CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/019,566, filed July 1, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to dummy valves. More specifically, in certain embodiments the present disclosure relates to hydraulic lock compensating dummy valves for use in gas lift and associated methods and systems.

[0003] Gas-lift wells have been in use since the 1800's and have proven particularly useful in increasing efficient rates of oil production where the reservoir natural lift is insufficient. Typically, in a gas-lift oil well, natural gas produced in the oil field is compressed and injected in an annular space between the casing and tubing and is directed from the casing into the tubing to provide a "lift" to the tubing fluid column for production of oil out of the tubing. Although the tubing can be used for the injection of the lift-gas and the annular space used to produce the oil, this is rare in practice.

[0004] One common type of gas-lift well uses mechanical, bellows-type gas-lift valves attached to the tubing to regulate the flow of gas from the annular space into the tubing string. Examples of such gas-lift valves are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,782,261 and 5,425,425, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In a typical bellows-type gas-lift valve, the bellows is preset or pre-charged to a certain pressure such that the valve permits communication of gas out of the annular space and into the tubing at the pre-charged pressure. The pressure charge of each valve is selected by a well engineer depending upon the position of the valve in the well, the pressure head, the physical conditions of the well downhole, and a variety of other factors, some of which are assumed or unknown, or will change over the production life of the well.

[0005] Other types of gas-lift wells are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,715,550 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0041863, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference. Still other types of gas-lift wells utilize dummy valves. Examples of such gas-lift wells utilizing dummy valves are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,162,060, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0006] Dual pocket side pocket mandrels are often used in offshore wells where it is desired or required that there must be no communication between the tubing and the annular space during the act of gas lift valve intervention. The dual pocket mandrel allows for the operating gas lift valve to be pulled while leaving the barrier isolation valve in place thus allowing for now communication of tubing to annular. The act of pulling the operating valve out of its pocket in the mandrel may allow for the introduction of tubing fluid into the valve pocket and space between the operating valve and barrier isolation valve. Once the operating valve is replaced with a traditional dummy valve the issue of hydraulic locking may exist. As the dummy valve is pushed into its pocket past its lowest set of packing elements, the fluid trapped in the space between the barrier isolation valve and the dummy valve, being non-compressible, may not allow for the remainder of the dummy valve to be driven into its pocket. Traditional dummy valves have no means of dealing with this trapped fluid.

[0007] It is desirable to develop a dummy valve that is capable of holding and dealing with the trapped fluid between the pockets.

SUMMARY

[0008] The present disclosure relates generally to dummy valves. More specifically, in certain embodiments the present disclosure relates to hydraulic lock compensating dummy valves for use in gas lift and associated methods and systems.

[0009] In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a dummy valve comprising: a housing and a rupture disc disposed within the housing, wherein the housing and the rupture disc define a first internal chamber.

[0010] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a gas lift system comprising: a gas lift mandrel comprising a first pocket and a second pocket; a gas lift valve disposed within the first pocket; and a dummy valve disposed within the second pocket, wherein the dummy valve comprises a housing and a rupture disc disposed within the housing, wherein the housing and the rupture disc define a first internal chamber.

[0011] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: providing a gas lift mandrel, wherein the gas lift mandrel comprises a first pocket and a second pocket and placing a dummy valve within the second pocket, wherein the dummy valve comprises a housing and a rupture disc disposed within the housing, wherein the housing and the rupture disc define a first internal chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A more complete and thorough understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates a dummy valve in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 2 illustrates a gas lift mandrel in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. While numerous changes may be made by those skilled in the art, such changes are within the spirit of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The description that follows includes exemplary apparatuses, methods, techniques, and/or instruction sequences that embody techniques of the inventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

[0017] The present disclosure relates generally to dummy valves. More specifically, in certain embodiments the present disclosure relates to hydraulic lock compensating dummy valves for use in gas lift and associated methods and systems.

