Fire on demand atmospheric barrier valve using tec line and hydraulic boost assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems and methods of actuating a downhole tool, having the steps of providing a conductor having a first end positioned at a surface location and a second end positioned at a downhole location, cycling the wellbore through varying pressures of well fluids, moving a balance piston with the various pressures of well fluids to build pressure within a hydraulic boost assembly, transmitting an electrical signal through from above the wellbore, through the conductor, and arriving at the downhole location, receiving the signal at the downhole location, and utilizing the pressure within the hydraulic boost assembly to transition the downhole tool from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to the signal. In some embodiments, a hydraulic boost assembly may build pressure from a cycling of well fluid pressures for later use by the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of actuating a downhole tool, comprising the steps of:
 providing a conductor having a first end positioned at a surface location and a second end positioned at a downhole location within a wellbore;   cycling the wellbore through varying pressures of well fluids;   moving a balance piston with the various pressures of well fluids to build pressure within a hydraulic boost assembly;   transmitting an electrical signal through from above the wellbore, through the conductor, and arriving at the downhole location;   receiving the signal at the downhole location; and   utilizing the pressure within the hydraulic boost assembly to transition the downhole tool from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is a downhole valve, the first configuration is a closed valve and the second configuration is an open valve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the downhole tool is a downhole valve, the first configuration is an open valve, and the second configuration is a closed valve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of utilizing a hydraulic boost assembly comprises a release of hydraulic pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising monitoring electrical signals over time to establish a detected signal profile. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising comparing the detected signal profile to a target signal profile. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising instructing an actuation system to operate to cause the downhole tool to transition in response to the comparing step. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic boost assembly includes one or more chambers of compressible fluid. 
     
     
         9 . A system for actuating a downhole tool comprising:
 a conductor extending from a surface location to a first downhole location;   a signal transmitter at the first downhole location that is coupled to the conductor;   a signal receiver at a second downhole location that is downhole from the first downhole location, wherein the signal receiver is configured to receive electrical signals from the signal transmitter;   a decoder at the second downhole location in electrical communication with the signal receiver;   an actuator at the second downhole location in electrical communication with the decoder;   a hydraulic boost assembly which builds pressure from a cycling of well fluid pressures; and   a downhole tool at the second downhole location coupled to the hydraulic boost assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the downhole tool comprises a downhole valve. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises a pin pusher, a barrier, one or more pistons, and a spring. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic boost assembly builds pressure within a chamber holding compressible fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic boost assembly comprises a low pressure chamber and a high pressure chamber in fluid communication through a check valve. 
     
     
         14 . A system for actuating a downhole tool comprising:
 a conductor extending from a surface location to a first downhole location;   a signal transmitter at the first downhole location that is coupled to the conductor and adapted to transmit an electrical signal downhole;   a signal receiver at a second downhole location that is downhole from the first downhole location, wherein the signal receiver is configured to receive electrical signals from the signal transmitter which are transmitted through the conductor;   a signal decoder at the second downhole location in signal communication with the signal receiver;   an actuator at the second downhole location in signal communication with the signal decoder;   a latch connected to the actuator which releases a spring-forced piston when a specific signal is received at the decoder; and   a downhole tool at the second downhole location coupled to the piston.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a pin pusher within the actuator that travels towards a barrier member. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein:
 a fracturing of the barrier member establishes fluid communication between a fluid chamber and a relief chamber. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a hydraulic boost assembly which applies additional force to the piston in addition to the spring force. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a relief piston in the actuator that moves once there is fluid communication established between the fluid chamber and relief chamber. 
 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein:
 movement of the relief piston releases a latch inside the actuator. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein:
 the pressure boost assembly comprises
 a high-pressure chamber filled with a compressible fluid; 
 a low-pressure chamber filled with the same compressible fluid and placed in fluid communication with the high-pressure chamber through a check valve; and 
 a balance piston placed for movement in response to changes in well fluid pressure.