Actuation assemblies, hydraulically actuated tools for use in subterranean boreholes including actuation assemblies and related methods
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorSteven R. Radford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Actuation assemblies include a valve assembly comprising a valve sleeve configured to rotate to selectively enable fluid flow through at least one aperture in the valve sleeve and into at least one port of an outer sleeve and a ball retention feature configured to selectively retain a ball dropped through a fluid passageway of the valve assembly in order to rotate the valve sleeve. Downhole tools include actuation assemblies. Methods for actuating a downhole tool include receiving a ball in an actuation assembly, rotating a valve sleeve of the actuation assembly to enable fluid to flow through a portion of the actuation assembly, and actuating a portion of the downhole tool with the fluid.
Claims19
An actuation assembly for use with a downhole tool in a subterranean borehole, comprising:
- a valve assembly comprising:
- a fluid passageway extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the valve assembly;
- an outer sleeve having at least one port formed therein;
- a valve sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve, the valve sleeve having at least one aperture formed therein, the valve sleeve configured to rotate relative to the outer sleeve to selectively place the at least one aperture of the valve sleeve in communication with the at least one port of the outer sleeve to enable fluid flow through the at least one aperture in the valve sleeve and into the at least one port of the outer sleeve;
- and
- a ball retention feature configured to selectively retain a ball dropped through the fluid passageway of the valve assembly in order to rotate the valve sleeve;
- and
- a piston assembly coupled to the valve assembly and in fluid communication with the at least one port of the outer sleeve.
An expandable apparatus for use in a subterranean borehole, comprising:
- a tubular body having a longitudinal bore and at least one opening in a wall of the tubular body;
- at least one member positioned within the at least one opening in the wall of the tubular body, the at least one member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position;
- an actuation feature for moving the at least one member between the retracted position and the extended position;
- and
- an actuation assembly coupled to the tubular body, the actuation assembly comprising:
- a valve assembly comprising:
- a fluid passageway extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the valve assembly;
- at least one port formed in the valve assembly in fluid communication with the actuation feature;
- an upwardly biased valve sleeve disposed within the valve assembly, the valve sleeve having at least one aperture formed therein, the valve sleeve configured to rotate relative to the valve assembly to selectively place the at least one aperture of the valve sleeve in communication with the at least one port of the valve assembly to enable fluid flow to travel through the at least one aperture in the valve sleeve and the at least one port of the valve assembly to the actuation feature in order to actuate the actuation feature and move the at least one member to the extended position;
- and
- a ball retention feature configured to selectively retain a ball dropped through the fluid passageway of the valve assembly.
A method for actuating a downhole tool, the method comprising:
- inhibiting fluid flowing through a bore of the downhole tool from flowing through at least one aperture in an actuation assembly;
- receiving a ball in a ball retention feature of the actuation assembly to at least partially restrict the flow of fluid through the bore;
- rotating a valve sleeve of the actuation assembly to an open position responsive to a force of fluid in the bore acting on the ball to enable fluid to flow through the at least one aperture in the actuation assembly and into at least one port of the actuation assembly;
- flowing fluid through the at least one port to move an actuation member connected to a downhole tool;
- actuating a portion of the downhole tool responsive to movement of the actuation member;
- and
- releasing the ball from the ball retention feature of the actuation assembly to restore the flow of fluid through the bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.