WAVE SPRING FLAPPER CLOSURE MECHANISM
An apparatus is disclosed herein, including a connector beam, a flapper, a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper, and a wave spring coupled to the connector beam. The flapper may be pivotally mounted to the connector beam such that it is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The wave spring rotates the flapper between the open and closed positions. A method of sealing a wellbore is disclosed herein, including the steps of: retracting a tubing member, partially decompressing a wave spring coupled to a connector beam after retracting a tubing member, collapsing a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper, and engaging a flapper with a seat positioned in a wellbore.
The present invention relates to subterranean operations and, more particularly, to a method and system for opening and closing a subsurface valve used in conjunction with such operations.
Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, are commonly obtained from subterranean formations that may be located onshore or offshore. The development of subterranean operations and the processes involved in removing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation are complex. Typically, subterranean operations involve a number of different steps such as, for example, drilling a wellbore at a desired well site, treating the wellbore to optimize production of hydrocarbons, and performing the necessary steps to produce and process the hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.
When performing subterranean operations, it may be desirable to close off a well in the event of an uncontrolled condition that may damage property, injure personnel or cause pollution. One of the mechanisms used to close off a well is a Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve (“SCSSV”). An SCSSV typically includes a flapper. The flapper is a closure member that may be pivotally mounted such that it is rotatable between a first “open” position and a second “closed” position. When in the closed position, the flapper may close off the well. However, SCSSVs are often made with many small, specialized parts that are costly to implement and/or replace.
It would be advantageous to have a fail-safe SCSSV that may be installed without the use of small, specialized parts. This would reduce costs and increase efficiency.
While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted and described and are defined by reference to examples set forth in the disclosure, such references do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe terms “couple” or “couples,” as used herein are intended to mean either an indirect or a direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect mechanical connection via other devices and connections. The terms “up” or “uphole” as used herein means along the drillstring or the hole from the distal end toward the surface, and “down” or “downhole” as used herein means along the drillstring or the hole from the surface toward the distal end. Further, the terms “up”, “uphole”, “down” and “downhole” are merely used to denote the relative location of different components and are not meant to limit the present disclosure to only a vertical well. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicable to horizontal, vertical, deviated or any other type of well.
It will be understood that the term “well” is not intended to limit the use of the equipment and processes described herein to developing an oil well. The term also encompasses developing natural gas wells or hydrocarbon wells in general. Further, such wells can be used for production, monitoring, or injection in relation to the recovery of hydrocarbons or other materials from the subsurface.
Referring now to
Turning now to
In operation of the SCSSV 200, a control line 220 may be coupled to the rod piston 202. The control line may deliver pressure to the rod piston 202 from the surface or from a desirable subsurface location. Pressure from the rod piston 202 may hold the tubing member 216 in place and in engagement with the flapper 206. Thus, when the flapper 206 is in the open position, it may be held in contact with the tubing member 216. The flapper 206 is shown in further detail in
The wave spring 318 may be made from flat wire, and may include waves that are in contact with each other, as shown in further detail by the exemplary wave spring 500 in
Turning now to
Turning now to
In operation of the system 300, when a well operator desires to shut off the well, pressure may be removed from the rod piston 202 at the surface. Thus, the tubing member 216 may move uphole, allowing the tubing member 216 to disengage from the flapper 206 and thus removing support from the flapper 206. This may allow the wave spring 318 to partially decompress and the flapper 206 to close, engaging with the seat 214.
Turning now to
In existing SCSSVs, debris may prevent the flapper closure mechanism from functioning properly and may have prevented flapper 206 from engaging with the seat 214 and closing completely. In contrast, in the improved design disclosed herein, the wave spring housing 312 and wave spring 318 may be located uphole of the flapper 206. As a result, unlike typical prior art SCSSV designs, the flapper closure mechanism disclosed herein is located outside of the direct debris path of the wellbore 116 because the wave spring housing 312 and wave spring 318 may be located uphole of the flapper 206.
As would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the methods and systems disclosed herein may be applicable to more than just SCSSVs. Accordingly, any reference to a “tubing member” is made for illustrative purposes only and is intended to generically refer to a part of a tool that is actuated by a rod piston of a control system.
The present invention is therefore well-adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends mentioned, as well as those that are inherent therein. While the disclosure has been depicted, described and is defined by references to examples of the disclosure, such a reference does not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The disclosure is capable of considerable modification, alteration and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described examples are not exhaustive of the disclosure. Consequently, the disclosure is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a connector beam;
- a flapper, wherein the flapper is pivotally mounted to the connector beam such that it is rotatable between an open position and a closed position;
- a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper; and
- a wave spring coupled to the connector beam, wherein the wave spring rotates the flapper between the open and closed positions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a seat, wherein the flapper is engaged with the seat when the flapper is in the closed position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave spring is in a compressed position
- when the flapper is in the open position, and wherein the wave spring is in a partially decompressed position when the flapper is in the closed position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- a tubing member, wherein the tubing member may be retracted, and wherein the tubing member is engaged with the flapper when the flapper is in the open position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:
- a rod piston coupled to the tubing member; and
- a control line coupled to the rod piston, wherein pressure may be delivered to or removed from the rod piston through the control line.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave spring is located uphole of the flapper.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wave spring housing, wherein the wave spring housing surrounds the wave spring, and wherein the wave spring housing is located uphole of the flapper.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave spring provides a greater operating load than a coiled spring of the same length and diameter.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus may be permanently or semi-permanently installed in a wellbore.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave spring comprises waves that deflect when compressed.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave spring comprises flat wire.
12. A method of sealing a wellbore, comprising:
- retracting a tubing member;
- partially decompressing a wave spring coupled to a connector beam after retracting a tubing member;
- collapsing a collapsible member coupled to the connector beam and to the flapper;
- engaging a flapper with a seat positioned in a wellbore.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein retracting the tubing member comprises decompressing a rod piston.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein decompressing a rod piston comprises removing pressure applied to the rod piston through a control line.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the wave spring is partially decompressed in response to the retraction of the tubing member.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wave spring is located uphole of the flapper.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the wave spring provides a greater operating load than a coiled spring of the same length and diameter.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the wave spring comprises waves that deflect when compressed.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the wave spring comprises flat wire.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the flapper may be permanently or semi-permanently installed in a wellbore.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2016
Inventors: Jeremy P. BRIMER (Wylie, TX), Leo G. COLLINS (Farmers Branch, TX)
Application Number: 14/412,226