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EP-3682085-B1 - VALVE APPARATUS

EP3682085B1EP 3682085 B1EP3682085 B1EP 3682085B1EP-3682085-B1

Inventors

  • MOYES, PETER BARNES
  • STEWART, Stefan Neil Lewis

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20180913

Claims (14)

  1. A downhole valve apparatus (30), comprising: a housing (32) having a flow path (34) therein; a valve member (40) mounted within the housing (32) and being operable between closed and open configurations to control flow along the flow path (34); a pressure relief arrangement (46) operable between closed and open configurations to selectively permit pressure communication on opposing sides of the valve member (40) when said valve member (40) is in its closed configuration; an actuator assembly (48) moveable from a first position to a second position to sequentially open the pressure relief arrangement (46) and the valve member (40) from their respective closed configurations, such that the pressure relief arrangement (46) is opened before the valve member (20); a valve seat (94) configured to cooperate with the valve member; and a seat sleeve (90) mounted within the housing (32), wherein the valve seat (94) is provided on one end of the seat sleeve (90); wherein the pressure relief arrangement (46) comprises a bypass flow path at least partially defined between the seat sleeve (90) and the housing (32) such that when the pressure relief arrangement (46) is configured in its open configuration the bypass flow path provides pressure communication between opposing sides of the valve member (40); wherein the pressure relief arrangement (46) comprises a pressure relief port (100) provided on or through the seat sleeve and arranged in communication with one side of the valve member (40), and a pressure relief valve member (102) located between the seat sleeve and the housing and operable by the actuator assembly (48) to open the pressure relief port (100), wherein the pressure relief valve member (102) comprises a sealing arrangement for sealing the pressure relief port (100), wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a pair of axially spaced sealing members (104, 106), wherein when the pressure relief arrangement (46) is in its closed configuration the sealing members (104, 106) are positioned on opposing axial sides of the pressure relief port (100) so that the pressure on each of the sealing members (104, 106) has an axially opposing effect, and wherein the sealing members (104, 106) are sized such that when the pressure relief arrangement (46) is in its closed configuration the axially opposing pressures on the sealing members (104, 106) are balanced; and wherein the actuator assembly (48) extends from one side of the valve member (40) to engage the pressure relief arrangement (46) on an opposing axial side of the valve member (40).
  2. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly (48) is moveable to open the pressure relief arrangement (46) before moving the valve member (40), and/or wherein the actuator assembly (48) is moveable from its second position to its first position to sequentially close the pressure relief arrangement (46) and the valve member (40).
  3. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein a sealing arrangement is defined between the valve seat (94) and the valve member (40) for providing a sealed barrier within the flow path (34) when the valve member (40) is in its closed configuration.
  4. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to claim 3, wherein the valve seat (94) and the sealing arrangements provide a pressure barrier within the valve apparatus (30).
  5. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator assembly (48) comprises a linear actuator assembly operable to rotate the valve member (40) and linearly operate the pressure relief arrangement (46).
  6. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein a lost motion arrangement is defined between the actuator assembly (48) and the valve member (40) to permit the actuator assembly (48) to move in a first movement phase over a first distance from its first position and partially towards its second position without corresponding operation of the valve member (40), and to permit the actuator assembly (48) to move in a second movement phase over a second distance to its second position while operating the valve member (40) to open.
  7. The downhole valve apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first and second movement phases are sequential and continuous, and the first and second distances collectively define a total movement distance of the actuator assembly (48) from its first to second positions; and/or wherein the first and second movement phases of the actuator assembly (48) are axial movement phases, and wherein the first axial movement phase of the actuator assembly (48) axially moves the pressure relief arrangement (46) to its open configuration.
  8. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator assembly (48) comprises a valve member interface for engaging and driving the valve member (40) towards its open configuration during movement of the actuator assembly (48) towards its second position.
  9. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to claim 8, wherein the valve member interface is axially separated from engagement with the valve member (40) when the actuator assembly (48) is in its first position, and/or wherein the valve member interface engages the valve member (40) after the actuator assembly (48) has moved the pressure relief arrangement (46) to its open configuration
  10. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator assembly (48) comprises a first valve member interface (72) operable to engage the valve member (40) to open the valve member (40) when the actuator assembly (48) is moved in a first direction towards its second position, and a second valve member interface (74) which is axially separated from the first valve member interface (72) and is operable to engage the valve member (40) to close the valve member (40) when the actuator assembly (48) is moved in a second, reverse direction towards its first position, wherein the axial spacing between the first and second valve member interfaces (72, 74) defines a lost motion between the actuator assembly (48) and the valve member (40) in reverse directions of operations.
  11. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator assembly (48) comprises an actuator member (64) which extends to engage both the valve member (40) and pressure relief arrangement (46).
  12. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to claim 11, and dependent on any of claims 8 to 10, wherein an end portion of the actuator member (64) engages at least part of the pressure relief arrangement (46), and an intermediate portion of the actuator member (64) comprises the valve member interface or the first and second valve member interfaces as applicable.
  13. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator assembly (48) comprises a force interface (110) to receive an actuation force to facilitate movement of the actuator assembly (48).
  14. The downhole valve apparatus (30) according to claim 13, and dependent on claim 4 wherein the pressure barrier is on a side of the valve member (40) opposite the force interface (110).

