Annular barrier with a self-actuated device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518439-B2
Application number	US-201214363864-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2012
Priority date	Dec 21, 2011
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

An annular barrier to be expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole, includes a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure. The tubular part has a longitudinal axis, an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular part and having an outer face, each end of the expandable sleeve being fastened to the tubular part by a connection part, an annual barrier space between the tubular part and the expandable sleeve, an aperture in the tubular part or the connection part for letting fluid into the space in order to expand the sleeve, and a self-actuated device arranged in the aperture having an open and a closed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An annular barrier to be expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a borehole downhole, comprising
a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure, said tubular part having a longitudinal axis,
an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular part and having an outer face, each end of the expandable sleeve being fastened to the tubular part by means of a connection part,
an annual barrier space between the tubular part and the expandable sleeve,
an aperture in the tubular part or the connection part for letting fluid into the space in order to expand the sleeve, and
a self-actuated device arranged in the aperture and movable between an open position and a closed position,
the self-actuated device comprising a housing having an outlet opening and an inlet opening, a closing member and a spring member arranged to force the self-actuated device in the open position, so that fluid let into the space is capable of flowing in through the inlet opening and out through the outlet opening into the space,
wherein the self-actuated device comprises at least one projectable element to lock the closing member when the device is in the closed position, preventing the device from returning to the open position.

2. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the spring member is a spring, a helical spring, an elastomeric element or a rubber element.

3. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the self-actuated device is structured to close when a flow rate of fluid through the device exceeds a predetermined flow rate.

4. The annular barrier according to claim 3 , wherein the self-actuated device has an indication of a position of the closing member.

5. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the self-actuated device is structured to close when a pressure of fluid through the device drops below a predetermined level.

6. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the self-actuated device further comprises a pressure sensor arranged in the space in order to close the outlet opening of the device when the pressure of the fluid drops below a predetermined level.

7. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the self-actuated device is a valve, an excess-flow check valve, a mechanical valve closing at a flow rate higher than a predetermined flow rate, a shut-off valve, or a differential pressure shut-off valve.

8. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor arranged on the outer face of the expandable sleeve.

9. The annular barrier according to claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a sound detection sensor.

10. The annular barrier according to claim 8 , wherein the sensor is wirelessly connected with the self-actuated device.

11. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the self-actuated device comprises a second bore having a compensating piston.

12. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the projectable element engages a groove in the closing member or the housing for locking the closing member.

13. The annular barrier according to claim 1 , wherein the projectable element engages an end face of a partition for locking the closing member.

14. A downhole system comprising a plurality of annular barriers according to claim 1 .

15. The downhole system according to claim 14 , further comprising a detection tool for determining the position of the device after expansion of the annular barrier.

16. The downhole system according to claim 15 , wherein the tool comprises a pressure sensor.

17. The downhole system according to claim 15 , wherein the tool comprises a capacitance measuring unit.

18. The downhole system according to claim 15 , wherein the tool comprises a driving unit, or a downhole tractor.

19. The downhole system according to claim 15 , wherein the tool comprises replacement structure to replace the device in the annular barrier.

20. The downhole system according to claim 14 , further comprising the well tubular structure having a valve section arranged between two annular barriers in order to let hydrocarbon-containing fluid into the well tubular structure.

Assignees

• Welltec As

Inventors

• Hallundbæk Jørgen
• Hazel Paul

Classifications

• E21B34/06

  in wells · CPC title

• E21B34/102

  with means for locking the closing element in open or closed position (E21B34/105 and E21B34/108 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/127 Primary

  with inflatable sleeve (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B33/122

  Multiple string packers · CPC title

• E21B34/08

  responsive to flow or pressure of the fluid obtained (E21B34/10 takes precedence) · CPC title