DEVICE FOR FIXING A VALVE TO A TUBULAR MEMBER
A device for fixing a valve (1) to a tubular member (2) being situated in wellbore formed in a subterranean reservoir and is having at least one drainage section (11) including a plurality of such valves as to allow the flow of fluid into and out from the tubular member, respectively. According to the present invention the valve (2) is secured to the tubular member (1) by means of a sleeve portion (3), the sleeve portion being part of the valve or is formed like a separate sleeve (4) into which the valve is to be arranged.
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The present invention relates to a device for fixing a valve to a tubular member, in particular valves being adapted to control the flow of fluid out from or into a subterranean reservoir.
When valves are to be mounted to tubular members, practice has shown that difficulties are easily occurring. Problems arise in finding a appropriate and simple way for the fixation as such. It is nor obvious that the valves remain in a fixed position during situations in which the tubular member is lowered into a wellbore or a workover tool is running therethrough.
Therefore, a main object is to provide for simple and cost-effective mounting of the valves radially through the wall of the tubular member or axially disposed therein. It is also an object to provide for a fixation involving the valves are not susceptible of being unintentionally detached from the tubular member but, if needed, also is able of being removed, e.g. to replace a damaged valve in situ.
These objects are achieved by a device for fixing a valve to a tubular member being situated in wellbore formed in a subterranean reservoir and is having at least one drainage section including a plurality of such valves as to allow the flow of fluid into and out from the tubular member, respectively, distinguishing itself in that the valve is secured to the tubular member by means of a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion being part of the valve or is formed like a separate socket into which the valve is to be arranged. Favourable embodiments are specified in the dependent patent claims and are, briefly spoken, involving that the valve can be secured by means of threads and/or at least one weld, be stabilised by using an insert in an area between the valve and tubular member, be mounted in level with or above or below the outer or inner surface of the tubular member, and be mounted in an radial or axial direction to the tubular member.
Now, the present invention is to be described more in detail with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:
At first, some general observations are to been given. As illustrated in
As already mentioned above, the present device is developed for the fixation a valve 1 to a tubular member 2 to control the flow of fluid out from or into a subterranean reservoir, not shown. Thus, the tubular member is to be situated in a wellbore formed in such subterranean reservoirs to produce hydrocarbons, for instance, or inject various injection fluids out from and into the reservoir, respectively. The tubular member is having at least one drainage section 11 including a plurality of such valves as to allow the flow of fluid into or out from the tubular member. According to the present invention each of the valves is secured to the tubular member by means of a sleeve portion 3, and the sleeve portion is an integrated part of the valve, i.e. a monolithic component thereof, or is formed like a separate socket 4; 4′ into which the valve is to be arranged.
According to a first embodiment the valve has a sleeve portion 3, see
As an alternative embodiment, see
According to
The sleeve portion 3 must necessarily not be formed in level with the outer surface of the valve shaft 36 but can, if needed, extend outside this surface, not illustrated. Such a configuration is useful in case of an elastomeric insert 5 including a bushing made from metal to prevent over-tightening of the valve 1, not illustrated.
In yet another embodiment, see
To prevent a lower portion of the valve 1 from making a sharp egde which is able to destory objects being lowered into the tubular member 2, for instance, an inner lining 6 is provided to surround this lower portion extending below an inner surface of the tubular member. As depicted in
Normally, the valves 1 are arranged in a radial direction through the tubular member 2 but there can be situations in which the valves are to be axially mounted inside the tubular member, e.g. to control the flow of fluid in a branch pipe and the like. Then, as illustrated by
Claims
1. A device for fixing a valve to a tubular member being situated in wellbore formed in a subterranean reservoir and having at least one drainage section including a plurality of such valves to allow the flow of fluid into and out from the tubular member, respectively, wherein the valve is secured to the tubular member by means of a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion being part of the valve or being formed like a separate socket into which the valve is to be arranged.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion comprises threads formed peripherally in an outer surface of the valve.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the connection of threads is supplemented by a glue or soldering.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connection of threads is supplemented by a weld arranged in an area between the tubular member and valve.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion is fastened using a weld totally filling the gap between the sleeve portion and tubular member or alternatively both a wedge weld and weld deposit.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein an insert is arranged in an area between the valve flange and tubular member.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein a seal is arranged in the insert and/or valve flange.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein when formed like a separate socket, the sleeve portion is provided with threads formed in a surface facing the valve.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the socket is secured to the tubular member by means of a weld.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein a seal is arranged in an area between the sleeve and valve flange.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the socket is provided with a recess enabling the valve to be situated below an outer surface of the tubular member.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the socket is provided with a groove to accommodate the valve flange and a lock ring.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular member is provided with an inner lining surrounding a lower portion of the valve.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the lining is a monolithic part of the tubular member.
15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the tubular member is provided with a recess enabling the valve to be situated below an outer surface thereof.
16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the socket is orientated in a longitudinal direction inside the tubular member.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein a partition is arranged inside the tubular member having more than one opening therethrough to accommodate the sockets.
18. The device according to claim 2, wherein an insert is arranged in an area between the valve flange and tubular member.
19. The device according to claim 3, wherein an insert is arranged in an area between the valve flange and tubular member.
20. The device according to claim 4, wherein an insert is arranged in an area between the valve flange and tubular member.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 11, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 31, 2011
Applicant: Statoil ASA (Stavanger)
Inventors: Vidar Mathiesen (Porsgrunn), Haavard Aakre (Skien), Bjørnar Werswick (Langesund)
Application Number: 12/922,419