Abstract:
A method for controlling fluid flow includes, deforming at least one deformable member disposed between two tubulars that are radially aligned with one another, at least one of the at least one deformable member is positioned between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and regulating flow of fluid by deforming the at least one deformable member positioned between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet sufficiently to achieve a desired flow rate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Control of fluid flow through various parts of a wellbore is important for optimizing production. Valves to control fluid flow have been developed and are widely used. In some situations it is sufficient to use a valve with only two settings, fully open and fully closed. In other situations it is desirable to be able to choke the flow without shutting it off completely. As wells become more sophisticated there is a desire for increasing accuracy in flow control. 
         [0002]    The increasing sophistication of wells also includes an increase in operating costs and consequently an increase in cost for time in which a well is not producing. Failure of flow control valves is, therefore, a costly and undesirable condition. Accordingly, the art is in need of highly durable flow control valves that have highly accurate flow control. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Disclosed herein is a method for controlling fluid flow. The method includes, deforming at least one deformable member disposed between two tubulars that are radially aligned with one another, at least one of the at least one deformable member is positioned between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and regulating flow of fluid by deforming the at least one deformable member positioned between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet sufficiently to achieve a desired flow rate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  depicts a tubular valve with a single sealable member in an unactuated position; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  depicts the tubular valve with a single sealable member of  FIG. 1  with the valve in an actuated position; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternate tubular valve with a single sealable member in an unactuated position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  depicts the tubular valve with a single sealable member of  FIG. 3  with the valve in an actuated position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  depicts a tubular valve with dual sealable members with one sealable member in an unactuated position and the other sealable member in an actuated position; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  depicts a tubular valve with dual sealable members with both sealable members sealingly engaged. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A detailed description of several embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the tubular valve  10  is illustrated. The tubular valve  10  includes a first tubular member  14 , a second tubular member  18  and a sealable member  22 . The sealable member  22  is supported by the second tubular member  18  and is sealably engagable with the first tubular member  14  in response to a selectable repositioning of the sealable member  22 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 1 , the sealable member  22  is not sealably engaged with the first tubular member  14  when the sealable member  22  is in an unactuated position  26  as shown. Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , the sealable member  22  is sealably engaged with the first tubular member  14  when the sealable member  22  is in an actuated position  30  as shown. An annular space  34  exists between an inner surface  38 , of the first tubular member  14 , and an outer surface  42 , of the second tubular member  18 , and provides a fluid flow path therethrough. In the actuated position  30  the sealable member  22  sealably engages the inner surface  38  thereby fully occluding the annular space  34  and closing the tubular valve  10  to fluidic flow therethrough. By contrast, in the unactuated position  26 , the sealable member  22  does not occlude the annular space  34  at all and thereby defines a fully open condition of the tubular valve  10 . The sealable member  22  can also occlude a fractional portion of the annular space  34  between fully closed and fully open. When doing so the amount of occlusion varies in proportion to the amount of extension of the sealable member  22  between the unactuated  26  and the actuated  30  positions. It should be noted that while the foregoing embodiment has the sealable member  22  supported by the second tubular member  18 , alternate embodiments could just as well have a sealable member supported by, or integrated into, the first tubular member  14 . Such an alternate embodiment could have a sealable member extend radially inwardly to sealably engage with the outer radial surface  42  of the second tubular member  18 , for example. 
