Otis Engineering Corporation

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Welldynamics, B.v.

Donald H Perkins

Thomas M Deaton

Michael Linley Fripp

Adam Davis Wright

John C Gano

Neal Gregory Skinner

Paul David Ringgenberg

Jimmie Robert Williamson

Mark D Kalman

Phillip S Sizer

John R Dennis

Kevin D Fink

Kenneth L Schwendemann

Vincent Paul Zeller

Scott Luke Miller

Adam Harold Martin

Paul I Herman

Robert Arthur Rademaker

A circulation mechanism in a subsea assembly is selectively actuated to allow fluid communication between the riser annulus and tubing string to immediately kill the well using heavy-weight fluid in the riser annulus; perform well control operations by adjusting the weight or other properties of fluid in the tubing string or riser annulus; and/or to circulate the riser of a deep-water well undergoing well testing or intervention.

Subsea mechanism to circulate fluid between a riser and tubing string

Well tools including valves operable by low electrical input. One well tool includes a valve which controls fluid communication between pressure regions in a well, the valve including a rotatable member which is biased to rotate, and a brake or clutch which prevents rotation of the member. Another valve includes a barrier which separates reactants, with the valve being operable in response to the barrier being opened and the reactants thereby reacting with each other. Yet another valve includes a barrier which separates the pressure regions, and a control circuit which heats the barrier to a weakened state. Another valve includes a member displaceable between open and closed positions, a restraining device which resists displacement of the member, and a control device which degrades or deactivates the restraining device and thereby permits the member to displace between its open and closed positions, in response to receipt of a predetermined signal.

Well tools incorporating valves operable by low electrical power input

A method of supporting a pressure bearing wall against a pressure differential applied across the wall can include positioning a support structure proximate the pressure bearing wall, the support structure having a support surface formed thereon, and the support surface contacting the pressure bearing wall and supporting the wall against the pressure differential. A pressure bearing housing assembly can include a pressure bearing wall and a support structure which supports the pressure bearing wall against a pressure differential applied across the wall. A well system can comprise a well tool including a pressure bearing housing assembly exposed to pressure in a wellbore, whereby a pressure differential is applied across a pressure bearing wall of the housing assembly, the pressure bearing wall being supported against the pressure differential by a support structure.

Pressure bearing wall and support structure therefor

A system for mixing a formation fluid sample obtained in a downhole sampling chamber. The system includes a mixing element disposed in the downhole sampling chamber. A support stand is operable to receive the downhole sampling chamber. A magnetic field generator is operably associated with the downhole sampling chamber such that when the magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field, the mixing element moves through the formation fluid sample responsive to the magnetic field, thereby mixing the formation fluid sample.

System and method of mixing a formation fluid sample in a downhole sampling chamber with a magnetic mixing element

A downhole actuator apparatus that selectively maintains a pressure differential between two pressure regions in a well. The apparatus includes a body defining first and second chambers. A piston is slidably disposed in the body and is selectively moveable between first and second positions. A barrier is disposed in the body to selectively separate the first and second chambers. A fluid is disposed in the first chamber between the barrier and the piston. A control system that is at least partially disposed within the body is operable to generate an output signal responsive to receipt of a predetermined input signal. The output signal is operable to create a failure of the barrier such that at least a portion of the fluid flows from the first chamber to the second chamber and the piston moves from the first position to the second position.

Downhole actuator apparatus having a chemically activated trigger

A fiber optic differential pressure sensor. In a described embodiment, a differential pressure sensor system for use in a subterranean well includes a fluid property sensing housing having a flow passage formed therethrough. A differential pressure sensor has an optical fiber extending in a wall having a first side and a second side, each of the first and second sides being exposed to pressure in the flow passage.

Fiber optic differential pressure sensor

A control system for applying power to a solenoid operated valve in a well completion within a borehole. The control system includes a programmable power supply for selectively applying electric power to a solenoid coil of the valve. The control system operates to apply a higher value of current to the solenoid to open the valve and a second lower value of current to maintain the operation of the solenoid in an open state and also to interrupt all current to the solenoid to close the valve. A timer controls the length of time the higher current value can be applied to the solenoid if the valve does not open and the length of delay time which must be included before again attempting to open the valve. The control system continuously monitors the state of actuation of the valve by means of an inductance monitor for determining the position of the armature of the solenoid and, thus, the state of the valve.

