MODULAR VALVE BODY AND METHOD OF MAKING
A modular valve body includes, a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough and the tubular has standardized fittings at both ends that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing. The body further has a first surface disposed at the tubular that is in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface is receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat, and a second surface disposed at the tubular is receptive to a circuit configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.
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This application contains subject matter related to the subject matter of co-pending applications, which are assigned to the same assignee as this application, Baker Hughes Incorporated of Houston, Tex. The below listed applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety:
U.S. Patent Application Attorney Docket No. 274-49267-US, entitled TUBULAR VALVE SYSTEM AND METHOD; and
U.S. Patent Application Attorney Docket No. 274-49268-US, entitled TUBULAR VALVING SYSTEM AND METHOD.
BACKGROUNDA variety of valves have been developed to control fluidic access between an inner bore of a tubular and an outside of the tubular, such as, tubulars that are positionable within a wellbore for recovery of hydrocarbons, for example. These valves each have specific characteristics designed to enable the valve to achieve the specific purposes for which the valve is intended. The proliferation of such valves can add to costs associated with operating a well. For example, a well operator who decides to maintain an inventory of each of the valves deployed to facilitate quick repair or replacement of a valve when needed, will encounter at least the cost for each valve held in inventory. Devices and method that would reduce costs associated with such an inventory would be well received by downhole operators.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONDisclosed herein is a modular valve body. The body includes, a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough and the tubular has standardized fittings at both ends that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing. The body further has a first surface disposed at the tubular that is in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface is receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat, and a second surface disposed at the tubular is receptive to a circuit configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.
Further disclosed herein is a method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing. The method includes, coupling one of a plurality of modular valve bodies within a drillstring or tubing, anchoring a selected modular valve to the modular valve body, fluidically coupling the selected modular valve to at least one port fluidically connecting an inner bore of the modular valve body to an outside of the modular valve body, mounting a control circuit to the modular valve body, and functionally connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
The inner bore 18 is eccentric with respect to an outer perimetrical surface 46 of the tubular 14. This eccentricity allows the first surface 26 to be closer to an axis of the tubular 14 than would be possible had the inner bore 18 been concentric with the outer perimetrical surface 46. By being closer to the axis of the tubular 14 the first surface 26 permits mounting of modular valves 34 with a larger radial dimension 50. Additionally, the eccentricity permits optional walls 54A, 54B and 54C to extend from the first surface 26 a greater distance as well. The walls 54A and 54B in this embodiment extend perpendicular to the first surface 26 and parallel to the axis of the tubular 14 and intersect with the outer perimetrical surface 46 thereby forming a channel 58 therebetween. A width 62 of the channel 58 is selected to accommodate a width 66 of the modular valves 34 while still allowing enough height 70 of the walls 54A, 54B to protect the modular valve 34 positioned therebetween over its full radial dimension 50. The wall 54C is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the tubular 14 and also extends to intersect with the outer perimetrical surface 46. A hole 74 in the wall 54C is receptive to a portion (not shown) of the modular valve 34 to stabilize the modular valve 34 during actuation thereof. Additional stabilization or anchoring of the modular valve 34 to the tubular 14 is with fasteners (not shown) that fasten the modular valve 34 to the first surface 26 via holes 78, such as tapped holes, for example.
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A sleeve 106 (shown herein as partially broken away) can surroundingly engage the tubular 14 on either longitudinal end of the area defined by the second surface 38 to thereby shield the circuit 42 from damage due to contact being made therewith. The sleeve 106 can also be sealingly engaged to the tubular 14 with the aid of seals 110, for example, to thereby protect the circuit 42 further from exposure to chemicals within which the modular valve bodies 10, 12 may be submerged.
A channel 114, illustrated herein as a hole bored through a portion of the tubular 14 defined between the first surface 26, the outer perimetrical surface 46 and the inner bore 18, is receptive of a signal carrier 118, such as a control line, for example. The signal carrier 118 can carry electrical signals, optical signals, hydraulic signals, and other signals or combinations of two or more of these. One or more auxiliary bores 120A, 120B can connect the channel 114 to either of the surfaces 26, 38 or to volumes defined thereby such that communication and/or power can be supplied to either or both of the circuit 42 and the modular valve 34 via the one or more auxiliary bores 120A, 120B.
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While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Claims
1. A modular valve body comprising:
- a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the tubular having standardized fittings at both ends thereof that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing;
- a first surface disposed at the tubular being in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface being receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat; and
- at least one second surface disposed at the tubular receptive to a circuit, the circuit being configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.
2. The modular valve body of claim 1, wherein the inner bore is eccentric relative to an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular.
3. The modular valve body of claim 1, wherein the first surface and the at least one second surface are longitudinally offset from one another.
4. The modular valve body of claim 1, further comprising at least one wall extending from the first surface in a direction away from the inner bore.
5. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is substantially perpendicular to the first surface.
6. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is two walls spaced apart to receive one of the plurality of selectable modular valves therebetween.
7. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall intersects with an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular.
8. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is substantially parallel with an axis of the tubular.
9. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the tubular.
10. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall includes at least one mounting feature receptive to a portion of one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.
11. The modular valve body of claim 10, wherein the at least one mounting feature is a hole.
12. The modular valve body of claim 1, further comprising one or more longitudinal channels through at least a portion of the modular valve body.
13. The modular valve body of claim 12, wherein the one or more longitudinal channels are receptive to one or more signal carriers.
14. The modular valve body of claim 12, further comprising at least one auxiliary bore fluidically connecting the longitudinal channel with a volume defined at least in part by at least one of the first surface and the at least one second surface.
15. The modular valve body of claim 1, the tubular being receptive to a sleeve on either longitudinal side of the at least one second surface.
16. The modular valve body of claim 15, wherein the tubular is sealable to the sleeve at both longitudinal sides of the at least one second surface.
17. A method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing, comprising:
- coupling one of a plurality of modular valve bodies within a drillstring or tubing;
- anchoring a selected modular valve to the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies;
- fluidically coupling the selected modular valve to at least one port fluidically connecting an inner bore of the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies to an outside of the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies;
- mounting a control circuit to the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies; and
- functionally connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve.
18. The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of claim 17, further comprising shielding the selected modular valve within a channel on the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies.
19. The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of claim 17, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of modular valves.
20. The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of claim 17, further comprising connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve via a signal carrier mounted within the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 2, 2009
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2011
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (Houston, TX)
Inventors: Paul Joseph (Missouri City, TX), John R. Abarca (Houston, TX), Luis E. Mendez (Houston, TX)
Application Number: 12/497,070
International Classification: E21B 23/00 (20060101);