Modular valve body and method of making

Abstract

A modular valve body includes, a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough and the tubular has standardized fittings at both ends that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing. The body further has a first surface disposed at the tubular that is in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface is receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat, and a second surface disposed at the tubular is receptive to a circuit configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.

1 . A modular valve body comprising:
 a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the tubular having standardized fittings at both ends thereof that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing;   a first surface disposed at the tubular being in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface being receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat; and   at least one second surface disposed at the tubular receptive to a circuit, the circuit being configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.   
     
     
         2 . The modular valve body of  claim 1 , wherein the inner bore is eccentric relative to an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The modular valve body of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the at least one second surface are longitudinally offset from one another. 
     
     
         4 . The modular valve body of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wall extending from the first surface in a direction away from the inner bore. 
     
     
         5 . The modular valve body of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one wall is substantially perpendicular to the first surface. 
     
     
         6 . The modular valve body of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one wall is two walls spaced apart to receive one of the plurality of selectable modular valves therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The modular valve body of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one wall intersects with an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular. 
     
     
         8 . The modular valve body of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one wall is substantially parallel with an axis of the tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The modular valve body of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one wall is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the tubular. 
     
     
         10 . The modular valve body of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one wall includes at least one mounting feature receptive to a portion of one of the plurality of selectable modular valves. 
     
     
         11 . The modular valve body of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one mounting feature is a hole. 
     
     
         12 . The modular valve body of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more longitudinal channels through at least a portion of the modular valve body. 
     
     
         13 . The modular valve body of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more longitudinal channels are receptive to one or more signal carriers. 
     
     
         14 . The modular valve body of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one auxiliary bore fluidically connecting the longitudinal channel with a volume defined at least in part by at least one of the first surface and the at least one second surface. 
     
     
         15 . The modular valve body of  claim 1 , the tubular being receptive to a sleeve on either longitudinal side of the at least one second surface. 
     
     
         16 . The modular valve body of  claim 15 , wherein the tubular is sealable to the sleeve at both longitudinal sides of the at least one second surface. 
     
     
         17 . A method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing, comprising:
 coupling one of a plurality of modular valve bodies within a drillstring or tubing;   anchoring a selected modular valve to the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies;   fluidically coupling the selected modular valve to at least one port fluidically connecting an inner bore of the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies to an outside of the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies;   mounting a control circuit to the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies; and   functionally connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of  claim 17 , further comprising shielding the selected modular valve within a channel on the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies. 
     
     
         19 . The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of  claim 17 , further comprising selecting one of a plurality of modular valves. 
     
     
         20 . The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of  claim 17 , further comprising connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve via a signal carrier mounted within the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies.