TECHNICAL FIELD

[ 0001 ] This application is directed, in general, to a valve and, more specifically, to a valve assembly having a unique relationship between linear movement of its actuation member and rotational movement of its ball valve member, and a method of use therefor.

BACKGROUND

[ 0002 ] Operations performed and equipment utilized in conjunction with a subterranean production often requires one or more different types of valves. One such valve is a ball valve. A ball valve is a type of valve that uses a spherical ball valve member as a closure mechanism. The ball valve member has a hole there through that is aligned with the direction of flow when the valve is opened and misaligned with the direction of flow when the valve is closed.

[ 0003 ] Ball valves have many applications in well tools for use downhole in a wellbore, for example, as formation tester valves, safety valves, and in other downhole applications. Many of these well tool applications use a ball valve because their ball valve members can have a large through bore for passage of tools, tubing strings, and flow, yet may also be compactly arranged. For example, ball valves may have a cylindrical outer profile that corresponds to the cylindrical outer profile of the remainder of the tools that it associates with.

[ 0004 ] When the ball is in the "closed" position, it typically seals against a seat and does not allow fluid to pass through it. When the ball is in the "open" position (e.g., rotated through an angle of about 90°), it allows fluid to pass through it. Debris and/or other objects may be present in an open valve. As the valve begins to close, the debris and/or other objects therein may cause problems with the valve fully closing. Therefore, there exists a need for a ball valve or ball valve assembly that can better handle the debris and/or other objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[ 0005 ] Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a subterranean production well employing a valve assembly constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0007 ] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of a valve assembly manufactured and designed according to the disclosure;

[0008] FIGs. 3A-3E illustrate perspective views of the valve assembly of FIG. 2 at various different states of open and closure;

[0009] FIG 4 illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of a valve assembly manufactured and designed according to the disclosure; and

[0010] FIGs. 5A-5E illustrate perspective views of the valve assembly of FIG. 4 at various different states of open and closure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] In the drawings and descriptions that follow, like parts are typically marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawn figures are not necessarily, but may be, to scale. Certain features of the disclosure may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of certain elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present disclosure may be implemented in embodiments of different forms. Specific embodiments are described in detail and are shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed herein may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results.

[0012] Unless otherwise specified, use of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,” or any other like term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described.

[0013] Unless otherwise specified, use of the terms“up,”“upper,”“upward,”“uphole,” “upstream,” or other like terms shall be construed as generally toward the surface of the formation; likewise, use of the terms“down,”“lower,”“downward,”“downhole,” or other like terms shall be construed as generally toward the bottom, terminal end of a well, regardless of the wellbore orientation. Use of any one or more of the foregoing terms shall not be construed as denoting positions along a perfectly vertical axis. Unless otherwise specified, use of the term “subterranean formation” shall be construed as encompassing both areas below exposed earth and areas below earth covered by water such as ocean or fresh water.

[0014] The description and drawings included herein merely illustrate the principles of the disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are included within its scope.

[0015] FIG.l illustrates a subterranean production well 100, including an offshore platform 110 connected to a valve assembly 130, such as a safety valve, via fluid/electrical connection 120. While the fluid/electrical connection 120 may include one or both of a fluid connection and/or electrical connection, in many embodiments consistent with the disclosure the connection 120 provides only a fluid connection (e.g., a hydraulic open line and a hydraulic closed line). An annulus 140 may be defined between walls of well 160 and a conduit 150. Wellhead 170 may provide a means to hang off and seal conduit 150 against well 160 and provide a profile to latch a subsea blowout preventer to. Conduit 150 may be coupled to wellhead 170. Conduit 150 may be any conduit such as a casing, liner, production tubing, or other tubulars disposed in a wellbore.

[0016] The valve assembly 130 may be interconnected to conduit 150. In one embodiment, the valve assembly 130 is located above the well 160, as is shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the valve assembly 130 may be positioned in the well 160. The valve assembly 130, in accordance with the principles of the disclosure, includes an actuation member and a ball valve member that are coupled in such a way as to create a unique (e.g., non-tangent) relationship between linear movement of the actuation member and rotational movement of the ball valve member. The term“unique”, as used herein, is intended to exclude both linear and parabolic relationships that may exist between the linear movement of the actuation member and the rotational movement of the ball valve member. When used, this unique relationship allows the torque to increase as the ball valve member is approaching the valve closed position, and thus have more success in dealing with any debris (e.g., coiled tubing, wireline, etc.) that may be impeding the closure of the ball valve member.