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to a valve apparatus, for example a downhole ball valve apparatus. BACKGROUND Wellbore infrastructure and operations often require the use of valves to provide flow and/or pressure control. For example, valves may be used to control production and/or injection flow rates and pressures, to isolate sections of the wellbore, to contain wellbore pressure and fluids while topside or in-well operations are performed, to facilitate pressure testing, to facilitate tool actuation and the like. A ball valve assembly comprising primary and secondary seals that are axially shiftable relative to the ball is described in US 4 293 038 A. In many cases large differential pressures may be present across a wellbore valve, which may present challenges during operation. For example, a large pressure differential may generate significant friction between a valve member and its seat, such that relative movement therebetween may require very large actuation forces. Furthermore, venting a large pressure differential upon opening of a valve may cause damage to any seals or sealing surfaces between the valve member and its seat. SUMMARY Aspects of the invention are provided according to the appended claims. An aspect or example relates to a valve apparatus, comprising: a housing having a flow path therein;a valve member mounted within the housing and being operable between closed and open configurations to control flow along the flow path;an actuator assembly moveable from a first position to a second position to sequentially perform first and second actuation functions such that the first actuation function is performed before the second actuation function;wherein the first actuation function is associated with the operation of an auxiliary system, and the second actuation function opens the valve member from its closed configuration. Accordingly, during movement of the actuator assembly from its first position towards its second position the first actuation function is performed resulting in operation of the auxiliary system, while the valve member remains closed. Such an arrangement may permit the valve apparatus to perform an auxiliary function by, or as a result of, the operation of the auxiliary system before operation of the valve apparatus. Following the operation of the auxiliary system, the valve member may be opened during further movement of the actuator assembly towards its second position. Such sequential operation of the auxiliary system and the valve member may assist to establish a desired condition or perform a desired function within, or in relation to, the valve apparatus before opening of the valve member. The desired condition or function according to the invention is a change in pressurisation of the valve and opening of a fluid port. The valve member may be configured to be opened and subsequently closed. This may be achieved by reverse-operation of the actuator assembly, where reverse-operation of the actuator assembly involves moving the actuator assembly from the second position to the first position. Accordingly, the valve apparatus may be openable and closable. Reverse-operation of the valve member may further operate the auxiliary system, for example reverse-operate the auxiliary system. Alternatively, reverse operation of the actuator assembly may further operate the auxiliary system to a further configuration, e.g. further open a fluid port. Alternatively still, reverse operation of the actuator assembly may have no effect on the operation of the auxiliary system. The actuator assembly may be moveable from its second position to its first position to further operate the auxiliary system and close the valve member. The actuator assembly may be moveable from its second position to its first position to sequentially further operate the auxiliary system and then close the valve member from its open configuration, such that the auxiliary system is further operated before the valve member is closed. Alternatively, the valve member may only be operable from the closed configuration to the open configuration, with reverse operation prevented. Such an arrangement may provide a one-shot open valve apparatus. Reverse operation of the valve apparatus may be prevented using a ratchet system, for example. Similarly, the auxiliary system may only be operable a first time, with further operation of the auxiliary system prevented. The valve member may provide a sealed barrier within the flow path when said valve member is in its closed position. The valve member may comprise a rotary valve member which is rotatable to move between its closed and open positions. The valve member may comprise a ball valve member. The valve member may comprise a through bore, wherein when the valve member is in its closed configuration the through bore is misaligned, for example transverse to, the flow path of the housing, and when the valve member is in its open position the through bore is aligned w