[0018] One potential advantage of the dummy valves discussed herein is that they may provide a means to deal with trapped liquid in dual pocket mandrels. Other potential advantages of the dummy valves discussed herein are that they do not rely on shear pins, thus minimizing the chances of damaging the dummy valve when reinstalling it into the pocket.

[0019] Referring now to Figure 1, Figure 1 illustrates a dummy valve 100 in accordance in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 100 may comprise a housing 110 and a rupture disc 120.

[0020] In certain embodiments, housing 110 may be of a generally cylindrical shape. In certain embodiments, housing 110 may have a diameter in the range of from 0.5 inches to 3 inches. In certain embodiments, housing 110 may define internal chambers 111A and 11 IB. In certain embodiments, internal chamber 111A may be the chamber defined by housing 110 above rupture disc 120. In certain embodiments, internal chamber 11 IB may be the chamber defined by housing 110 below rupture disc 120. In certain embodiments, internal chamber 111A may be large enough to hold all of the trapped fluid in a gas lift mandrel between the first and second pockets of the mandrel and also any fluid disposed within internal chamber 11 IB.

[0021] In certain embodiments, rupture disc 120 may be disposed directly below internal chamber 111 of housing 110. In certain embodiments, rupture disc 120 may be threaded to housing 110. In certain embodiments, rupture disc 120 may comprise a housing 121 and a rupture material 122. In certain embodiments, housing 121 may be constructed out of any suitable housing material such as stainless steel and Incoly. In certain embodiments, rupture disc 120 may have a diameter between 0.5 inches to 3 inches. In certain embodiments, the rupture disc may have a diameter less than the diameter of the housing. Suitable examples of rupture discs include rupture discs commercially available from Fike Inc.

[0022] In certain embodiments, rupture disc 120 may be a non- fragmenting disc. In certain embodiments, the rupture disc 120 may be a fragmenting disc. In certain embodiments, rupture disc 120 may be pressure and temperature rated to burst at a set mandrel depth when run into the second pocket. [0023] In certain embodiments, for example when rupture disc 120 is not ruptured, rupture disc 120 may prevent the flow of fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) into internal chamber 111A. In other embodiments, for example when rupture disc 120 is ruptured, fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) may flow into internal chamber 111A through rupture disc 120.

[0024] In certain embodiments, housing 110 may further comprise an upper packer 130, latch thread section 140, screen portion 150, and lower packer 160.

[0025] In certain embodiments, upper packer 130 may be disposed above internal chamber 111A and surround housing 110. In certain embodiments, upper packer 130 may provide sealing contact with a pocket of a gas lift mandrel when dummy valve 100 is disposed therein. In certain embodiments, upper packer 130 may comprise any conventional packer material.

[0026] In certain embodiments, latch thread section 140 may be disposed above upper packer 130. In certain embodiments, latch thread section 140 may comprise threads 141. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 100 may be capable of being removed and/or placed within a mandrel pocket utilizing latch thread section 140.

[0027] In certain embodiments, screen portion 150 may be disposed below rupture disc 120. In certain embodiments, screen portion 150 may be constructed out of any suitable screen material, including stainless steel and Incloy. In other embodiments, not illustrated in Figure 1, housing 110 may comprise one or more holes rather than a screen portion 150. In certain embodiments, screen portion 150 (or alternatively the one or more holes) may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow outside of dummy valve 100 into chamber 11 IB of dummy valve 100. In certain embodiments, for example when rupture disc 120 is ruptured, screen portion 150 (or alternatively the one or more holes) may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow from outside dummy valve 100 into internal chamber 11 IB of dummy valve 100 and then into internal chamber 111A. In certain embodiments, for example when rupture disc 120 is not ruptured, screen portion 150 (or alternatively the one or more holes) may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow from outside of dummy valve 100 into internal chamber 11 IB of dummy valve 100.

[0028] In certain embodiments, lower packer 160 may be disposed below screen portion 150 and surround housing 110. In certain embodiments, lower packer 160 may provide sealing contact with a pocket of a gas lift mandrel when dummy valve 100 is disposed therein. In certain embodiments, lower packer 160 may comprise any conventional packer material.

