EA029960B1 - Finger valve and method for controlling flow in a pipe using such valve - Google Patents

Abstract

Described herein are a finger valve and method for controlling flow in a pipe string using such valve. Specifically, described is a finger valve comprising a base pipe (100) and a sliding sleeve (200). The base pipe (100) can comprise a finger port (102), a plurality of fingers (101) and one or more hinges (103), each of the hinges connecting one of the fingers (101) to the base pipe (100). The sliding sleeve (200) can comprise a first sleeve (202) with in inner surface comprising a void (205) and a depressor (206). The first sleeve can be positionable in a first position and a second position. In the first position, the depressor (206) can push the plurality of fingers (101) into a closed position. In the second position, the void (205) can rest the plurality of fingers (101), allowing the at least one of the plurality of fingers (101) to move into an open position.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TO THE EURASIAN PATENT

(45) Date of publication and issuance of a patent 2018.06.29 (51) Ιπί. C1. Е21В 34/14 (2006.01) Е21В 43/26 (2006.01) E21B 21/10 (2006.01) (21) Request number 201590096 (22) application date 2013.09.20

(54) DISTRIBUTION VALVE AND METHOD OF FLOW MANAGEMENT IN THE PIPE BY MEANS OF SUCH VALVE

(43) 2016.01.29

(δβ) PCT / EP2013 / 069576

(87) 2015/039696 2015.03.26

(71) (73) Applicant and patent holder:

FLOUPRO VEL TECHNOLOGY AS (ΝΟ)

(72) Inventor:

Brekke Christian (ΝΟ)

(74) Representative:

Nosyreva E.L. (Κϋ)

(56) EP-A2-2360347 υδ-Α-3768562 υδ-Β1-6230811 υδ-Β1-6244342 υδ-Α1-2005183856 υδ-Α1-2007295516

(57) The invention describes a distribution valve and a method for controlling flow in a pipe string using such a valve. In particular, a control valve is described comprising a main pipe (100) and a sliding sleeve (200). The main pipe (100) may contain a nest (102), several petals (101) and one or several hinges (103), with each hinge connecting one of the petals (101) with the main pipe (100). The slip clutch (200) may comprise a first clutch (202) with an inner surface comprising a pocket (205) and a reducing member (206). The first clutch can be configured to move to the first position and to the second position. In the first position, the reducing element (206) can push several petals (101) to the closed position. In the second position, the pocket (205) can hold several petals (101), allowing at least one of several petals (101) to move to the open position.

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Background of the invention

This description relates to a system and method for controlling flow in a pipe string using a distribution valve.

Over the years, the demand for natural gas and oil has increased significantly, making low-yield oil and gas fields economically viable, with hydraulic fracturing playing an important role in such energy production around the world. For several decades, various technologies have been used to improve the method of extracting resources from oil and gas wells. Long horizontal boreholes with multiple fractures are one of the widely used methods to increase oil and gas production from wells. This method begins after drilling a well and installing an equipped well in the well bore. Multi-stage fracturing is a method that involves injecting a large amount of pressurized fluid or gel, proppant and / or other chemicals into the wellbore to create separate multiple fractures in the field along the wellbore.

One of the technologically advanced methods currently used is simultaneous hydraulic fracturing with the use of propping agents up to thirty fractures in a single injection operation. This method involves the use of a proppant to prevent gaps from closing. However, this technique can often cause an uneven distribution of the proppant between the gaps, which reduces the effectiveness of the fracturing system. As a result, this technique can also cause the spread of gaps in areas that are outside the target field. Thus, this method may be inefficient and unsafe.