[0017 ] Although the well 160 is depicted in FIG. 1 as an offshore well, one of ordinary skill should be able to adopt the teachings herein to any type of well including onshore or offshore. The fluid/electrical connection 120 may extend into the well 160 and may be connected to the valve assembly 130. The fluid/electrical connection 120 may provide actuation and/or de-actuation of the valve assembly 130. Actuation may comprise opening the valve assembly 130 to provide a flow path for wellbore fluids to exit the well 160, and de-actuation may comprise closing the valve assembly 130 to close a flow path for wellbore fluids to exit the well 160.

[ 0018 ] Turning to FIG. 2, illustrated is an exploded view of one embodiment of a valve assembly 200 manufactured and designed according to the disclosure. The valve assembly 200, in the embodiment shown, includes a valve body 210 having an inlet flow passage way 220 and an outlet fluid passage way 225. While the inlet flow passageway 220 and outlet flow passageway 225 has been illustrated on the left and right sides of the valve body 210, respectively, those skilled in the art understand that in certain configurations the opposite may be true. The inlet flow passageway 220 and outlet flow passageway 225, in the illustrated embodiment, are connected by a valve chamber 230.

[ 0019] Located in the ball chamber 230 is a ball valve member 240. The ball valve member 240, as used, is configured to rotate within the ball chamber 230 between a valve open position (not shown) and a valve closed position (e.g., as shown) to control flow through the valve assembly 200. In accordance with the embodiment shown, the ball valve member 240 includes one or more cams 245, and in the particular embodiment shown a pair of cams 245. The cams 245, as illustrated, may be coupled to the ball valve member 240 using splines 250. Nevertheless, other mechanisms may be used to couple the cams 245 to the ball valve member 240, including forming the features as a single integrated unit, a screw member, etc.

[ 0020 ] The cams 245, in the illustrated embodiment, include an irregular surface. The term“irregular surface”, as that term is used herein, means a surface that is designed and shaped to provide a non-tangent relationship between linear movement of the actuation member and rotational movement of the ball valve member 240. Any irregular surface is within the scope of the present disclosure, so long as it provides the aforementioned non-tangent relationship.

[0021] Additionally located within the ball chamber 230 is a ball seat 260. The ball seat 260, in the illustrated embodiment, provides a seat upon which the ball valve member 240 may seal when in the valve closed position. Those skilled in the art understand the various different materials the ball seat 260 may comprise, including plastics and metals, among other materials.

[0022 ] The valve assembly 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 additionally includes an actuation member 270. As shown with the arrow 275, the actuation member 270 is configured to linearly move along the valve body 210. While not illustrated as such in the exploded view of FIG. 2, the actuation member 270 includes one or more pins 280 that are configured to linearly move with the actuation member 270, and thus along the surface of the cams 245 to move the ball valve member 240 between the valve open and valve closed positions. In the particular embodiment of FIG. 2, each of the cams 245 has an associated trailing edge pin 283 and leading edge pin 288. In this embodiment, the trailing edge pin 283 is configured to engage a trailing edge of the cams 245 as the actuation member 270 linearly moves in a first direction to rotate the ball valve member 240 toward the valve closed position. Similarly, the leading edge pin 288 is configured to engage a leading edge of the cams 245 as the actuation member 270 linearly moves in an opposite direction to rotate the ball valve member 240 toward the valve open position.

[0023] The collection of the cams 245 and pins 280, in the illustrated embodiment, create a non-tangent relationship between the linear movement of the actuation member 270 and rotational movement of the ball valve member 240. In one embodiment, the non-tangent relationship causes the ball valve member 240 to rotate less for a given amount of linear movement of the actuation member 270 as the ball valve member approaches the valve closed position, and rotate move for the given amount of linear movement as the ball valve leaves the valve open position. Accordingly, increased torque that may be placed on the ball valve member 240 as the ball valve member 240 is about to close, which benefits the valve assembly 200 if debris (e.g., coiled tubing, wireline, etc.) is located therein.