[0029] In certain embodiments, housing 110 may further comprise outlet 170. In certain embodiments, outlet 170 may permit fluid to fluid from inside internal chamber 11 IB of dummy valve 100 to outside of dummy valve 100.

[0030] In certain embodiments, dummy valve 100 may be capable of being placed within a pocket of a gas lift mandrel.

[0031] Referring now to Figure 2, Figure 2 illustrates gas lift system 1000. In certain embodiments, gas lift system 1000 may comprise a gas lift mandrel 1050, a dummy valve 1100, a gas lift valve 1200, a well bore 1300, and production tubing 1400.

[0032] In certain embodiments, well bore 1300 may be lined with a casing (not illustrated in Figure 2). In certain embodiments, well bore 1300 and production tubing 1400 may define an annulus. In other embodiments, production tubing 1400 and the casing (not illustrated in Figure 2) may define an annulus.

[0033] In certain embodiments, gas lift mandrel 1050 may be installed on production tubing 1400. In certain embodiments, gas lift mandrel 1050 may comprise a first pocket 1060, a second pocket 1070, and an intermediate section 1080. In certain embodiments, first pocket 1060 and second pocket 1070 may be side by side. In other embodiments, first pocket 1060 and second pocket 1070 may be inline. In certain embodiments, intermediate section 1080 may be defined by first pocket 1060 and second pocket 1070.

[0034] In certain embodiments, first pocket 1060 may comprise an opening 1061, one or more injection ports 1062, and an opening 1063.

[0035] In certain embodiments, opening 1061 may permit the placement of a gas lift valve 1200 within first pocket 1060. For example, in certain embodiments, a gas lift valve 1200 may be placed within first pocket 1060 by sliding the gas lift valve 1200 through opening 1061.

[0036] In certain embodiments, one or more injection ports 1062 may permit the flow of fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination hereof) from an annulus defined by well bore 1300 and production tubing 1400 into first pocket 1060. In certain embodiments, the one or more injection ports 1062 may comprise four to ten separate injection ports. In certain embodiments, the one or more injection ports 1062 may be 0.5 inches in diameter.

[0037] In certain embodiments, opening 1063 may permit the flow of fluid from first pocket 1060 to intermediate section 1080.

[0038] In certain embodiments, a gas lift valve 1200 may be disposed within first pocket 1060. In certain embodiments, gas lift valve 1200 may comprise any retrievable gas lift valve. Examples of suitable retrievable gas lift valves include barrier isolation valves.

[0039] In certain embodiments, gas lift valve 1200 may comprise a housing 1210. In certain embodiments, housing 1210 may be of a generally cylindrical shape. In certain embodiments, housing 1210 may have an inner diameter in the range of from 1 inch to 1.5 inches. In certain embodiments, housing 1210 may define hollow defining an internal chamber 1211. In certain embodiments, internal chamber 1211 may be defined by housing 1210.

[0040] In certain embodiments, housing 1210 may further comprise an upper packer 1230, latch thread section 1240, one or more openings 1250, lower packer 1260, and outlet 1270.

[0041] In certain embodiments, upper packer 1230 may be disposed above internal chamber 1211 and surround housing 1210. In certain embodiments, upper packer 1230 may provide sealing contact with a pocket of a gas lift mandrel when gas lift valve 1200 is disposed therein. In certain embodiments, upper packer 1230 may comprise any conventional packer material.

[0042] In certain embodiments, latch thread section 1240 may be disposed above upper packer 1230. In certain embodiments, latch thread section 1240 may comprise threads 1241. In certain embodiments, gas lift valve 1200 may be capable of being removed and/or placed within a mandrel pocket utilizing latch thread section 1240. For example, a tool may be attached the latch thread section 1240 and utilized to install or remove the gas lift valve 1200 from first pocket 1060.

