Electrically operated valve and method thereof

Abstract

A downhole tool assembly includes a tubular having a flowbore extending along a longitudinal axis of the tubular. An electric actuating mechanism supported by the tubular and distanced from the longitudinal axis of the tubular; and, a valve assembly connected to the tubular and fluidically connected to the flowbore. The valve assembly including: an outer portion having at least one port; and an electrically actuated inner portion concentrically positioned within the outer portion and operable by the actuating mechanism to selectively block the at least one port in a first condition of the valve assembly and unblock the at least one port in a second condition of the valve assembly. A method of actuating a valve assembly in a downhole tubular.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool assembly comprising:
 a tubular having a flowbore extending along a longitudinal axis of the tubular;   an electric actuating mechanism supported by the tubular and distanced from the longitudinal axis of the tubular; and,   a valve assembly connected to the tubular and fluidically connected to the flowbore, the valve assembly including:
 an outer portion having at least one port; and 
 an electrically actuated inner portion concentrically positioned within the outer portion and operable by the actuating mechanism to selectively block the at least one port in a first condition of the valve assembly and unblock the at least one port in a second condition of the valve assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner portion is further movable to selectively block only a portion of the at least one port in a third condition of the valve assembly, leaving a remainder of the at least one port unblocked in the third condition. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner portion further includes at least one aperture configured to be selectively aligned and misaligned with the at least one port of the outer portion. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner portion is configured to be longitudinally shiftable relative to the outer portion. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 4  wherein the at least one port in the outer portion includes a plurality of ports, at least two of the plurality of ports positioned at longitudinally discrete locations along the outer portion. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 4  wherein the actuating mechanism includes a screw rod rotatable by a motor, the inner portion including a threaded aperture configured to longitudinally shift the inner portion upon rotation of the screw rod. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 6  wherein the threaded aperture is located within a peripheral wall of the inner portion. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner portion is configured to be rotatable and substantially longitudinally stationary within the outer portion. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 8  wherein a surface of the inner portion includes gear teeth and the actuating mechanism includes a driving gear having teeth engageable with the gear teeth of the surface of the inner portion. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 9  wherein the gear teeth of the inner portion are located on a first section of the inner portion, and a second section of the inner portion further includes at least one aperture configured to be selectively aligned and misaligned with the at least one portion of the outer portion. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an electric motor operating the actuating mechanism, the electric motor substantially positioned within a peripheral wall of the tubular. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 11  wherein the motor is configured to receive electricity from a surface location. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a power generating member, wherein flow through the tubular is used to generate power in the power generating member. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor configured to detect a condition indicative of a need to activate the valve assembly, and a motor configured to actuate the actuating mechanism and valve assembly in response to the sensed condition. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer portion and the tubular substantially share the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . A method of actuating a valve assembly in a downhole tubular, the method comprising:
 inserting a tubular having a flowbore into a borehole;   employing a peripherally positioned electric motor within the tubular;   actuating an electrically activated valve assembly with the motor, the valve assembly including an outer portion having at least one port and an inner portion movably configured within the outer portion; and,   selectively moving the inner portion to block the at least one port in a first condition of the valve assembly and selectively moving the inner portion to expose the at least one port in a second condition of the valve assembly;   wherein fluid flow through the tubular during both the first and second conditions of the valve assembly is not blocked.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising selectively moving the inner portion to block a portion of the at least one port and expose a portion of the at least one port in a third condition of the valve assembly and selectively maintaining the valve assembly in the third condition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein selectively moving the inner portion includes longitudinally moving the inner portion relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular by employing the power source to rotate a screw rod within a threaded aperture within a peripheral wall of the inner portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein selectively moving the inner portion includes rotatably moving the inner portion by employing the motor to rotate a driving gear meshing with gear teeth on a surface of the inner portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising harvesting energy from fluid flow through the tubular to operate the motor.