Transmitting power to gas lift valve assemblies in a wellbore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9670739-B2
Application number	US-201614990284-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2016
Priority date	Nov 29, 2012
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A gas lift valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation can include a power source that generates power, and a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source, where the delivery system delivers the power generated by the power source. The system can also include at least one gas lift valve assembly disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, where the at least one gas lift valve assembly receives the power from the delivery system, where at least one valve, when in a position other than a fully closed position, allows a control medium to flow from an inlet channel to an outlet channel, where the outlet channel empties into the cavity of the delivery system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gas lift valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation, the system comprising:
a power source that generates power;
a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the delivery system delivers the power generated by the power source, wherein the delivery system comprises a tubing string, wherein the tubing string comprises a plurality of electrically conductive tubing pipes mechanically coupled end-to-end and through which the power flows, wherein the tubing string forms a first cavity that runs along its length;
at least one gas lift valve assembly disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, wherein the at least one gas lift valve assembly comprises an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and at least one valve disposed between the inlet channel and the outlet channel, wherein the at least one valve has a plurality of positions, wherein the plurality of positions comprises a fully-closed position, wherein the at least one gas lift valve assembly receives the power from the delivery system, wherein the power received from the delivery system determines a position of the plurality of positions of the at least one valve, and wherein the at least one valve, when in a position other than the fully closed position, allows a control medium to flow from the inlet channel to the outlet channel, wherein the outlet channel empties into the first cavity;
a casing disposed within the wellbore and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive casing pipes mechanically coupled end-to-end, wherein the casing has a second cavity running therethrough;
a first isolator sub mechanically coupled to and positioned between a top neutral section and a power-transmitting section of the tubing string, wherein the first isolator sub has the first cavity running therethrough, and wherein the first isolator sub electrically separates the casing from the tubing string and the top neutral section from the power-transmitting section;
a second isolator sub mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between a bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string, wherein the second isolator sub has the first cavity running therethrough, and wherein the second isolator sub electrically separates the bottom neutral section from the power-transmitting section; and
a conductive interface disposed within the second cavity, wherein the conductive interface electrically couples the casing and the tubing string,
wherein the at least one gas lift valve assembly is disposed below the first isolator sub and is electrically and mechanically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string,
wherein the tubing string and the first isolator sub are disposed within the second cavity without contacting the casing, wherein the top neutral section of the tubing string is positioned proximate to an entry point of the wellbore, and
wherein the bottom neutral section of the tubing string is positioned toward a distal end of the wellbore, wherein the power-transmitting section of the tubing string is positioned between the top neutral section and the bottom neutral section.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive interface comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a packer, an anchor assembly, and a seal.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the control medium is disposed in the second cavity outside the first cavity and enters the inlet channel of the at least one gas lift valve assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the casing is an electrical ground for an electric circuit that comprises the power generated by the power source.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is further electrically coupled to the casing.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas lift valve assembly comprises a first gas lift valve assembly disposed at a first location in the wellbore and a second gas lift valve assembly disposed at a second location in the wellbore, wherein the first location is closer to a surface relative to the second location.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the power comprises a first power signal having a first frequency that is recognized by the first gas lift valve assembly and ignored by the second gas lift valve assembly.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the valve of the first gas lift valve assembly changes from a first position of the plurality of positions to a second position of the plurality of positions in response to the first power signal.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the power further comprises a second power signal having a first frequency that is recognized by the first gas lift valve assembly and the second gas lift valve assembly.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control medium has a first density that is less than a second density of a subterranean resource disposed within the cavity proximate to the at least one gas lift valve.

11. A gas lift valve assembly comprising:
a body comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity;
an inlet channel disposed within the body, wherein the inlet channel comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion is exposed to a first environment outside the cavity;
an outlet channel disposed adjacent to the inlet channel;
a fully electrically-operated valve disposed within the inlet channel and the outlet channel, wherein the fully electrically-operated valve has a plurality of positions within the inlet channel;
a controller disposed within the fully electrically-operated valve, wherein the controller is configured to receive at least one power signal from a power source, wherein the at least one power signal is transmitted through the body, and wherein the controller adjusts the fully electrically-operated valve to one of the plurality of positions based on the at least one power signal; and
a toroidal core transformer disposed around the body adjacent to the valve, wherein the toroidal core transformer creates at least one controller signal from the at least one power signal, wherein the at least one controller signal is received by the controller to adjust the valve,
wherein the controller recognizes a first plurality of frequencies of the at least one controller signal and ignores a second plurality of frequencies of the at least one controller signal, wherein the second plurality of frequencies are exclusive of the first plurality of frequencies.

12. The gas lift valve assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one wall further comprises a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end has a first coupling feature that is configured to couple to a first complementary coupling feature disposed on a first tubing pipe, wherein the first tubing pipe is disposed at a distal end of a first tubing string segment.

13. The gas lift valve assembly of claim 12 , wherein the bottom end has a second coupling feature that is configured to couple to a second complementary coupling feature disposed on a second tubing pipe, wherein the second tubing pipe is disposed at a proximal end of a second tubing string segment.

14. A method for extracting a subterranean resource from within a wellbore, the method comprising:
delivering, using a delivery system, a first power signal to at least one gas lift valve assembly positioned in the wellbore, wherein the at least one gas lift valve assembly is mechanically coupled in series with a tubing string, wherein the tubing string is disposed above the at least one gas lift valve assembly, wherein the first power signal adjusts at least one va

Assignees

• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Tosi Luis Phillipe Costa Ferreira
• Thompson Melvin Clark
• Lynch Heath Evan

Classifications

• E21B43/128

  Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives · CPC title

• E21B43/123

  Gas lift valves · CPC title

• E21B17/028

  Electrical or electro-magnetic connections · CPC title

• E21B17/003 Primary

  with electrically conducting or insulating means (E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence) · CPC title

• E21B41/0085 Primary

  Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes · CPC title