[0043] In certain embodiments, one or more openings 1250 may be disposed on housing 1210 between upper packer 1230 and lower packer 1260. In certain embodiments, the one or openings 1250 may be a screen. In certain embodiments, the one or more openings 1250 may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow from outside of gas lift valve 1200 into gas lift valve 1200. In certain embodiments, one or more openings 1250 may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow from outside gas lift valve 1200 into internal chamber 1211 of gas lift valve 1200. In certain embodiments, one or more openings 1250 may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow from outside of gas lift valve 1200 into gas lift valve 1200 and then through outlet 1270.

[0044] In certain embodiments, lower packer 1260 may be disposed below one or more openings 1250 and surround housing 1210. In certain embodiments, lower packer 1260 may provide sealing contact with a pocket of a gas lift mandrel when gas lift valve 1200 is disposed therein. In certain embodiments, lower packer 1260 may comprise any conventional packer material.

[0045] In certain embodiments, outlet 1270 may be disposed below lower packer 1260. In certain embodiments, outlet 1270 may permit the one way flow of fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) from within gas lift valve 1200 to outside of gas lift valve 1200. In certain embodiments, outlet 1270 may comprise a directional one way reverse flow check.

[0046] In certain embodiments, gas lift valve 1200 may be placed within first pocket 1060. In certain embodiments, gas lift valve 1200 may be placed within first pocket 1060 in a manner such that upper packer 1230 is above injection ports 1062 and lower packer 1260 is below injection ports 1062. In certain embodiments, gas lift valve 1200 may be placed within first pocket 1060 in a manner such that fluid injected into injection ports 1062 enters the internal chamber 1211 of gas lift valve 1200 and flows through opening 1063 into intermediate section 1080 of gas lift mandrel.

[0047] In certain embodiments, second pocket 1070 may comprise an opening 1071 and an opening an opening 1073.

[0048] In certain embodiments, opening 1071 may permit the placement of a dummy valve 1100 within second pocket 1070. For example, in certain embodiments, a dummy valve 1100 may be placed within second pocket 1070 by sliding the dummy valve 1100 through opening 1071. In certain embodiments, opening 1073 may permit the flow of fluid from second pocket 1070 into the production tubing 1400.

[0049] In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may be disposed within second pocket 1070. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may comprise and combination of features discussed above with respect to dummy valve 100. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may comprise a housing 1110 and a rupture disc 1120. In certain embodiments, housing 1110 may define a first internal chamber 1111A and a second internal chamber H UB. In certain embodiments, first internal chamber 1111A may be at least half as large as the combined volume of intermediate section 1080 and second internal chamber H UB. In certain embodiments, first internal chamber 1111A may be defined by as the internal volume of dummy valve 1100 above rupture disc 1120. In certain embodiments, second internal chamber H UB may be defined by as the internal volume of dummy valve 1100 below rupture disc 1120.

[0050] In certain embodiments, rupture disc 1120 may be disposed directly below first internal chamber 1111A of housing 1110. In certain embodiments, rupture disc 1120 may comprise any combination of features discussed above with respect to rupture disc 120. In certain embodiments, rupture disc 1120 may comprise a housing 1121 and a rupture material 1122. In certain embodiments, for example when rupture disc 1120 is not ruptured, rupture disc 1120 may prevent the flow of fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) from intermediate section 1080 into first internal chamber 1111A. In other embodiments, for example when rupture disc 1120 is ruptured, fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) may flow from intermediate section 1080 into first internal chamber 1111 A through rupture disc 1120.

[0051] In certain embodiments, housing 1110 may further comprise an upper packer 1130, latch thread section 1140, screen portion 1150, and lower packer 1160.

[0052] In certain embodiments, upper packer 1130 may be disposed above internal chamber 1111A and surround housing 1110. In certain embodiments, upper packer 1130 may provide sealing contact with second pocket 1070 when dummy valve 1100 is disposed therein.