         [0013]    Repositioning of the sealable member  22 , in the second tubular member  18 , is in one embodiment due to construction thereof The sealable member  22  is formed from a section of the second tubular member  18  that has three lines of weakness  46 ,  50 , and  54 , specifically located both axially of the tubular member  18  and with respect to an inside surface  58  and the outer surface  42  of the second tubular member  18 . In one embodiment, a first line of weakness  46  and a second line of weakness  50  are defined in this embodiment by diametrical grooves formed in the outer surface  42  of the second tubular member  18 . A third line of weakness  54  is defined in this embodiment by a diametrical groove formed in the inside surface  58  of the second tubular member  18 . The three lines of weakness  46 ,  50 , and  54  each encourage local deformation of the tubular member  18  in a radial direction that tends to cause the groove to close. It will be appreciated that in embodiments where the line of weakness is defined by other than a groove, the radial direction of movement will be the same but since there is no groove, there is no “close of the groove.” Rather, in such an embodiment, the material that defines a line of weakness will flow or otherwise allow radial movement in the direction indicated. The three lines of weakness together encourage deformation of the tubular member  18  in a manner that creates a feature such as the sealable member  22  in the actuated position  30 . The feature is created, then, upon the application of an axially directed mechanical compression of the tubular member  18  such that the actuated position  30  of the sealable member  22  is formed as the tubular member  18  is compressed to a shorter overall length. Other mechanisms can alternatively be employed to actuate the tubular member  18  between the unactuated  26  and the actuated  30  positions of the sealable member  22 . For example, the sealable member  22  may be repositioned to the actuated position  30  by pressurizing the inner surface  38 , for example. 
         [0014]    The tubular valve  10  has the further capability however of allowing the sealable member  22  to be repeatedly repositioned. More specifically the sealable member  22  may be repeatedly repositioned to the unactuated position  26  ( FIG. 1 ), or any position between the fully unactuated position  26  and the fully actuated position  30  ( FIG. 2 ). This variability of extension of the sealable member  22  allows the fluid flowing through the annular space  34  to be choked to any desirable level. Such repositioning is effected, in one embodiment, by the application of an axially tensive load on the second tubular member  18 , thereby elongating the second tubular member  18  in the process. Control, therefore, of the amount of extension of the sealable member  22  into the annular space  34 , in this embodiment, is determined by the amount of axial compression or elongation of the second tubular member  18  about the sealable member  22 . 
         [0015]    Compression and elongation of the second tubular member  18  can be controlled by relative movement of a first portion  62 , of the second tubular member  18 , with respect to a second portion  66 , of the second tubular member  18 . Similarly, movement of the first tubular member  14  relative to the second portion  66  can control the same compression and elongation, since the first portion  62  is attached to the first tubular member  14  by, for example, threads  70 . As such, since there is no relative motion between the first portion  62  and the first tubular member  14 , motion of the second portion  66  can be made relative to either the first portion  62  or the first tubular member  14  thereby controlling the actuation of the tubular valve  10 . 
         [0016]    The annular space  34 , through which the sealable member  22  extends, defines a fluidic flow path that is to be throttled or choked by an amount of actuation of the sealable member  22 . Thus, choke control of a desired flow path can be achieved by fluidically connecting the desired flow path to the annular space  34 . For example, a port  76  that extends radially through the first tubular member  14  positioned downhole of the sealable member  22  provides flow from radially outside the first tubular member  14  into the annular space  34 . In such an embodiment the flow from outside the first tubular member  14  to an uphole directed annulus  80  is controllable via the sealable member  22 . In an alternate embodiment, such as one where the uphole directed annulus  80  is dead headed, for example, a port  84  through the second portion  66  of the second tubular member  18  can fluidically connect the annular space  34 , uphole of the sealable member  22  to an inside of the second tubular member  18 . In so doing the tubular valve  10  can control flow in either direction between the outside of the first tubular member  14  to the inside of the second tubular member  18 . 
