure balanced with a flow passage extending longitudinally through the well tool, and varying the actuating, based on measurements made by at least one sensor of the well tool.
Claims33
A well tool for use with a subterranean well, the well tool comprising:
- a flow passage extending longitudinally through the well tool;
- an internal chamber containing a dielectric fluid, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with a source of the dielectric fluid via a conduit extending to a remote location, and wherein a line extends through the conduit to an actuator in the chamber;
- and
- a flow path extending between the internal chamber and the flow passage, the flow path including first, second, and third longitudinal flow path sections, the first longitudinal flow path section being connected to a first end of the second longitudinal flow path section, and the third longitudinal flow path section being connected to a second end of the second longitudinal flow path section opposite the first end, whereby communication between the internal chamber and the flow passage via the flow path reverses longitudinal direction at least twice.
A safety valve for use in a subterranean well, the safety valve comprising:
- a flow passage extending longitudinally through the safety valve;
- an internal chamber containing a dielectric fluid;
- a flow path extending between the internal chamber and the flow passage, the flow path including at least two changes in longitudinal direction, whereby communication between the internal chamber and the flow passage via the flow path reverses longitudinal direction at least twice;
- a floating piston in the flow path, wherein the floating piston prevents the dielectric fluid from flowing into the flow passage;
- an actuator exposed to the dielectric fluid;
- an operating member;
- and
- a closure member having open and closed positions, wherein the closure member respectively permits and prevents flow through the flow passage, and
- wherein the actuator displaces the operating member, which causes displacement of the closure member between the open and closed positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.