Toe valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10174590-B2
Application number	US-201615053728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2016
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

An actuator for a downhole tool includes first, second, and third sleeves. The first sleeve obstructs a first port in a body of the downhole tool when the first sleeve is in a first position. The third sleeve obstructs a second port in the body when the third sleeve is in a first position, and the second and third sleeves are in one-way engagement with one another. A biasing member is positioned between the first sleeve and the third sleeve. The first sleeve is configured to move from the first position and toward the third sleeve in response a pressure communicated through the first port. When the pressure is reduced after the first sleeve is moved toward the third sleeve, the biasing member forces the first sleeve back toward the first position, which causes the third sleeve to permit fluid communication through the second port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator for a downhole tool, the actuator comprising:
a first sleeve that obstructs a first port in a body of the downhole tool when the first sleeve is in a first position;
a second sleeve that is movable with the first sleeve and extends axially therefrom;
a third sleeve that obstructs a second port in the body when the third sleeve is in a first position, the second and third sleeves being in one-way engagement with one another; and
a biasing member positioned between the first sleeve and the third sleeve, such that movement of the first sleeve toward the third sleeve compresses the biasing member,
wherein the first sleeve is configured to move from the first position and toward the third sleeve in response a pressure communicated through the first port, and wherein when the pressure is reduced after the first sleeve is moved toward the third sleeve, the biasing member forces the first sleeve back toward the first position, which causes the third sleeve to permit fluid communication through the second port.

2. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sleeves are coupled together or integral with one another.

3. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve comprises a first set of teeth, and the third sleeve comprises a second set of teeth that is configured to engage the first set of teeth, and wherein the first and second sets of teeth provide the one-way engagement when the first and second sets of teeth are engaged with one another.

4. The actuator of claim 3 , wherein the first set of teeth is positioned on an inner radial surface of the second sleeve, and wherein the second set of teeth is positioned on an outer radial surface of the third sleeve.

5. The actuator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive ring positioned axially-between the first sleeve and the biasing member, wherein the drive ring is configured to move together with the first sleeve to compress the biasing member; and
an anchor ring positioned axially between the biasing member and the third sleeve, wherein the anchor ring is coupled to the body.

6. The actuator of claim 5 , wherein the drive ring is initially spaced axially-apart from the first sleeve, and wherein the drive ring moves together with the first sleeve in response the pressure communicated through the first port.

7. The actuator of claim 1 , further comprising a shearing mechanism configured to hold the first sleeve in the first position until the pressure communicated through the first port reaches or exceeds a predetermined level.

8. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of an inner radial surface of the first sleeve varies, defining a piston surface on which the pressure exerts a force to move the first sleeve toward the third sleeve.

9. A downhole tool, comprising:
an inner housing having a bore extending axially-therethrough, a first opening extending radially-therethrough, and a second opening extending radially-therethrough, wherein the first and second openings are axially-offset from one another;
an outer housing positioned radially-outward from the inner housing such that an annulus is disposed between the inner and outer housings, wherein the outer housing has a third opening extending radially-therethrough;
a first sleeve positioned in the annulus;
a second sleeve positioned in the annulus, wherein the second sleeve is movable with the first sleeve and extends axially therefrom;
a third sleeve positioned in the annulus and axially-offset from the first sleeve, the third sleeve preventing fluid flow through the second opening when the third sleeve is in a first position; and
a fourth sleeve positioned in the annulus and axially-offset from the third sleeve, the fourth sleeve preventing fluid flow through the third opening when the fourth sleeve is in a first position,
wherein the first and second sleeves move together within the annulus such that the second sleeve engages the third sleeve when a pressure of a fluid in the bore is increased to a first level, wherein the first, second, and third sleeves move together such that the third sleeve moves into a second position that allows fluid flow through the second opening when the pressure of the fluid in the bore is decreased to a second level, and wherein the fourth sleeve moves into a second position that allows fluid flow through the third opening as the pressure of the fluid in the bore is decreasing from the first level to the second level or when the pressure of the fluid in the bore is increased from the second level to a third level.

10. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein the third level of pressure is less than the first level of pressure.

11. The downhole tool of claim 9 , further comprising a shear mechanism configured to secure the first sleeve in place, wherein the pressure of the fluid is communicated through the first opening and exerts a force on a piston surface of the first sleeve that causes the shear mechanism to break when the pressure of the fluid is increased to the first level.

12. The downhole tool of claim 9 , further comprising a drive ring positioned in the annulus and spaced axially-apart from the first sleeve before the pressure of the fluid is increased to the first level, and wherein the first sleeve contacts the drive ring such that the first sleeve and the drive sleeve move together in response to the pressure of the fluid being increased to the first level.

13. The downhole tool of claim 12 , further comprising a biasing member positioned in the annulus, wherein the drive ring compresses the biasing member when the drive ring moves in response to the pressure of the fluid being increased to the first level.

14. The downhole tool of claim 13 , further comprising a stop ring positioned in the annulus, wherein the stop ring remains stationary with respect to the inner housing as the biasing member is compressed between the drive ring and the stop ring.

15. The downhole tool of claim 13 , wherein, in response to the pressure of the fluid being increased to the first level, the fluid exerts a force on the first sleeve and the drive ring that is greater than an opposing force exerted on the first sleeve and the drive ring by the biasing member, causing the first sleeve and the drive ring to move within the annulus, thereby compressing the biasing member.

16. The downhole tool of claim 15 , wherein the force exerted on the first sleeve and the drive ring by the fluid is less than the opposing force exerted on the first sleeve and the drive ring by the biasing member when the pressure of the fluid is at the second level, the third level, or both.

17. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein an inner radial surface of the outer housing defines a shoulder, and wherein the second sleeve contacts the shoulder when the pressure of the fluid in the bore is increased to the first level, preventing further movement of the second sleeve in a downhole direction.

18. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein an inner radial surface of the second sleeve comprises a first set of teeth, wherein an outer radial surface of the third sleeve comprises a second set of teeth, and wherein the second sleeve moves with respect to the third sleeve such that the first and second sets of teeth engage one another in response to the pressure of the fluid being increased to the first level.

19. The downhole tool of claim 9 , further comprising a shear mechanism configured to secure the fourth sleeve in place, wherein the pressure of the fluid is communicated through the second opening a

Assignees

• Team Oil Tools Lp
• Innovex Downhole Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Kellner Justin

Classifications

• E21B34/12

  operated by movement of casings or tubings · CPC title

• E21B34/103 Primary

  with a shear pin · CPC title

• E21B2200/06

  Sleeve valves · CPC title

• E21B2034/007

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• E21B34/14

  operated by movement of tools, e.g. sleeve valves operated by pistons or wire line tools {(E21B34/066 takes precedence)} · CPC title