True Position Indicator

Abstract

A system for directly sensing a position of a movable part of a hydrocarbon drilling and production includes a housing having a body with an inner cavity and a body wall with a wall thickness defined between an inner surface of the inner cavity and an outer surface of the body. The inner cavity has a fluid flow path for hydrocarbon development fluids. A moveable member is located within the inner cavity. A sensor assembly is located within one of the body wall and the moveable member, the sensor assembly being positioned within a port. An indicator feature is on the other of the body wall and the moveable member, the indicator feature sensable by the sensor assembly when the moveable member is in a set position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for directly sensing a position of a movable part of a hydrocarbon drilling and production operation, the system comprising:
 a housing having a body with an inner cavity and a body wall with a wall thickness defined between an inner surface of the inner cavity and an outer surface of the body, the inner cavity further having a fluid flow path for hydrocarbon development fluids;   a moveable member located within the inner cavity, the moveable member having a set position;   a sensor assembly located within one of the body wall and the moveable member, the sensor assembly being positioned within a port; and   an indicator feature on the other of the body wall and the moveable member, the indicator feature sensable by the sensor assembly when the moveable member is in the set position.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor assembly and wherein the moveable member has a second set position, the indicator feature sensable by the second sensor assembly when the moveable member is in the second set position. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the senor assembly includes a seal portion, the seal portion in sealing engagement with the port, preventing the hydrocarbon development fluids from passing through the port. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is a valve body and the moveable member is a valve member, and wherein the set position is one of an open position and a closed position of the valve member. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is an outer wellhead member and the moveable member is an inner wellhead member and the set position is a landed position of the inner wellhead member within the outer wellhead member. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a proximity sensor sensing a distance of the moveable member from the set position. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the port extends from the outer surface of the body into the body wall. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the port extends from the outer surface of the body to the inner cavity. 
     
     
         9 . A system for directly sensing a position of a movable part of a hydrocarbon drilling and production operation, the system comprising:
 a housing having a valve body with an inner cavity and a body wall with a wall thickness defined between an inner surface of the inner cavity and an outer surface of the valve body;   a sensor assembly located within the body wall, the sensor assembly being positioned within a port of the valve body; and   a valve member located within the inner cavity, the valve member having a set position and an indicator feature on the valve member, the indicator feature sensable by the sensor assembly when the valve member is in the set position.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the set position is one of an open position and a closed position of the valve member. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second sensor assembly and wherein the valve member has a second set position, the indicator feature sensable by the second sensor assembly when the valve member is in the second set position. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner cavity has a fluid flow path for hydrocarbon development fluids, and wherein the set position is an open position of the valve member and the second set position is a closed position of the valve member, wherein in the open position, hydrocarbon development fluids can flow through the fluid flow path and in the closed position, hydrocarbon development fluids are blocked from flowing through the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a proximity sensor sensing a distance of the valve member from the set position. 
     
     
         14 . A method for directly sensing a position of a movable part of a hydrocarbon drilling and production operation, the method comprising:
 providing a housing having a body with an inner cavity and a body wall with a wall thickness defined between an inner surface of the inner cavity and an outer surface of the body, the inner cavity further having a fluid flow path for hydrocarbon development fluids;   moving a moveable member towards a set position, the moveable member being located within the inner cavity and having an indicator feature on the moveable member;   sensing the position of the movable member with a sensor assembly located within a port locating in the body wall when the moveable member is in the set position.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising a second sensor assembly and wherein the moveable member has a second set position, the method further comprising sensing the indicator feature with the second sensor assembly when the moveable member is in the second set position. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the body is a valve body and the moveable member is a valve member, and wherein the step of moving the moveable member towards the set position includes moving the moveable member towards one of an open position and a closed position of the valve member. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the body is an outer wellhead member and the moveable member is an inner wellhead member and wherein the step of moving the moveable member towards the set position includes landing the inner wellhead member within the outer wellhead member. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a proximity sensor and the method further includes sensing a distance of the moveable member from the set position with the proximity sensor.