Abstract: A contingency for non-operation of a valve in a side pocket mandrel of production tubing includes creating a selective barrier to fluid communication across sidewalls of the production tubing. The barrier is formed by an insert that is installed in the side pocket mandrel, which includes a valve that responds to pressures inside and outside the production tubing to selectively allow fluid flow across the production tubing sidewalls. Types of the valve include a surface controlled gas lift valve, an inflow control valve, and an inflow control device.

Abstract: A valve system controls flow into a downhole production string, and which includes a downhole valve with a port formed in a sidewall of a production string disposed in a wellbore, and a sleeve that is slidable along the production string to block or allow flow through the port. An actuator assembly exerts a sliding force onto the sleeve, and is made up of multiple actuators arranged along an outer surface of the production string. Each actuator has an electrically powered motor and a stem connected to the motor. An opposite end of each stem connects to an end of the sleeve. Energizing the motors causes linear movement of the stems and connected sleeve to open and close the valve.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve seat, a valve member, a compliant seal assembly, and a non-compliant seal assembly. The compliant seal assembly includes an elastomeric seal member mounted to the valve seat or valve member, compressing the elastomeric seal member between the valve seat and valve member blocks flow between the valve seat and valve member. A gap remains between the valve seat and valve member when the elastomeric seal member is compressed. The non-compliant seal assembly includes opposing seal faces on the valve seat and valve member, the non-compliant seal assembly is activated by contacting the seal faces and biasing the seal faces together to elastically deform the seal faces. When the compliant seal assembly is activated, there is no gap between the valve seat and valve member, and the elastomeric seal member is fully compressed or removed.

Abstract: A contingency valve provides redundancy to a surface controlled flow control valve for blocking flow into production tubing from a surrounding annulus when the surface controlled flow control valve is not operational. The surface controlled flow control valve and the contingency valve are disposed in an eccentric portion of the production tubing, and include valve members that are selectively disposed in a path of the flow within a sidewall of the production tubing. Valve members in the contingency valve are urged into the flow path by pressurizing hydraulic fluid downhole or by using a shifting tool. The types of surface controlled flow control valves include an inflow control device, an inflow control valve, and a gas lift valve.

Abstract: A surface controlled flow control valve (“SCFCV”) used in a wellbore is protected from potentially damaging substances by adding a temporary plug that blocks communication between the substances and the valve. Potentially damaging substances include corrosive fluids, fluids with entrained particles, cement, or other substances that harden over time. The types of SCFCV valves include gas lift valves and inflow control valves. The plug is made from a material that is initially cohesive and blocks the substance from contacting the valve. But after a designated period of time, the material degrades and is no longer sufficiently cohesive to act as a barrier and shield the valve from the substance. Before the designated time expires, wellbore procedures involving flowing the substance in the wellbore are completed, and the wellbore is flushed before the valve operation resumes.

Abstract: A piloted valve in a production string is actuated for injecting gas into a production string for gas assisted plunger lift (“GAPL”) operations in a well. Actuation of the piloted valve occurs by operation of a surface controlled gas lift valve having an outlet in communication with the piloted valve. The piloted valve is installed in a side pocket mandrel of the production string, and after formation pressure around a well has dropped to a level requiring assisted lift.

Abstract: A production string is installed in a well that includes production tubing and a control sub. In the control sub is a control system that controls both operation of an inflow control valve (“ICV”) in the production string and chemical injection into the production string. The chemical injection is provided from surface through injection tubing installed in the well, which connects to a directional valve included with the control system. Positioning the directional valve diverts chemical injection to reposition the ICV between an open and closed configuration, or injects the chemical injection into the production string. A surface controlled actuator is used to operate the directional valve.

Abstract: A well system having a wellbore that intersects a subterranean formation, a valve station in the wellbore, and a primary controller on surface that communicates with the valve station using wireless telemetry. The valve station includes a valve member that controls a flow of fluid in the wellbore, an actuator for operating the valve member, and a valve controller that provides command signals to the actuator for positioning the valve member. The primary controller sends command signals that are receivable when the telemetry is operational. The valve controller is programmed to control operation of the valve actuator and valve member when telemetry is suspended and so that the valve station operates autonomously when out of signal communication with the primary controller and until signal communication is reestablished.

Abstract: A bi-directional valve with valve elements having compliant features biasing them together to maintain a sealing interface that defines a fluid communication barrier within the valve. Parting the valve elements from one another removes the sealing interface allow fluid communication across the valve elements. The valve includes a side port and a choke member that selectively blocks fluid flow through the valve when moved adjacent the side port and selectively opens the valve to fluid communication when moved away from the side port. The choke member remains adjacent the side port until the valve elements are spaced a distance apart greater than that at which valve erosion or fluid cavitation occurs. Also included with the valve are systems for counterbalancing forces exerted onto the valve from differential pressures.

Abstract: A bi-directional valve with valve elements having compliant features biasing them together to maintain a sealing interface that defines a fluid communication barrier within the valve. Parting the valve elements from one another removes the sealing interface to allow fluid communication across the valve elements. The valve includes a side port and a choke member that selectively blocks fluid flow through the valve when moved adjacent the side port and selectively opens the valve to fluid communication when moved away from the side port. The choke member remains adjacent the side port until the valve elements are spaced a distance apart greater than that at which valve erosion or fluid cavitation occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing fluid from a wellbore includes production tubing in the wellbore, an annulus around the tubing, and a chemical injection system for injecting chemical additive into the production tubing from the annulus. The chemical additive system includes an injection module with a valve that is selectively opened and closed by operating an actuator. When the valve is opened, the chemical additive is injected into the tubing in response to a pressure differential between the annulus and tubing. The injection module is surface-controlled and downhole conditions are monitored, so that a flow of chemical additive injection is initiated, adjusted, or suspended in real time.