         [0017]    In one embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the sealable member  22  is an integral part of one of the two tubular members  14 ,  18  and the tubular members  14 ,  18  may both be made of metal. In such an embodiment the seal created between the sealable member  22  and the first tubular member  14  is a metal-to-metal seal. Such a metal-to-metal seal can have excellent durability in a high pressure, high temperature and caustic environment commonly experienced in wellbores. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  an alternate embodiment of the tubular valve  110  with an elastomeric seal is illustrated. The tubular valve  110  includes a first tubular member  114 , a second tubular member  118  and a sealable member  122 . The sealable member  122  is supported by the second tubular member  118  and is sealably engagable with the first tubular member  114  in response to a selectable repositioning of the sealable member  122 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 3 , the sealable member  122  is not sealably engaged with the first tubular member  114  when the sealable member  122  is in an unactuated position  126  as shown. Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , the sealable member  122  is sealably engaged with the first tubular member  114  when the sealable member  122  is in an actuated position  130  as shown. An annular space  134  exists between an inner surface  138 , of the first tubular member  114 , and an outer surface  142 , of the second tubular member  118 , and provides a fluid flow path therethrough. In the actuated position  130  the sealable member  122  sealably engages the surface  138  thereby fully occluding the annular space  134  and closing the tubular valve  110  to fluidic flow therethrough. By contrast, in the unactuated position  126  the sealable member  122  does not occlude the annular space  134  at all and thereby defines a fully open condition of the tubular valve  110 . The sealable member  122  can also occlude a fractional portion of the annular space  134  between fully closed and fully open. When doing so the amount of occlusion varies in proportion to the amount of extension of the sealable member  122  between the unactuated  126  and the actuated  130  positions. It should be noted that while the foregoing embodiment has the sealable member  122  supported by the second tubular member  118 , alternate embodiments could have a sealable member supported by, or integrated into, the first tubular member  114 . Such an alternate embodiment could have a sealable member extend radially inwardly to sealably engage with the outer radial surface  142  of the second tubular member  118 , for example. Multiple sealable members could also be incorporated into embodiments as will be discussed in detail below. 
         [0019]    Repositioning of the sealable member  122 , supported by the second tubular member  118 , is due to construction thereof The sealable member  122  is formed from an elastomeric band  146  that circumferentially surrounds a reduced dimension portion  150  of an uphole portion  154  of the second tubular member  118 . The elastomeric band  146  is positioned axially between the uphole portion  154  and a downhole portion  158  of the second tubular member  118 . Movement of the uphole portion  154  towards the downhole portion  158  compresses the elastomeric band  146  axially which results in the elastomeric band  146  increasing in size diametrically until the band  146  makes contact with the inner surface  138 . The actuated position  130  is created, then, upon the application of an axially directed mechanical compression of the tubular member  118  such that the actuated position  130  of the sealable member  122  is formed as the tubular member  118  is compressed to a shorter overall length. 
         [0020]    The tubular valve  110  has the further capability however of allowing the sealable member  122  to be repeatedly repositioned. More specifically the sealable member  122  may be repeatedly repositioned to the unactuated position  126  ( FIG. 1 ), or any position between the fully unactuated position  126  and the fully actuated position  130  ( FIG. 2 ). This variability of extension of the sealable member  122  allows the fluid flowing through the annular space  134  to be choked to any desirable level. Such repositioning is effected, in one embodiment, by the application of an axially tensive load on the second tubular member  118 , thereby elongating the second tubular member  118  in the process. Control, therefore, of the amount of extension of the sealable member  122  into the annular space  134 , in this embodiment, is determined by the amount of axial compression or elongation of the second tubular member  118  about the sealable member  122 . 
         [0021]    Compression and elongation of the second tubular member  118  can be controlled by relative movement of the uphole portion  154  with respect to the downhole portion  158  of the second tubular member  118 . Similarly, relative movement of the uphole portion  154  relative to the first tubular member  114  can control this compression and elongation, since the downhole portion  158  is attached to the first tubular member  114  by threads  162 . As such, since there is no relative motion between the downhole portion  158  and the first tubular member  114 , motion of the uphole portion  154  can be made relative to either the downhole portion  158  or the first tubular member  114 . Thus controlling these relative motions can control the actuation of the tubular valve  110 . 
