Wells – Valves – closures or changeable restrictors – Fluid operated
Utility Patent
1998-12-18
2001-01-02
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Wells
Valves, closures or changeable restrictors
Fluid operated
C175S038000, C137S498000
Utility Patent
active
06167969
ABSTRACT:
This invention pertains to a valve for use down hole on drill strings to control apparatus on the drill string that has drilling fluid powered functions with a plurality of optional operating characteristics. More specifically, the valve responds to drilling fluid flow controls manipulated at the surface to change the optional operating characteristics of apparatus controlled down hole.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drilling activities and other well bore related operations usually take place far below the earth surface and occasionally the nature of the operations need to be changed. In years past the drill string was simply removed down to the bottom hole assembly, and the needed changes were made, and the string was reinstalled in the well. Tripping the string became more costly and alternatives were sought, and found. The down hole assembly was made to respond to objects dropped down the drill string bore. Later the dropped objects were made recoverable without tripping the string. More recently, communication from the surface to the well bottom by way of manipulation of the drilling fluid flow rate accomplished what became known as down link command.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,680, issued Jul. 6, 1976, disclosed means to alter the state of down hole apparatus by the expedient of choosing between drill string rotation or mud flow as a first action after mud flow and drill string rotation had been stopped.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,667, issued Jul. 29, 1975, disclosed means to alter states of down hole apparatus by starting a mud flow rate below the flow rate used for drilling and maintaining that flow rate for a preselected length of time, say one minute, to change state down hole, before resuming the higher drilling fluid flow rate for drilling. When the apparatus down hole changed state, a pressure change signal, or pulse, was generated to indicate at the surface that the down hole change of state had been accomplished.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,289 issued Apr. 7, 1987, teaches the actuation of a selector valve responsive to manipulation of drilling fluid flow controls at the surface to alternately close and open the valve to divert fluid from the main fluid stream to power associated fluid powered down hole equipment. In using this valve, the associated equipment controlled had to have fluid handling capabilities with features that accommodated the valve design.
With down link command readily available, the opportunity to use changeable features on the bottom hole assembly was used to evolve apparatus capable of various measurement and control functions near the drill head. Such down hole assets are now in the market place. Most have fluid handling features that require particular characteristics, especially operating pressure and flow rate, of the control valves designed to regulate their activity.
There is a need for a remote control selector valve that is, itself, adaptable to present flow diverting capabilities to match the equipment to be served.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a selector valve that can be readily adapted to divert the amount of fluid, at a preselected pressure differential, ideally suited to the purpose to be served.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A valve, situated in the drill string bore, near the drill head, is actuated by manipulation of the drilling fluid flow rate at the surface. A valve poppet head is arranged to be urged by entrainment in the mud flow toward an orifice that will cooperate with the poppet head to inhibit the flow. The poppet head is carried by a control rod and is spring biased to urge it to move upstream. A crosshead on the rod is arranged to move along a serpentine path that progresses peripherally around the rod in response to induced axial excursions.
The serpentine path is a groove that is stationary relative to the drill string. The groove is shaped such that the crosshead is urged to rotate in a selected rotational direction when moving axially and approaching an axial travel limit such that the return axial movement engages the groove on a surface that moves the crosshead farther in the selected rotational direction. This is known as a walk around groove well known in the art of machine construction.
In the preferred embodiment, the entrained poppet approaches the orifice at about the speed of the flowing mud stream to reduce the erosion that results from valve throttling. The poppet leaves the orifice as a result of reduced mud flow such that the pressure drop across the orifice, and the resulting piston effect of the poppet, is overcome by the rod biasing spring. There is then little pressure differential across the valve and, hence, little erosion during the brief opening of the valve.
The valve provides power to controlled devices by providing a pressure drop across the orifice that can be tapped for any hydraulic purpose. To provide the pressure drop without stopping mud flow the poppet is provided with a by-pass bore, preferably along it's axis. The bore is preferably fitted with a standard drill bit jet nozzle that is removable. Bit jets are normally tungsten carbide and for any given outer diameter several nozzle diameters are available. By selection of nozzle diameters the pressure drop across the orifice can be selected in view of the drilling fluid flow planned. By providing the by-pass in the valve, no by-pass is required, for maintenance of mud circulation, in the equipment controlled. Further, failure of the equipment controlled by the valve cannot cut off the drilling fluid flow down the drill string bore. The by-pass feature makes the valve operable with a variety of controlled equipment. The probability of a sudden, and potentially catastrophic, shut down of the drilling fluid circuit is reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4470464 (1984-09-01), Baldenko et al
patent: 4655289 (1987-04-01), Schoeffler
patent: 5957207 (1999-09-01), Schnatzmeyer
Jeter John D.
Pezzuto Robert E.
Quantum Drilling Motors, Inc
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