Safety valve, well system, and method employing a pressure sensor

Abstract

A safety valve, a well system and a method is disclosed. The safety valve, in one aspect, includes a tubular housing, a flow tube positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube coupled to a hydraulically controlled actuation member located in an actuation member chamber, a valve closure mechanism positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube configured to move between a closed position and an open position and thereby move the valve closure mechanism between a closed state and an open state, an electromagnet coupled to one of the tubular housing or the flow tube, and one or more permanent magnets coupled to an other of the flow tube or the tubular housing. The safety valve according to this one aspect, may further include a pressure sensor configured to sense for a change in pressure associated with the flow tube to determine a health of the safety valve.

1 . A safety valve, comprising:
 a tubular housing;   a flow tube positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube coupled to a hydraulically controlled actuation member comprising a piston located in an actuation member chamber comprising a piston chamber;   a valve closure mechanism positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube configured to move between a closed position and an open position and thereby move the valve closure mechanism between a closed state and an open state, the piston chamber configured to receive activation fluid from below the valve closure mechanism;   an electromagnet coupled to one of the tubular housing or the flow tube;   one or more ferromagnetic targets coupled to an other of the flow tube or the tubular housing; and   a pressure sensor coupled to the piston chamber, the pressure sensor configured to sense varying pressures within the piston chamber as the flow tube moves between the closed position, the open position, and back to the closed position over time, the varying pressures operable to be used to highlight a change in a pressure signature associated with a movement of the piston and associated flow tube to determine a health of the safety valve as it ages.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The safety valve as recited in claim  3 , wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to the piston chamber on a side of the piston distal the valve closure mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The safety valve as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for varying back pressure on the piston over time, and thus be used to indicate that there is debris settlement arresting movement of the flow tube. 
     
     
         6 . The safety valve as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for at least a 2 percent increase in the pressure signature over time. 
     
     
         7 . The safety valve as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for at least a 10 percent increase in the pressure signature over time. 
     
     
         8 . The safety valve as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for at least a 25 percent increase in the pressure signature over time. 
     
     
         9 . The safety valve as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet is physically coupled to the tubular housing and the one or more ferromagnetic targets are physically coupled to the flow tube. 
     
     
         10 . The safety valve as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet is physically coupled to the flow tube and the one or more ferromagnetic targets are physically coupled to the tubular housing. 
     
     
         11 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations;   production tubing disposed in the wellbore; and   a safety valve disposed in the production tubing, the safety valve including:   a tubular housing;   a flow tube positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube coupled to a hydraulically controlled actuation member comprising a piston located in an actuation member chamber comprising a piston chamber;   a valve closure mechanism positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube configured to move between a closed position and an open position and thereby move the valve closure mechanism between a closed state and an open state;   an electromagnet coupled to one of the tubular housing or the flow tube;   one or more ferromagnetic targets coupled to an other of the flow tube or the tubular housing; and   a pressure sensor coupled to the flow tube, the pressure sensor configured to sense varying pressures within the piston chamber as the flow tube moves between the closed position, the open position, and back to the closed position over time, the varying pressures operable to be used to highlight a change in a pressure signature associated with a movement of the piston and associated flow tube to determine a health of the safety valve as it ages.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to the piston chamber on a side of the piston distal the valve closure mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The well system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for varying back pressure on the piston over time, and thus be used to indicate that there is debris settlement arresting movement of the flow tube. 
     
     
         16 . The well system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for at least a 2 percent increase in the pressure signature over time. 
     
     
         17 . The well system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for at least a 10 percent increase in the pressure signature over time. 
     
     
         18 . The well system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure for at least a 25 percent increase in the pressure signature over time. 
     
     
         19 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the electromagnet is physically coupled to the tubular housing and the one or more ferromagnetic targets are physically coupled to the flow tube. 
     
     
         20 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the electromagnet is physically coupled to the flow tube and the one or more ferromagnetic targets are physically coupled to the tubular housing. 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 positioning production tubing having a safety valve disposed therein in a wellbore, the safety valve including:   a tubular housing;   a flow tube positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube coupled to a hydraulically controlled actuation member comprising a piston located in an actuation member chamber comprising a piston chamber;   a valve closure mechanism positioned within the tubular housing, the flow tube configured to move between a closed position and an open position and thereby move the valve closure mechanism between a closed state and an open state;   an electromagnet coupled to one of the tubular housing or the flow tube;   one or more ferromagnetic targets coupled to an other of the flow tube or the tubular housing; and   a pressure sensor coupled to the piston chamber; and   sensing varying pressures within the piston chamber as the flow tube moves between the closed position, the open position, and back to the closed position over time, the varying pressures operable to be used to highlight a change in a pressure signature associated with a movement of the piston and associated flow tube to determine a health of the safety valve as it ages.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the sensing varying pressures within the piston chamber includes sensing varying back pressure on the piston over time. 
     
     
         24 . The safety valve as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic targets are one or more permanent magnets. 
     
     
         25 . The well system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic targets are one or more permanent magnets. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the one or more ferromagnetic targets are one or more permanent magnets.