         [0022]    The annular space  134 , through which the sealable member  122  extends, defines a fluidic flow path that is to be throttled or choked by an amount of actuation of the sealable member  122 . Thus, choke control of a desired flow path can be achieved by fluidically connecting the desired flow path to the annular space  134 . For example, a port  176  that extends radially through the first tubular member  114  positioned downhole of the sealable member  122  provides flow from radially outside the first tubular member  114  into the annular space  134 . In such an embodiment the flow from outside the first tubular member  114  to an uphole directed annulus  180  is controllable via the sealable member  122 . In an alternate embodiment, such as one where the uphole directed annulus  180  is dead headed, for example, a port  184  through the uphole portion  154  of the second tubular member  118  can fluidically connect the annular space  134 , uphole of the sealable member  122  to an inside of the second tubular member  118 . In so doing the tubular valve  110  can control flow in either direction between the outside of the first tubular member  114  to the inside of the second tubular member  118 . It should be noted that although components are labeled herein with terms such as uphole (i.e. uphole portion) and downhole (i.e. downhole portion), these terms are only used to define relative positioning of the components and as such could have these terms reversed or replaced with other terms to define relative positioning of the components. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 5  an alternative embodiment of the tubular valve  210  is illustrated. The tubular valve  210  includes a first tubular member  214 , a second tubular member  218 , a first sealable member  220 , and a second sealable member  222 . In this embodiment the sealable members  220  and  222  are supported by the second tubular member  218  and are sealably engagable with the first tubular member  214  in response to a selectable position of the sealable members  220 ,  222 . The sealable member  220  is not sealably engaged with the first tubular member  214  as the sealable member  220  is in an unactuated position  226  as shown. The sealable member  222  is sealably engaged with the first tubular member  214  as the sealable member  222  is in an actuated position  230  as shown. An annular space  234  exists between an inner surface  238 , of the first tubular member  214 , and an outer surface  242 , of the second tubular member  218 , and provides a fluid flow path therethrough. In the actuated position  230  the sealable member  222  sealably engages the surface  238  thereby fully occluding the annular space  234 . By contrast, in the unactuated position  226  the sealable member  220  does not occlude the annular space  234  at all. The sealable members  220 ,  222  can also occlude a fractional portion of the annular space  234  between fully closed and fully open. When doing so the amount of occlusion varies in proportion to the amount of extension of the sealable members  220 ,  222  between the unactuated  226  and the actuated  230  positions. It should be noted that while the foregoing embodiment has the sealable members  220 ,  222  supported by the second tubular member  218 , alternate embodiments could have sealable members supported by, or integrated into, the first tubular member  214 . Such an alternate embodiment could have sealable members extend radially inwardly to sealably engage with the outer radial surface  242  of the second tubular member  218 , for example. Alternatively, embodiments could also have one or more sealable members supported by or integrated into the second tubular member  218  and simultaneously have one or more sealable members supported by or integrated into the first tubular members  214 . 
         [0024]    Repositioning of the sealable members  220 ,  222 , in the second tubular member  218 , is due to construction thereof. The sealable members  220 ,  222  are formed from sections of the second tubular member  218  in the same way that the sealable member  22  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is formed of a section of the second tubular member  18  and therefore will not be described in detail again here. One difference, however, in this embodiment is that tubular valve  210  has two sealable members  220  and  222 , and thus a third portion  260  of the second tubular member  218  is movable relative to a first portion  262  and a second portion  266  of the tubular member  218 . In fact, by having each portion  260 ,  262 ,  266  be movable independently relative to each of the other portions  260 ,  262 ,  266 , the two sealable members  220  and  222  are independently extendable to any desired amount of extension. It should be noted that alternate embodiments could have more than two sealable members  220 ,  222 . And, regardless of how many sealable members  220 ,  222  are used, each could be independently repositionable. 
