Improved Autonomous Well Valve

Abstract

An improved autonomous well valve has a body that constitutes an actuator for opening and closing of first and second valves. The body has a body axis of symmetry. The body, which in operation is submerged, has an effective density that is equal or greater than the density of a first fluid and less than the density of a second fluid. The body is placed in a housing, the housing having a housing axis of symmetry. At least two first valves are designed to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing. The body axis at the first valves is restricted from moving above the housing axis.

1 . An improved autonomous well valve comprising a body that constitutes an actuator for opening and closing of at least two first valves, the body having an body axis of symmetry, and wherein the body, when submerged, has an effective density that is equal or greater than a density of a first fluid and less than a density of a second fluid, and wherein the body is located in a housing, the housing having a housing axis of symmetry, wherein the first valves, which are configured to allow flow between inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and wherein the body axis is restricted from moving above the housing axis. 
     
     
         2 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first valves, when positioned above the body axis, is open when the body axis is a predetermined distance below the housing axis. 
     
     
         3 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the first valves are closed when the body axis at the first valves is level with the housing axis. 
     
     
         4 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two second valves, which are configured to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and where the body axis at the second valves is restricted from moving below the housing axis. 
     
     
         5 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the second valves, when positioned above the body axis, is open when the body axis at the second valves is a predetermined distance above the housing axis. 
     
     
         6 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the second valves are closed when the body axis at the second valves is level with the housing axis. 
     
     
         7 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 2 , wherein the first valves are closed when the body axis at the first valves is level with the housing axis. 
     
     
         8 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 2 , wherein at least two second valves, which are configured to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and where the body axis at the second valves is restricted from moving below the housing axis. 
     
     
         9 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 3 , wherein at least two second valves, which are configured to allow flow between the inside and outside of the housing, are distributed about the body axis and mechanically connected between the body and the housing, and where the body axis at the second valves is restricted from moving below the housing axis. 
     
     
         10 . The improved autonomous well valve according to  claim 5 , wherein the second valves are closed when the body axis at the second valves is level with the housing axis.