Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an inline valve. The inline valve includes, a housing, a choke member in operable communication with the housing, a portion of the choke member being substantially immobile relative to the housing and a portion of the choke member being mobile relative to the housing. The inline valve further includes, an actuator in operable communication with the movable portion of the choke member, the actuator selectively causing the choke member to deform radially.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   In the course of the production of target fluids from a well, control of the rate of flow (of target or non-target fluids) is an important consideration. Such control is useful for a number of reasons such as maintaining a production rate that is desirable for any number of reasons, maintaining a rate of production that minimizes flow cutting of well equipment, controlling undesirable rates of fluid exodus from the well or even to shut the well in. Sliding sleeves, safety valves and a host of other valves others are known to the art to control all kinds of properties in all kinds of conditions. Each type of valve has strengths and weaknesses ranging from temperature or flow cut vulnerabilities to where in the well they are physically installable relative to where in the particular well would be an optimal position. Even in view of the many types of valves already at the disposal of well operators, however, there is need for new and different valve configurations to support otherwise undersupported situations. 
   As well technology continues to advance and configurations of wells change, the above noted need grows. Therefore new valve configurations are a consistently useful addition to the well operator&#39;s repertoire. 
   SUMMARY 
   Disclosed herein is an inline valve. The inline valve includes, a housing, a choke member in operable communication with the housing, a portion of the choke member being substantially immobile relative to the housing and a portion of the choke member being mobile relative to the housing. The inline valve further includes, an actuator in operable communication with the movable portion of the choke member, the actuator selectively causing the choke member to deform radially. 
   Further disclosed herein is a method of choking a tubular. The method includes, energizing an actuator in operable communication with a movable portion of a choke member, moving the movable portion relative to a substantially immobile portion of the choke member thereby causing a choke segment of the choke member to change a radial dimension thereof and choking an available flow area with the change in the radial dimension of the choke segment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic cross section of an inline shut off valve and system. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross section of an inline choke and system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an inline shut off valve system  10  is depicted schematically in cross section. The system  10  includes both a tubular  12  having an enlarged portion  14  and a valve  16  disposed in the enlarged portion  14  of the tubular  12 . The tubular  12  includes one or more support(s)  18  to retain valve  16  in the portion  14 . In one embodiment, the flow area in tubular  12  is the same whether downhole, at or uphole of the valve  16 . 
   Turning to valve  16  of the system  10 , the valve includes a housing  20  that is fixed to the support(s)  18 . Housing  20  defines a chamber  22  and a threaded receptacle  24  to receive a fixing rod  26 . The fixing rod  26  fixes a choke member  28  to the housing  20  with as illustrated another threaded connection  30 . It will be appreciated that the threads on fixing rod  26  are only one means of fixing that is possible. The purpose of the fixing rod is to maintain housing  20  and a cap  32  of choke member  28  at either a relatively or fully fixed distance from one another. Any fastening method at the ends of fixing rod  26 , such as threading, welding, adhering, pinning, interference fitting, etc. is acceptable. 
   The choke member  28  further includes a piston body  34  having a pressure seal  36  such as an o-ring disposed thereat to seal between the piston body and the housing  20 . Finally choke member  28  includes a choke segment  38 . The choke segment  38  is responsive to movement of the piston body  34  in a direction toward the top of the drawing, which is occasioned by an increase in fluid pressure in chamber  22 . Fluid may be increased in chamber  22  either by the application of pressure through a conduit  40 , such as illustrated, or if the chamber  22  is sealed (temporarily or permanently) by pressure buildup due to heat energy input. In either case, pressure in chamber  22  causes piston body  34  to move closer to cap  32  which in turn causes choke segment  38  to bulge radially outwardly at an axial center thereof indicated by arrow  42 . The greater the pressure in chamber  22 , the larger the radial growth of segment  38  until an outer surface  44  thereof contacts an inside wall  46  of tubular  12 . Once contact as such is made, a significant restriction to flow is achieved. In some cases, flow is completely eliminated, in which case the choke member acts as a seal member. 
   Additionally, the radial deformation of the choke segment  38  is reversible such that an amount of choke is controllable. The reversibility is achieved by reducing pressure in the chamber  22  through the conduit  40 , such as illustrated, or if the chamber  22  is sealed (temporarily or permanently) by pressure reduction due to heat energy removal. In either case, a reduced pressure in chamber  22  causes piston body  34  to move further from the cap  32  which in turn causes the choke segment  38  to reduce radially. Radial reduction of the choke segment  38  causes a decrease in the level of choking. 
