Wells – Processes – Placing or shifting well part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-01-23
Dang, Hoang (Department: 3672)
Wells
Processes
Placing or shifting well part
C166S066400, C166S066700, C166S237000, C166S323000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176318
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This disclosure relates generally to oil and gas well production and more particularly, to a actuator apparatus for downhole completion tools.
There are an abundance of well tools, such as valves, packers, chokes, etc. that are inserted downhole in an oil and gas well and are controlled from the ground surface to perform various functions such as, for example, controlling the flow of production fluid from a reservoir to a storage unit at the ground surface.
Failure of these type tools requires that the well be reentered to mechanically repair, adjust, or shift, the tool. This is very costly, and often poses environmental risks, especially in connection with a marine well such as a sub-sea well. Consequently, an important industry goal is to eliminate, or at least reduce or delay, the need for intervention.
Current systems use either electrical or hydraulic power to provide sufficient force to operate the well tools. Thus, a loss of fluid pressure in a hydraulically driven actuator, or a loss of electrical power to an electrically driven actuator, would at least temporarily, and perhaps permanently, disable all the tools that are actuated by that system, possibly requiring intervention.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus for increasing the reliability of well tools, and avoiding the limitations inherent in a single actuator system.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to a actuator apparatus for actuating a downhole well tool. To this end, an actuator system is provided that extends in the well along with the tool to be actuated. A drive member is connected to the tool to be actuated and the first actuator system is normally connected to the drive shaft for driving the drive member and operating the tool. An additional actuation system is disposed in the actuator housing and is adapted to be connected to the drive member for driving the drive member and operating the tool.
The present invention provides the distinct advantage of providing an alternate, or back-up actuation system in case the primary actuation system fails, thus considerably reducing the need for intervention and increasing the reliability of the downhole tool that is actuated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3373817 (1968-03-01), Cubberly Jr., et al.
patent: 3830306 (1974-08-01), Brown
patent: 4796705 (1989-01-01), Carmody et al.
patent: 4838355 (1989-06-01), Leismer et al.
patent: 4951753 (1990-08-01), Eriksen
Drakeley Brian Keith
Mullins, II Albert Augustus
Wilde Richard M.
Dang Hoang
Halliburton Energy Service,s Inc.
Haynes and Boone LLP
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