In addition, fracturing with the use of propping agents usually involves several steps and requires several types of equipment for successful implementation. Such a technique, which ensures a uniform distribution of the proppant between the gaps, largely depends on the location of the plugs between the fracturing steps or the use of larger fracture balls. In these methods, either plugs are positioned after each drilling and injection of the fracture, or the fracture balls are dropped from the surface to successfully open the fracture valves located along the well. At each stage, balls of different diameters are dropped into the well corresponding to a specific valve seat for fracturing. The ball does not go beyond a certain point in the well due to a decrease in the diameter of the well. Once the ball is at a given location, fracturing may occur. After fracturing, plugs must be drilled and balls must be removed. At each stage of hydraulic fracturing during the installation of the plugs, a lot of time and energy is expended when lifting the drill string from the well between the stages and drilling out the plugs. In addition, surface rigs are usually rented by the day, and thus, any delays can be extremely costly. In addition, only approximately 12 different fracturing steps are possible with the method using a ball before reducing the inflow zone due to the fact that the small ball diameter makes it difficult to fracture due to large pressure losses.

Thus, it would be useful to obtain a system and method for controlling the flow in a pipe string using a distribution valve.

A brief description of the invention

The following is a description of the system and method of controlling the flow in a pipe string using a distribution valve. In particular, a control valve containing a main pipe and a sliding sleeve is described. The main tube may contain a nest, several petals; one or more hinges, with each hinge connecting one of the petals to the main pipe. The slip clutch may comprise a slip clutch comprising a first clutch with an inner surface, comprising a pocket and a converging element. The first coupling is arranged to be positioned in the first position and in the second position. In the first position, the reducing element may push several petals to the closed position. In the second position, the pocket can hold several petals with the possibility of moving at least one of several petals to the open position.

Also described is a method for controlling flow in a pipe string using a distribution valve, which includes the steps of connecting the main pipe to the pipe string and bringing the sliding sleeve from the first position to the second position. The main tube may contain a nest, several petals; one or more hinges, with each hinge connecting one of the petals to the main pipe. The sliding sleeve may comprise a first sleeve with an inner surface comprising a pocket and a reducing member. In the first position, the reducing element may push several petals to the closed position. In the second position, the pocket can hold several petals with the possibility of moving at least one of several petals to the open position.

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Brief description of graphic materials

FIG. 1A shows a side view of the main pipe.

FIG. 1B is a front view of the main pipe.

FIG. 1C is a sectional view of the main pipe.

FIG. 2A shows a sliding clutch connected to a stationary clutch by means of an actuating device and located in line with the outer ring.

FIG. 2B is a front view of the sliding sleeve.

FIG. 2C shows a sectional view of the sliding sleeve.

FIG. 2Ό shows a sectional view of the sliding sleeve, which further comprises a fixed sleeve and an actuating device.

FIG. ZA shows a perspective view of the outer ring.

FIG. ZV shows outer ring front view.

FIG. 4A shows the valve body.

FIG. 4B in the valve body is shown a slot for fracturing.

FIG. 4C a process slot is shown in the valve body.

FIG. 5 shows the control valve in the closed state.

FIG. 6 shows the control valve in the open state.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The following is a description of the system and method for controlling the flow in a pipe using a distribution valve. The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to perform and apply the invention as set forth in the claims, and is provided in the context of the specific examples described below, changes to which are obvious to those skilled in the art. For the purpose of simplification, not all features of the present invention are given in this detailed description. It should be noted that when developing any such implementation of the present invention (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve specific design goals (for example, consistency with the limitations associated with the system and commercial activities), and these goals differ in different implementations inventions. It should also be noted that such a task for development may be difficult and time consuming, but is nevertheless a standard operation carried out by specialists in the relevant field of technology familiar with the advantage of the description of this invention. Accordingly, the claims attached to this document should be understood not as limited to the described embodiments, but as corresponding to their widest scope in accordance with the features and distinctive features described in this document.