Monitor and control circuit for electric surface controlled subsurface

A system for the inspection of a well borehole and the formation around the borehole. The system includes a pair of concentric reeled tubings for injecting a pair of fluids into a wellbore through a wellhead, one of said fluids being an optically transparent or acoustically homogenous fluid which forms a slug of said fluid around an optical sensor which transmits signals indicative of well conditions to the surface. The other of said fluids is used to perform functions with respect to said sensor such as cooling said sensor or protect it from a corrosive environment. In addition, a fiberoptic cable construction in combination with the reel tubing is also disclosed.

Downhole reeled tubing inspection system with fiberoptic cable

A solenoid operated valve system for petroleum production wells including a solenoid operated valve securable in a well bore connected to the lower end of a tubing string extending to the surface. The valve of the system includes an outer housing, an inner wall defining a flow passageway therethrough and an annular cavity therebetween for receiving the solenoid coil and associated electrical components. The spaces in the annular cavity surrounding the solenoid coil and components is filled with an electrically insulative filler material to protect the electrical elements from borehole fluids. The solenoid operated valve has an operator tube formed of tubular sections of different magnetic characteristics so that the valve is opened against a biasing spring by a high current flow and held open by a current flow of a lower value. The valve solenoid is operable by either AC or DC current.

Method for manufacturing electric surface controlled subsurface valve

A solenoid operated valve system for petroleum production wells including a solenoid operated valve securable in a well bore connected to the lower end of a tubing string extending to the surface. The valve of the system includes an outer housing, an inner wall defining a flow passageawy therethrough and an annular cavity therebetween for receiving the solenoid coil and associated electrical components. The spaces in the annular cavity surrounding the solenoid coil and components is filled with an electrically insulative filler material to protect the electrical elements from borehole fluids. The solenoid operated valve has an operator tube formed of tubular sections of different magnetic characteristics so that the valve is opened against a biasing spring by a high current flow and held open by a current flow of a lower value. The valve solenoid is operable by either AC or DC current.

Electric surface controlled subsurface valve system

A solenoid operated valve system for petroleum production wells including a solenoid operated valve securable in a well bore connected in electrically insulated relation with the lower end of a tubing string extending to the surface and a tubing string below the valve to a well packer and an electric circuit from a control system at the surface through the tubing string to the valve and back to the surface in the casing the tubing and casing serving as the electrical conductors for opening the valve and monitoring the valve position. The solenoid operated valve has an operator tube formed of tubular sections of different magnetic characteristics so that the valve is opened against a biasing spring by a high current flow and held open by a current flow of a lower value. The valve solenoid is operable by either AC or DC current.

A power supply and control arrangement for a submersible pump and solenoid operated safety valve system. A surface control unit is connected to a downhole control unit by a three conductor cable. A single phase 400 Hz signal from the surface unit is rectified downhole and operates the solenoid to open the safety valve but is too high a frequency to affect the pump motor. A downhole detector senses full open condition of the safety valve and sends a signal to the surface where it is received by a monitor. The monitor interrupts the 400 Hz signal and applies a three phase 60 Hz signal to all three conductors of the cable to operate the pump motor and be rectified downhole to hold the solenoid and safety valve open. Loss of the valve open signal by the monitor interrupts the 60 Hz signal and disables the system until it is reset.

Solenoid operated safety valve and submersible pump system

Disclosed is an improved ball valve structure and a well safety valve utilizing the improved ball valve. The improved valve includes a metal seat member having a resilient section and control arms, which may be positioned to initially sealingly engage the seat with the ball and to compress the seat resilient section to control the force sealingly engaging the seat with the metal ball and thereby limit frictional forces opposing opening rotational forces when pushing on the seat to open the valve. The control arms are positioned by rings threaded on the seat above the control arms and below a shoulder in each arm. When the seat is moved down to open the ball valve, opening rotational forces are imparted to the valve ball through both the seat and control arms. The well safety valve utilizing the improved ball valve structure includes an annular metal valve and means increasing the force sealingly engaging the seat with the valve ball as pressure below the closed ball valve increases.

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Carrollton, TX, United States of America

Donald H Perkins