US2008135235A1PendingUtilityA1

Downhole well valve having integrated sensors

36
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Dec 7, 2006Filed: Dec 7, 2006Published: Jun 12, 2008
Est. expiryDec 7, 2026(~0.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David Mccalvin
E21B 34/14E21B 34/06E21B 47/09
36
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A valve includes a tubular valve housing, a valve seat, a valve element and a sensor. The valve seat is located in a central passageway of the housing and defines a first portion of the central passageway above the valve seat and a second portion of the central passageway below the valve seat. The valve element controls flow through the valve seat. The sensor is fixed to the housing to measure an attribute that is indicative of a state of the valve.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A valve, comprising:
 a tubular valve housing having a central passageway;   a valve seat located in the central passageway to define a first portion of the central passageway above the valve seat and second portion of the central passageway below the valve seat;   a valve element to control flow through the valve seat; and   a sensor fixed to the housing to measure an attribute indicative of a state of the valve.   
   
   
       2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is integrally mounted to the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is located within the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor measures at least one of a temperature and a pressure. 
   
   
       5 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is adapted to measure at least one of an annulus pressure and a tubing pressure. 
   
   
       6 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is adapted to measure a pressure associated with an internal pressure chamber of the valve. 
   
   
       7 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is part of at least two sensors adapted to indicate a state of the valve element. 
   
   
       8 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a safety valve. 
   
   
       9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a formation isolation valve. 
   
   
       10 . A system comprising:
 a string comprising a central passageway;   a valve to control a flow between a portion of the central passageway of the string located above the valve and a portion of the central passageway of the string located below the valve; and   a sensor mounted near the valve to measure an attribute indicative of a state of the valve.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the valve comprises a housing and the string is mounted to the housing. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the valve comprises a valve seat located in the central passageway to define the portion of the central passageway above the valve and the portion of the central passageway below the valve. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor measures a pressure of a pressurized chamber of the valve. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor indicates whether the valve is in an open state or a closed state. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the valve comprises a formation isolation valve. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the valve comprises a safety valve. 
   
   
       17 . A method usable with a well, comprising:
 providing a valve in a central passageway of a tubular member in the well to regulate a flow through the central passageway; and   using at least one sensor to monitor an attribute indicative of a state of the valve.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the using comprises using said at least one sensor to measure at least one of a pressure and a temperature associated with the valve. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the using comprises using said at least one sensor to measure conditions indicative of whether the valve is in an open state or a closed state. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the using comprises using said at least one sensor to measure a pressure of a pressurized chamber of the valve. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 connecting said at least one sensor to a sensor bus that extends to the surface of the well.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the valve comprises one of a formation isolation valve and a safety valve.

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