FIG. 1A shows a side view of the main pipe 100. The main pipe can be attached as part of a pipe string. In one embodiment, the main tube 100 may be cylindrical and may comprise a tab 101 and a socket 102. In FIG. 1B shows a lobe 101, while the lobe 101 may be connected to the main pipe 100 by means of a hinge 103. In one embodiment, the first displacement device 104 may also displace the main pipe 100 to the petal 101. In yet another embodiment, the first displacement device 104 may be functionally part of the hinge 103. By connecting the first displacement device with the petal 101 and the main pipe 100, the petal can be shifted to the open or closed position. For illustrative purposes, the description shows a petal 101 shifted to the open position. In one embodiment, the main pipe 100 may also include a first part of a slit 105 for fracturing and / or a process slit 106. The first part of a slit 105 for fracturing may consist of one or more holes, and the technological slot 106 may also consist of one or more holes in main pipe 100.

FIG. 1C is a front view of the main pipe 100. The main pipe 100 may further comprise a cavity 107. When the petals 101 are in the open position, the cavity 107 may be a hollow space or a hole capable of passing the medium through itself. However, when the petals 101 are in the closed position, the petals 101 come together to provide significant or complete blockage of the cavity 107, largely or completely preventing the passage of media through the main pipe 100.

FIG. 1Ό shows a cross-sectional view of the main pipe 100, further comprising a main ring 108. In one embodiment, the socket 102 may be a plurality of holes spaced radially around the main pipe 100. In another embodiment, the socket 102 may be a cylindrical segment aligned with the main pipe 100. The first part of the slit 105 for fracturing may be located circumferentially around the middle part of the main pipe 100. Technological slot 106 may be located around the circumference STI around the rear portion of the main pipe 100.

FIG. 2A shows a sliding clutch 200 connected to a fixed clutch by means of an actuating device 208 and located in one line with the outer ring 209. In one

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embodiment, the sliding sleeve 200 may be a cylindrical element, which may contain the second part of the slot 105 for fracturing. In one embodiment, the sliding sleeve 200 may have a hole large enough to accommodate the main pipe 100. In FIG. 2B is a front view of the sliding sleeve 200. Slip coupling 200 may further comprise a coupling cavity 201. The cavity 201 of the coupling may be a large enough hole to accommodate the main pipe 100.

FIG. 2C shows a sectional view of the sliding sleeve 200. The slip sleeve 200 may include a first sleeve 202 and a second sleeve 203. In addition, the first sleeve 202 and the second sleeve 203 may be connected using one or more curved plates 204, the distance between each of the curved plate 204 forming part of the slit 105 for fracturing. The inner surface of the first clutch 202 may comprise surface elements that interact with several lobes 101. The surface elements may comprise a first element and a second element. The first element may be one or more pockets 205, and the second element may be a reducing element 206 capable of leading the petals 101 to the closed state. Pocket 205 may extend radially around the entire inner diameter of the main pipe 100, partially around the inner diameter, or locally in the same radial position. When placed completely around the inside diameter, the edges of the inside surface may have a smaller diameter than the pocket. At a local location, the pocket 205 may comprise a plurality of local recesses located radially along the inner surface of the sliding sleeve 200.

FIG. 2Ό shows a cross-sectional view of a sliding sleeve 200, further comprising a fixed sleeve 207 connected to the fixed sleeve 207 by means of an actuator 208 and aligned with the outer ring 209. In one embodiment, the actuator 208 may be a bias device, such as a spring. The second clutch 203 of the slip clutch 200 may be attached to the fixed clutch 207 using the actuating device 208. In one embodiment, in which the actuating device 208 is a biasing device, the sliding clutch 200 may be pulled in the direction of the fixed clutch 207, thereby compressing or otherwise leading the bias device 208 to a voltage, imparting potential energy to it. The biasing device 208 may then be released or otherwise actuated by pushing the sliding sleeve 200 out of the stationary sleeve 207. In another embodiment, the actuator 208 may retract the sliding sleeve 200 to its original position. The fixed coupling 207 is depicted in the preceding drawings as a cylinder, but in practice it may not have a closed loop. Instead, the fixed coupling can be any device or devices connected to the main pipe 100, providing support to the actuating device 208 for connecting to or for actuating the sliding coupling 200. In one embodiment, the fixed coupling 205 can be an integral part of the actuating device 208.

