System and method for actuating multiple valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10570701-B2
Application number	US-201715461219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2017
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A system includes a support structure that is configured to be positioned at a fixed location relative to a component of a mineral extraction system. The system also includes a drive assembly having a drive motor and a valve attachment, and the drive assembly is configured to move about the support structure and to actuate multiple valves of the component of the mineral extraction system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a valve actuation system configured to selectively actuate a plurality of valves of a mineral extraction system, wherein the valve actuation system comprises:
a support structure configured to be positioned at a fixed location relative to the plurality of valves, wherein the support structure comprises a first bar extending along a first bar axis between different positions of the plurality of valves;
a bracket movably coupled to the first bar along a first path of travel along the first bar axis of the first bar to enable movement closer to one of the different positions of the plurality of valves, wherein the bracket comprises a rod extending along a rod axis crosswise to the first bar axis: and
a drive assembly movably coupled to the rod along a second path of travel along the rod axis of the rod to enable movement closer to one of the different positions of the plurality of valves, wherein the drive assembly comprises a valve attachment configured to move along a third path of travel relative to the rod and to actuate the one of the plurality of valves.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve actuation system comprises one or more motors coupled to a controller, wherein the controller comprises a processor, a memory, and instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to control the one or more motors to move the bracket along the first path of travel, to move the drive assembly along the second path of travel, and to move the valve attachment along the third path of travel to selectively actuate each of the plurality of valves at the different positions.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller has instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to control movement of the valve attachment along the third path of travel to actuate at least one valve of the plurality of valves to move from a closed position to an open position, and to control a lock of the at least one valve to hold the at least one valve in the open position in response to sensor data received at the controller, wherein the sensor data is obtained via one or more sensors and is indicative of one or more characteristics of a fluid.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one valve of the plurality of valves comprises a spring that biases the at least one valve toward a closed position, wherein the controller has instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to control movement of the valve attachment along the third path of travel to actuate the at least one valve of the plurality of valves to move from the closed position to an open position overcoming a biasing force of the spring.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more motors comprise electric motors driven by an electric power source.

6. The system of claim 2 , comprising the mineral extraction system having the plurality of valves and the valve actuation system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller has instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to control the one or more motors to automatically move the bracket, the drive assembly, and the valve attachment to actuate the plurality of valves at the different positions in a predetermined sequence at predetermined times in response to sensor data received at the controller, wherein the sensor data is obtained via one or more sensors of the mineral extraction system.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the mineral extraction system comprises a first production tree positioned at a first location within a field and comprising a first valve of the plurality of valves, and a second production tree positioned at a second location within the field and comprising a second valve of the plurality of valves.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller has instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to instruct a power source to provide a first amount of power to an actuation motor of the one or more motors to move the valve attachment to actuate the one of the plurality of valves to move from a closed position to an open position, and to provide a second amount of power less than the first amount of power to a lock to hold the respective one of the plurality of valves in the open position.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third path of travel comprises a linear path of travel of the valve attachment.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third path of travel comprises a rotational path of travel of the valve attachment.

12. The system of claim 1 , comprising an articulating arm having the drive assembly, wherein the articulating arm comprises at least one axis of rotation.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one valve of the plurality of valves comprises a lock having a biasing member that is configured to enable automatic return of the at least one valve from an open position to a closed position upon an interruption in a power from a power source to the at least one lock.

14. The system of claim 1 , comprising the plurality of valves, wherein the plurality of valves are aligned in a single plane to facilitate actuation of the plurality of valves by the drive assembly, and the first bar extends linearly along the single plane.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a second bar extending along a second bar axis between the different positions of the plurality of valves, wherein the first and second bars are vertically spaced apart from one another, wherein the bracket is movably coupled to the first and second bars along the first path of travel to enable movement closer to one of the different positions of the plurality of valves.

16. A system, comprising:
an actuation system configured to selectively actuate a plurality of components in a mineral extraction system, wherein the actuation system comprises:
a support structure comprising first and second bars spaced vertically apart from one another;
a bracket movably coupled to the first and second bars; and
a drive assembly coupled to the bracket, wherein the drive assembly comprises a valve attachment configured to move relative to the bracket to selectively actuate one of the plurality of components.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the bracket is movably coupled to the first and second bars only along a linear path of travel.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the actuation system comprises one or more motors coupled to a controller, wherein the controller comprises a processor, a memory, and instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to control the one or more motors to move the bracket along a first path of travel along the first and second bars, to move the drive assembly along a second path of travel along the bracket, and to move the valve attachment along a third path of travel to selectively actuate each of the plurality of components at the different positions.

19. A method, comprising:
controlling movement of a valve actuator along a first stationary bar of a stationary structure only in a linear direction between a plurality of valves of a mineral extraction system at a plurality of different positions, wherein controlling movement comprises selectively positioning the valve actuator by at least one valve of the plurality of valves;
controlling movement of a valve attachment of the valve actuator to actuate the at least one valve of the plurality of valves; and
wherein the stationary structure comprises a second stationary bar vertically offset

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Robinson Stuart
• Vanderford Delbert Edwin

Classifications

• E21B41/00 Primary

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title

• E21B34/02

  in well heads · CPC title

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title