Improved Autonomous Well Valve

Abstract

An improved autonomous well valve has a body that constitutes an actuator for opening and closing of first and second valves. The body has a body axis of symmetry. The body, which in operation is submerged, has an effective density that is equal or greater than the density of a first fluid and less than the density of a second fluid. The body is placed in a housing, the housing having a housing axis of symmetry. At least two first valves are designed to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing. The body axis at the first valves is restricted from moving above the housing axis.

Claims

1. An improved autonomous well valve comprising a body that constitutes an actuator for opening and closing of at least two first valves, the body having an body axis of symmetry, and wherein the body, when submerged, has an effective density that is equal or greater than a density of a first fluid and less than a density of a second fluid, and wherein the body is located in a housing, the housing having a housing axis of symmetry, wherein the first valves, which are configured to allow flow between inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and wherein the body axis is restricted from moving above the housing axis.

2. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first valves, when positioned above the body axis, is open when the body axis is a predetermined distance below the housing axis.

3. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 1, wherein the first valves are closed when the body axis at the first valves is level with the housing axis.

4. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 1, wherein at least two second valves, which are configured to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and where the body axis at the second valves is restricted from moving below the housing axis.

5. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the second valves, when positioned above the body axis, is open when the body axis at the second valves is a predetermined distance above the housing axis.

6. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 4, wherein the second valves are closed when the body axis at the second valves is level with the housing axis.

7. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 2, wherein the first valves are closed when the body axis at the first valves is level with the housing axis.

8. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 2, wherein at least two second valves, which are configured to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and where the body axis at the second valves is restricted from moving below the housing axis.

9. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 3, wherein at least two second valves, which are configured to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and where the body axis at the second valves is restricted from moving below the housing axis.

10. The improved autonomous well valve according to claim 5, wherein the second valves are closed when the body axis at the second valves is level with the housing axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In the following is described examples of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a principal sketch in cross section a well valve according to the invention in its open position;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the same as in FIG. 1, but where the valve is in its closed position;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a section IIa-IIa of the valve in FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a section IIb-IIb of the valve in FIG. 2;

[0038] FIG. 5 shows to a larger scale a first valve;

[0039] FIG. 6 shows to a larger scale a second valve;

[0040] FIG. 7 shows a principal sketch of a two way valve; and

[0041] FIG. 8 shows the well valve positioned in a well where water is directed into a different formation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] On the drawings, the reference number 1 denotes a well valve that includes a body 2 that in operation is submerged. The body 2 is positioned between a first member 4 and a second member 6 in a housing 8. In this preferred embodiment the members 4, 6 and housing 8 provides a room 10 for the body 2. Fluid may enter the room 10 via an opening 12.

[0043] At its first end portion 14 that is closest to the first member 4, the body 2 is provided with a central conical recess 16. Similarly, the first member 4 is provided with a conical recess 16 opposing the conical recess 16 of the first end portion 14

[0044] A ball 18 is positioned between the said conical recesses 16.

[0045] Similarly, conical recesses 16 with a ball 18 in between are provided at a second end portion 20 of the body 2 and in the second member 6. The conical recess 16 in the second member 6 constitute a body support 22.

[0046] The length of the body 2 is chosen to give room for some axial movement of the body 2 between the first and second members 4, 6. The housing 8 has a housing axis 24 of symmetry. The body 2 has a body axis 26 of symmetry.

[0047] A ball race 28 with at least one race ball 30 surrounds the body 2. The ball race 28 is fixed to the housing 8. Gravity will ensure that the at least one race ball 30 is positioned at its lowermost position in the ball race 28.

[0048] A flange like ring 32 on the body 2 abuts the race ball 30 and bias the body 2 towards the second member 6 and the body support 22 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0049] A set of first valves 34 are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The main purpose of the items 16-22 and 28-32 is to secure that the body axis 26 is not allowed to rise above and not too far below the housing axis 24 at the first valves 34. Alternatively, other known, not shown mechanisms may be utilized for the same purpose.

[0050] In this preferred embodiment three first valves 34, see FIG. 3, are evenly spaced around the body axis 26. Each first valve 34 has a first valve body 36 that is hingedly fixed to the body 2. The first valve 34 positioned above the body axis 26 is considered below. See also FIG. 5

[0051] The first valve body 36 is slideably movable in a first valve seat 38 that penetrates the housing 8. The first valve seat 38 is hingedly fixed to the housing 8. A first channel 40 of the first valve body 36 extends from the outside of the housing 8 through the first valve body 36 and has an opening 42 that emerges in the room 10 when the body axis 26 is a predetermined distance below the housing axis 24 at the first valves 34. The first valve 34 is then open.

[0052] As a fluid of higher density is flowing into the well valve 1, the body 2 is rising in the fluid along the body support 22. The movement includes a component that moves the body 2 axially towards the first member 4 when the ring 32 is following the surface of the race ball 30. This axial movement may also be used for opening and closing individual valves not shown.

[0053] When the body axis 26 is level with the housing axis 24, the opening 42 is inside the first valve seat 38 and the first valve 36 is closed.

[0054] The opening 42 of the first valves 34 that are below the body axis 26, are at all times inside their respective first valve seat 38 and thus closed.

[0055] In the section IIb-IIb shown in FIG. 4, the ball 18 is not shown.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment where the well valve 1 has a set of second valves 44 and where the second valves 44 are set up to make the well valve 1 a two ways valve, here shown in an inclined position. A second fluid that has a higher density than the body 2 surrounds the body 2. As the body 2 then is in its higher position in the housing 8, the first valves 34 are closed and a second valve 44 that is positioned above the body axis 26, is open, see also FIG. 6.

[0057] Each second valve 44 has a second valve body 46 that is hingedly fixed to the body 2. The second valve 44 positioned above the body axis 26 is considered below.

[0058] The second valve body 46 is slidably movable in a second valve seat 48 that penetrates the housing 8. The second valve seat 48 is hingedly fixed to the housing 8.

[0059] A second channel 50 of the second valve body 46 extends from the inside of the housing 8 through the second valve body 46 and has an opening 52 that emerges outside the housing 8 when the body axis 26 is a predetermined distance above the housing axis 24 at the second valves 44.

[0060] As a fluid of lower density is flowing into the well valve 1, the body 2 is sinking in the fluid along the body support 22 until the body axis 26 reaches the housing axis 24 at the second valves 44. All second valves 44 are then closed.

[0061] A partition 54 divides the outside of the housing 8.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows a tubing string 56 that is extending into a well 58 in the ground 60. A valve 1 is included in the tubing string 56. A pipe 62 is extending from the valve 1 and into a formation 62 in the ground 60.

[0063] When the well 58 is producing water, the body 2 of the valve 1 will be in the position shown in FIG. 7. Water will thus be directed via the opening 52 of the second valve 44 and the pipe 62 to the formation 64.

[0064] Individual first and second valves 34, 44 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Other known valves, not shown may alternatively be utilized.

[0065] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb comprise and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article a or an preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0066] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.