   In another embodiment utilizing the concept hereof, and referring to  FIG. 2 , an adjustable choke  100  is disclosed. A tubular  112  is identical to the tubular in the foregoing embodiment as are one or more support(s)  118 . Focus therefore will be on a valve portion  116 . A housing  120  is quite distinct in this embodiment as the housing  120  itself comprises a choke segment  138  and actuation of this choke segment  138  is through urging of a cap  132  toward a bottom of the drawing  FIG. 2  rather than an actuation involving fixing the location of cap  32  relative to housing  20 , as in  FIG. 1 . Here the impetus to choke is due to the movement of cap  132  occasioned by fluid pressure being directed to a chamber  122  for opening of the choke  100  or a chamber  150  to close choke  100 . 
   The mechanism for this operation is a movable rod  152  threadly, or otherwise fixed, at affixation  154  to cap  132  and slidably receivable in recess  156  of housing  120 . The movable rod  152  includes a piston  160  having a seal  162  in pressure sealing slidable communication with housing  120 . Thus the rod can be urged to choke or open the valve  116 . As one of skill in the art should be aware from the drawing, the piston  160  is annular in the illustrated embodiments. A pressure inlet  170  functions to close the choke while a pressure inlet  172  functions to provide opening pressure for the valve  116 . It is to be appreciated that when each of these inlets is not functioning to receive applied pressure, they will function to receive exhausted fluid from the chamber of valve  116  not being pressurized. For clarity of disclosure, the fluid path from  170  into chamber  122  is sequentially from inlet  170  to recess  156  to an opening  174  in rod  152 , to a port (or number of ports)  176  in rod  152  and thus into chamber  122 . As is evident from  FIG. 2 , the fluid path for chamber  150  is straightforward. 
   Returning now to operation of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , pressure applied to chamber  122  causes piston  160  to move toward a bottom of  FIG. 2 , consequently moving rod  152  at cap  132  in the same direction. This motion causes an axial compression stress on the choke segment  138 , which is predisposed to deform radially outwardly. As the stress continues to rise pursuant to fluid accumulation in chamber  122 , the choke segment  138  will move into contact with the tubular  112  to seal it off. It is to be appreciated that the device is variable in its degree of actuation so that the amount of deformation is selectable. This allows the valve  116  to operate at anywhere from a full open position to a choked position to a fully closed position. Choking can be at whatever amount of choke is desired as the volume of fluid in  122  can be selected, thus the amount of radial deformation can be controlled. 
   In both embodiments described herein, the choke segment is described as being predisposed toward radially outward deformation. This predisposition can be caused by constructing the choke segment to have a reverse hourglass shape so that axial stress thereon will continue to deform the segment in the same direction. The material of the segment, so configured, may be any deformable material such as metal or elastomer, however metal seals will provide higher resistance to downhole conditions such as erosion for example. Additionally, the choke segment may be coated with a material that resists erosion of the choke segment. 
   Alternatively, the choke segment of either described embodiment may take the form of cylindrical bodies having lines of weakness therein to predispose the choke segment to deform in a selected direction. One form of lines of weakness are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  hereof as grooves. In the embodiments described, there are two lines of weakness  178  at an outside dimension of the segment  38 / 138  and one line of weakness  180  at the inside dimension thereof. Upon compressive axial stress, the grooves close upon themselves making the seal move to an actuated position. A full disclosure of this type of sealing configuration is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,049, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
   It is to be appreciated that although the figures both illustrate the choke segments actuating radially outwardly, it is equally possible to reverse components of the disclosed devices thereby causing the choke segment to actuate inwardly while maintaining the same overall function, the caveat being that in such arrangement, the flow area would be annular and radially inwardly of the choke segment. It should further be noted that although fluid pressure is specifically described and shown herein as the prime mover for actuation, it is additionally possible to utilize a motor operably connected to the choke segment such as, for example with respect to  FIG. 2 , a ball nut spinnable by motor to draw the rod  152  toward the bottom of  FIG. 2  thereby creating the axial compressive stress on the choke segment will function equally well. Since schematically illustrated motor appears as does the recess  156  Applicant refers to  156  of  FIG. 2  to represent the motor for this embodiment. 
   While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustrations and not limitation.