[0053] In certain embodiments, latch thread section 1140 may be disposed above upper packer 1130. In certain embodiments, latch thread section 1140 may comprise threads 1141. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may be capable of being removed and/or placed within second pocket 1070 utilizing latch thread section 1140.

[0054] In certain embodiments, screen portion 1150 may be disposed below rupture disc 1120. In certain embodiments, screen portion 1150 may comprise any combination of features discussed above with respect to screen portion 150. In other embodiments, not illustrated in Figure 2, housing 1110 may comprise one or more holes rather than a screen portion 1150. In certain embodiments, screen portion 1150 (or alternatively the one or more holes) may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow from intermediate section 1080 into first internal chamber 1111B of dummy valve 1100. In certain embodiments, for example when rupture disc 1120 is ruptured, screen portion 1150 (or alternatively the one or more holes) may permit fluid (gas, liquid, or a combination thereof) to flow from intermediate section 1080 into first internal chamber 1111A of dummy valve 1100.

[0055] In certain embodiments, lower packer 1160 may be disposed below screen portion 1150 and surround housing 1110. In certain embodiments, lower packer 1160 may comprise any of the features discussed above with respect to lower packer 160. In certain embodiments, lower packer 1160 may provide sealing contact with second pocket 1070 when dummy valve 1100 is disposed therein.

[0056] In certain embodiments, housing 1110 may further comprise outlet 1170. In certain embodiments, outlet 1170 may permit fluid to fluid from inside second internal chamber HUB of dummy valve 1100 to outside of dummy valve 1100.

[0057] In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may be capable of being placed within a pocket of a gas lift mandrel. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may be placed within second pocket 1070. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may be placed within second pocket 1070 in a manner such that upper packer 1130 is above intermediate section 1080 and lower packer 1160 is below intermediate section 1080. In certain embodiments, dummy valve 1100 may be placed within second pocket 1070 in a manner such that fluid from intermediate section 1080 enters the second internal chamber H UB of dummy valve 1100 and flows through into production tubing 1400 through outlet 1170.

[0058] In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: providing a gas lift system. In certain embodiments, the gas lift system may comprise any combination of features discussed above with respect to gas lift system 1000.

[0059] In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: providing a gas lift mandrel. In certain embodiments, the gas lift mandrel may comprise any combination of features discussed above with respect to gas lift mandrel 1050. In certain embodiments, the gas lift mandrel may comprise a first pocket, a second pocket, and an intermediate section. In certain embodiments, the gas lift mandrel may comprise a gas lift valve disposed within the first pocket and/or a dummy valve disposed within the second pocket. In certain embodiments, the dummy valve may comprise a rupture disc and one or more internal chambers.

[0060] In certain embodiments, the gas lift valve may comprise any combination of features discussed above with respect to gas lift valve 1200. In certain embodiments, the dummy valve may comprise any combination of features discussed above with respect to dummy valve 1100 and/or dummy valve 100.

[0061] In certain embodiments, the method may further comprise running the gas lift mandrel into a subterranean formation. In certain embodiments, a gas lift valve and a dummy valve may be placed within the first and second pockets of the gas lift mandrel before it is run into the subterranean formation. In other embodiments, a gas lift valve and/or a dummy valve may be placed within the first and second pockets of the gas lift mandrel after it is run into a subterranean formation.

[0062] In certain embodiments, the method may further comprise removing the gas lift valve from the gas lift mandrel. In other embodiments, the method may further comprise installing a gas lift valve into the gas lift mandrel while the gas lift mandrel is within a subterranean formation.

[0063] In certain embodiments, the method may further comprise allowing the rupture disc to rupture. In certain embodiments, the rupture disc may rupture while the gas lift valve is being placed within the first pocket of the gas lift mandrel. In certain embodiments, when the rupture disc is allowed to rupture, fluid that is trapped within the intermediate section of the gas lift mandrel may flow into the first internal chamber of the dummy valve.

[0064] While the embodiments are described with reference to various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventive subject matter is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements are possible.

[0065] Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.