         [0025]    In the embodiment of the tubular valve  210 , for example, the first two sealable members  220 ,  222  could be repositioned independently of one another. To do so simply requires independent control over the movement of the three portions  260 ,  262  and  266  relative to one another. Moving the third portion  266  relative to the portions  262 ,  260 , held stationary, for example, will allow repositioning of the second sealable member  222  without repositioning the first sealable member  220 . Similarly, by moving the third portion  266  and the second portion  262  in unison relative to the first portion  260 , held stationary, allows for repositioning of the first sealable member  220  without repositioning of the second sealable member  222 . Thus, a series of valves can be independently controllable to choke fluid flow therethrough. Additionally, the valves can be set to control fluid flow in various ways depending upon how the annular space  234  about the sealable members  220 ,  222  is ported. The embodiment of the tubular valve  210 , described below, is one example of how improved resolution of choke control can be attained through porting. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment of the tubular valve  210  a first ports  276  in the first tubular member  214  includes multiple ports  276   a,    276   b,    276   c  and so forth. Having a plurality of ports  276  allows for an additional level of flow control between the ports  276  and a second port  280 , for example, located in the second tubular member  218 . This additional level of flow control results from the axial movement of the second sealable member  222 , relative to the ports  276 , provided by repositioning of the first sealable member  220 . For example, the ports  276   c  and  276   d  could be located downhole of the sealable member  222  while the ports  276   a  and  276   b  could be located uphole of the sealable member  222 , as shown. Then, in response to repositioning of the first sealable member  220 , the second sealable member  222  can move in a downhole direction relative to the ports  276 . Such movement could be settable, based upon the geometry of the first sealable member  220  and the spacing of the ports  276 , such that all of the ports  276  are located uphole of the second sealable member  222 , for example. Resolution could be increased further still by selective distribution of the ports  276  about the first tubular member  214 . For example, the ports  276  can be distributed axially, perimetrically or a combination of both axially and perimetrically relative to the tubular member  214 . It should be noted that while repositioning of the first sealable member  220  causes axial movement of the second sealable member  222  it also results in a change in the extension of the first sealable member  220  into the annular space  234 , which in itself will effect the choking level of the fluid therethrough. An alternate embodiment that provides for axial movement of a sealable member relative to ports without choking in an alternate location will be reviewed below. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 6  a partial cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the tubular valve  310  that incorporates a plurality of metal sealable members is illustrated. A first tubular member  314  has a port  318  extending through a wall  322  thereof The port  318  permits fluid communication between an outside of the first tubular member  314  and annular flow channels to be described in more detail below. A second tubular member  324  is coaxially located radially inwardly of the first tubular member  314  and is axially slidably engaged with the first tubular member  314 . The tubular members  314 ,  324  are made of a rigid material such as metal, for example. The second tubular member  324  supports a first sealable member  332  and a second sealable member  334 . Both sealable members  332 ,  334  fully occlude an annular space  336  that exists between an outer surface  340 , of the second tubular member  324 , and an inner surface  344 , of the first tubular member  314 . The sealable members  332 ,  334  are made of metal and are elastically deformable and as such are deformed radially by the compression between the surfaces  340  and  344 . The elastic deformation of the sealable members  332 ,  334  maintains a sealing force between outward extensions  348 , of sealable members  332 ,  334 , and the surface  344  and inward extensions  352 , of sealable members  332 ,  334  and the surface  340 . 
         [0028]    The forgoing structure allows the tubular valve  310  to selectively port the outside of the first tubular member  314  with either a first annular flow channel  356  or a second annular flow channel  360  that exists between the first tubular member  314  and the second tubular member  324 . The first annular flow channel  356  is positioned between the sealable members  332 ,  334  while the second annular flow channel  360  is positioned on an uphole side (shown in  FIG. 6 ) or a downhole side of the sealable members  332 ,  334 . By selective axially movement of the second tubular member  324  relative to the first tubular member  314  the port  318  can be fluidically coupled to only the first annular flow channel  356 , only the second annular flow channel  360  or a portion of both annular flow channel  356 ,  360 . As such, the tubular valve  310  can be used to choke the flow between either channel  356 ,  360  and the exterior of the first tubular member  314 . It should be noted, however, that by positioning the port  318  in the second tubular member  324  the flow control can be between the either channel  356 ,  360  and the interior of the second tubular member  324 . Additionally, by placing ports in both tubular members  314 ,  324  flow control can be established between the outside of the first tubular member  314  and the inside of the second tubular member  324 . The port  318 , in alternate embodiments, may include a plurality of ports arranged axially only, perimetrically only, or both axially and perimetrically about a circumference of the tubular member  314  to thereby increase resolution of the flow control provided per unit of movement of the tubular members  314 ,  324  relative to one another. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.