FIG. The ZA shows a perspective view of the outer ring 209. In one embodiment, the outer ring 209 may be a solid cylindrical tube forming an annular cavity 301, as can be seen from FIG. ZV. In another embodiment, the outer ring 209 may be attached to the main ring 108 of the main pipe 100. In one embodiment, the outer ring 209 may be a closed, cylindrical, solid material. The annular cavity 301 may be a cavity formed inside the outer ring 209. The annular cavity 301 is large enough to slide along the main pipe 100. The outer ring 209 may be attached to the main pipe 100. In one embodiment, the outer ring 209 may be used to stop the advancement the sliding sleeve 200 during actuation.

FIG. 4A illustrates a valve body 400. In one embodiment, the valve body 400 may be a cylindrical product, which may comprise a third part of the fracture slot 105 and a process slot 106. As such, the third part of the hydraulic fracture slot 105 may be several openings located around the circumference of the valve body 400, as seen of figs. 4B. In addition, the process slot 106 may be one or more openings located around the circumference of the valve body 400, as can be seen from FIG. 4C.

FIG. 5 shows the control valve 500 in the closed state. In one embodiment, in which the distribution valve 500 may be used for fracturing the formation, the distribution valve 500 may comprise a main pipe 100, a sliding sleeve 200, an outer ring 209 and / or a valve body 400. In such an embodiment, the main pipe 100 may be the distributor valve casing 500 closest to the center. The middle casing around the main pipe 100 may be an outer ring 209 fixed to the main pipe 100 and the sliding sleeve 200, while the fixed sleeve 207 is fixed to the main pipe 100. The distribution valve 500 may comprise a valve body 400 as an outer enclosure. In one embodiment, the valve body 400 may be connected to the main ring 108, the outer ring 209 and the fixed coupling 207. In the position for fracturing, the slit 105 for fracturing

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can be aligned and open due to the relative position of the main pipe 100 and the sliding sleeve 200.

In the open position, the bias device 208 may be in a stressed state to further actuate the hinges and push the lobe 101 into the cavity 107. In this state, the lobe 101 may be in the closed position, blocking the flow of fluid into the cavity 107. The distribution valve 500 may be used for fracturing, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, while in the closed state, the fracture slot 105 will be open, allowing the proppant stream to pass from the cavity 107 through the fracture slot 105 into the formation, thus allowing the hydraulic fracture to occur.

FIG. 6 shows the control valve 500 in the open state. When pushing the sliding sleeve 200 towards the outer ring 209 by means of the biasing device 208, the tab 101 can be pushed and raised. When used for fracturing, the sliding sleeve is able to simultaneously close the fracture slot 105 and open the process slot 106, allowing the medium to pass through the main pipe 100. Oil and gas production can begin when the process slot 106 is open. In one embodiment, the well may be placed several control valves. After applying one valve for hydraulic fracturing, another one may be used further downstream. In this embodiment, each process slot may include a check valve to provide for the continuation of the fracture further downstream without displacing the fracturing fluid through the process slot.

Various changes in the details of the illustrated practical are possible without deviating beyond the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the actions described in this document as separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the steps described may be omitted, depending on the particular operating conditions in which the method is carried out. It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes and not for limiting purposes. For example, the above embodiments may be used in combination with each other. When viewing the above description, many other embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the scope of the invention should be limited by the attached claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such

Claims (18)

