US2014000908A1PendingUtilityA1

Actuating device and method

31
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 28, 2012Filed: Jun 28, 2012Published: Jan 2, 2014
Est. expiryJun 28, 2032(~5.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Fahd F. AbdelallGary L. RytlewskiJason MccannSteven L. Anyan
E21B 23/0412
31
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

An actuating method includes applying an input pressure to a first side of a tool operator and to a second side of the tool operator and moving the tool operator from a first position to a second position in response to depleting the input pressure applied to the second side. A state of a tool element can be changed in response to moving the tool operator from the first position to the second position. The input pressure may be depleted from the second side of the tool operator by transferring hydraulic fluid to a confined diameter container disposed in an annular region of the actuating device or to the first side of the tool operator.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuating method, comprising:
 applying an input pressure to a first side of a tool operator and to a second side of the tool operator;   depleting the input pressure applied to the second side while maintaining the input pressure applied to the first side;   moving the tool operator from a first position to a second position in response to depleting the input pressure applied to the second side; and   changing the state of a tool element in response to moving the tool operator to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein depleting the input pressure applied to the second side comprises transferring hydraulic fluid from the second side to a confined diameter container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the depleting the input pressure applied to the second side comprises opening a passage between the second side and a confined diameter container in response to actuating a valve piston from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input pressure is applied to the first side of the tool operator and to the second side of the tool operator through a trigger valve, the trigger valve comprising:
 a cylinder disposing a valve piston, the valve piston comprising a sealed section between a first seal surface and a second seal surface;   an inlet port in hydraulic communication with an input pressure port and the first seal surface;   a first side port in hydraulic communication with the first side and the second seal surface;   an exhaust port in hydraulic communication with the sealed section of the valve piston and a confined diameter container; and   a second side port in hydraulic communication with the second side and the second seal surface when the valve piston is in the closed position and in hydraulic communication with the sealed section and the exhaust port when the valve piston is in the open position.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the confined diameter container comprises a helical coil. 
     
     
         6 . An actuating device, comprising:
 a tubular body comprising an axial bore and an annular region;   a confined diameter container disposed within the annular region;   a tool operator having a first side open to a first chamber and a second side open to a second chamber, the tool operator moveable from a first position to a second position in response to a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber;   a trigger valve having a valve piston operable from a closed position to an open position;   an input pressure port in hydraulic communication with the first chamber and the second chamber through the trigger valve; and   an exhaust port in hydraulic communication with the second chamber and the confined diameter container when the valve piston is in the open position.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the confined diameter container comprises a helical coil. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the confined diameter container comprises a bottle. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the trigger valve comprises:
 a valve body having a cylinder disposing the valve piston;   the valve piston comprising a sealed section between a first seal surface and a second seal surface;   an inlet port providing hydraulic communication with the input pressure port and the first seal surface;   a first side port in hydraulic communication with the first chamber and the second seal surface;   the exhaust port in hydraulic communication with the sealed section of the valve piston; and   a second side port in hydraulic communication with the second chamber and the second seal surface when the valve piston is in the closed position and with the sealed section and the exhaust port when the valve piston is in the open position.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first seal surface has a surface area greater than a surface area of the second seal surface. 
     
     
         11 . A method of changing the state of a tool disposed in a well, comprising:
 applying differential pressure cycles to an actuating device disposed in a wellbore, the actuating device comprising a tool operator having a first side open to a first chamber and a second side open to a second chamber;   moving the tool operator to a first position in response to applying the differential pressure cycles;   actuating the tool operator from the first position to a second position in response to depleting pressure in the second chamber; and   changing the state of a tool element in response to actuating the tool operator to the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the moving the tool operator to the first position comprises increasing the volume of the second chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the depleting the pressure in the second chamber comprises communicating hydraulic fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first chamber is defined between the tool operator and a housing and between a first seal and a second seal;   the second chamber is defined between the tool operator and the housing and between a third seal and a forth seal; and   a third chamber is defined between the tool operator and the housing and between the second seal and the third seal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising creating a vacuum in the third chamber in response to moving the tool operator to the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the actuating device comprises:
 a first compensator in communication with the first chamber through a first passage containing hydraulic fluid, the first compensator acted on by a first well pressure;   a second compensator in communication in with the second chamber via a second passage containing hydraulic fluid, the second compensator acted on by a second well pressure;   a first one-way valve permitting flow of the hydraulic fluid from the second compensator to the second chamber; and   a flow restrictor communicating hydraulic fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the moving the tool operator to the first position comprises increasing the volume of the second chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the depleting the pressure in the second chamber comprises communicating hydraulic fluid from the second chamber through the flow restrictor to the first chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first chamber is defined between the tool operator and a housing and between a first seal and a second seal;   the second chamber is defined between the tool operator and the housing and between a third seal and a forth seal; and   a third chamber is defined between the tool operator and the housing and between the second seal and the third seal.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising creating a vacuum in the third chamber in response to moving the tool operator to the first position.

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