Baker Hughes Corporation

Thomas W Garay

Michael A Carmody

Brian A Roth

Jeffry S Edwards

Edward J Zisk, Jr

A downhole well valve having a variable area orifice ( ) is flow area adjusted by a sliding sleeve ( ) that is axially shifted along a tubular housing ( ) interior in a finite number of increments. A hydraulic actuator ( ) displaces a predetermined volume of hydraulic fluid with each actuator stroke. An actuator displaced volume of fluid shifts the flow control sleeve by one increment of flow area differential. An indexing mechanism ( ) associated with the sleeve provides a pressure value respective to each increment in the increment series.

Hydraulic stepping valve actuated sliding sleeve

A downhole choke in the form of a sliding sleeve valve operable in a plurality of positions including fully open, fully closed, and positions in between, is disclosed. It features a hydraulic control system that, in one embodiment, provides the motive force to move the sliding sleeve a predetermined amount for a given applied control pressure. Further increments in applied pressure result in further predetermined movements of the sliding sleeve. In another embodiment, the sliding sleeve lands in a series of grooves in the surrounding housing depending on the degree of pressure applied to the control system.

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Humble, TX, United States of America

Thomas W Garay