Claim. In the appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as equivalents to the corresponding terms "comprising" and "where". CLAIM 1. A dispensing valve containing a main pipe (100) containing a socket (102), several petals (101) and one or more hinges (103), each of said hinges (103) connecting one of said petals (101) to said main pipe (100); slip clutch (200) containing the first coupling (202) having an inner surface, wherein said inner surface comprises a pocket (205) and a reducing member (206), wherein said first coupling (202) is movable in the first position, with the specified reducing element (206) pushes a few of these petals (101) in the closed position, and in the second position, with the specified pocket (205) accommodates one of several specified petals (101), ensuring the movement of several specified petals (101) in the open position; a fixed coupling (207) fixed around said main pipe (100) near the first side of said sliding coupling (200); and an actuating device (208) connecting said stationary coupling (207) with said sliding coupling (200), wherein said actuating device (208) is configured to move the sliding coupling (200) from said first position to said second position, characterized in that said main pipe (100) further comprises a first slit part (105) for fracturing; however, said sliding sleeve (200) further comprises a second sleeve (203), a second part of the slit (105) for fracturing and one or more curved plates (204) connecting said first sleeve (202) with said second sleeve (203), with this space between one or more of these curved plates (204) forms the specified second part of the slit (105) for fracturing. 2. Distributive valve according to claim 1, characterized in that several of these petals (101) include two or more petals (101). 3. Distribution valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it additionally contains one - 4 029960 or several first displacement devices (104), each of these first displacement devices (104) displacing one or more of said petals (101) to the open position. 4. Distributive valve according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said first displacement devices (104) is a structural element of one of said hinges (103). 5. The distribution valve according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said first displacement devices (104) is a spring. 6. Distribution valve according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said displacement devices (104) is a magnetized part of one of said petals (101). 7. Distributive valve according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said displacement devices (104) is a magnetized part of said first coupling (202). 8. Distribution valve according to claim 1, characterized in that said pocket (205) contains a plurality of recesses, with each recess moving one or more of said petals (101) to the indicated open position. 9. Distributive valve according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed in such a way that when said sliding sleeve (200) is in said first position, then said first part of the slit (105) for hydraulic fracturing is aligned with said second part of the slit (105) for fracturing, and when it is in the specified second position, then the specified first part of the slot (105) for the fracture is not aligned with the specified second part of the slot (105) for the fracture. 10. Distribution valve according to claim 1, characterized in that said main pipe (100) further comprises a process slot (106). 11. Distributive valve of claim 10, characterized in that it is designed so that when said sliding sleeve (200) is in said first position, then said a sliding sleeve (200) blocks the specified technological slot (106); but when it is in the specified second position, the specified sliding sleeve (200) does not block the specified technological slot (106). 12. Distribution valve according to claim 9, characterized in that said main pipe (100) further comprises a process slot (106). 13. The distribution valve according to claim 12, characterized in that it is designed in such a way that when said sliding coupling (200) is in said first position, then said the second clutch (203) blocks the specified technological slot (106); but when it is in the specified second position, the specified second coupling (203) does not block specified technological slot (106). 14. Distribution valve according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating device (208) is the second displacement device. 15. The distribution valve according to claim 14, characterized in that said biasing device (208) is a spring. 16. The method of controlling the flow in the pipe string using a distribution valve according to claim 1, in which the main pipe (100) is connected to the column pipe, with the specified main pipe (100) contains socket (102), the first part of the slot (105) for fracturing, a few petals (101) and one or several hinges (103), with the help of which one of the indicated petals (101) is connected with the indicated main pipe (100); and the sliding clutch (200) is brought from the first position to the second position relative to the stationary clutch (207) connected to the said sliding clutch (200) by means of an actuator (208), wherein said sliding clutch (200) contains the first clutch (202), the second clutch (203), the second part of the slit (105) for fracturing and one or more curved plates (204), by which connect the specified first clutch (202) with the specified second clutch (203), while the space between one or more of these curved plates (204) obra uet said second slot portion (105) for fracturing when said first clutch (202) has an inner surface, said inner surface includes a pocket (205) and which reduces element (206); characterized in that in said first position several of these petals (101) are pushed into the closed position by means of said reducing element (206), and in said second position, said pocket (205) accommodates one of several specified petals (101), providing movement of one or several of the specified petals (101) in the open position. 17. The method according to p. 16, characterized in that it includes the step of hydraulic fracturing. 18. The method according to 17, characterized in that it includes the next step in the extraction of hydrocarbons from - 5 029960 open position. - 6 029960 - 7 029960