[ 0024 ] Turning briefly to FIGs 3A-3E, illustrated are perspective views of the valve assembly 200 of FIG. 2 at various different states of open and closure. FIG. 3A illustrates the valve assembly 200 when the ball valve member 240 is in the open state, whereas FIG. 3E illustrates the valve assembly 200 when the ball valve member 240 is in the closed state. FIGs 3B-3D illustrate the valve assembly 200 as the valve member 240 incrementally moves between the open state of FIG. 3A and the closed state of FIG. 3E, respectively. As shown in FIGs. 3A- 3E, when the actuation member 270 moves toward the left, the trailing edge pin 283 presses upon the trailing edge of the irregular surface of the cam 245, thereby causing the ball valve member 240 to rotate toward the valve closed position. However, if the actuation member 270 were to move toward the right, the leading edge pin 288 would press upon the leading edge of the irregular surface of the cam 245, thereby causing the ball valve member 240 to rotate toward the valve open position. In accordance with the disclosure, it is this linear movement of the pins 283, 288 on the irregular surface of the cam 245 that creates the non-tangent relationship.

[ 0025 ] Turning to FIG. 4, illustrated is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a valve assembly 400 manufactured and designed according to the disclosure. The valve assembly 400 includes many similar features as the valve assembly 200. Accordingly, like reference numbers have been used to illustrate similar and/or identical features. The valve assembly 400, in contrast to the valve assembly 200, employs a collection of pins and slots to achieve a non-tangent relationship. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, a pair of pins 410 is rotatably coupled to the ball valve member 240. In this illustrated embodiment, the pair of pins 410 is rotatably coupled to the ball valve member 240 using a trunnion 420 coupled to at least one end thereof. The trunnion 420, in this example embodiment, includes a pair of slots 430 (e.g., second pair of slots) that are configured to couple the pair of pins 410 to the ball valve member 240. The trunnion 420 may be coupled to the ball valve member 240 using a variety of different techniques, including the aforementioned spline, or other usable methods.

[0026] While not easily discernable in FIG. 4, the actuation member 270 includes a pair of slots 480 located therein. In accordance with the disclosed embodiment, the pins 410 are configured to rotate about the ball valve member 240 and slide within the corresponding slots 480 in the actuation member 270 to create the non-tangent relationship with linear movement of the actuation member 270. For example, as the actuation member 270 linearly moves, the pair of pins 410 slide within the corresponding pair of slots 480 to alternate the moment arm from one of the pair of pins 410 to the other of the pair of pins 410, and thus increase the available torque.

[ 0027 ] Turning to FIGs 5A-5E, illustrated are perspective views of the valve assembly 400 of FIG. 4 at various different states of open and closure. FIG. 5A illustrates the valve assembly 400 when the ball valve member 240 is in the open state, whereas FIG. 5E illustrates the valve assembly 400 when the ball valve member 240 is in the closed state. FIGs 5B-5D illustrate the valve assembly 400 as the valve member 240 incrementally moves between the open state of FIG. 5A and the closed state of FIG. 5E, respectively.

[ 0028 ] With reference to FIGs. 5A-5E, as the actuation member 270 moves toward the left, a trailing edge of the leading slot 483 engages with a trailing edge of the leading pin 413. At this stage, the leading pin 413 is further out in the leading slot 483 than the trailing pin 418 is out in the trailing slot 488, and thus has a greater moment arm, which provides more torque than the trailing pin 418 can provide. As the actuation member 270 continues to move to the left, the leading pin 413 slides into the leading slot 483 as the trailing pin 418 slides out of the trailing slot 488. As shown in FIG. 5C, at some point the trailing edge of the trailing slot 488 takes over and engages with the trailing edge of the trailing pin 418. At this stage, the trailing pin 418 is slightly further out in the trailing slot 488 than the leading pin 413 is out in the leading slot 483, and thus has a greater moment arm, which provides more torque than the leading pin 413 can provide. As shown in FIG. 5E, the trailing pin 418 has an even greater moment arm than the leading pin 413 as the valve assembly 400 is in the valve closed position.

[0029] Aspects disclosed herein include:

A. A valve assembly. The valve assembly according to one embodiment includes 1) a valve body having inlet and outlet flow passageways connected by a valve chamber, 2) a ball valve member located in the valve chamber for selective rotation between valve open and valve closed positions to control flow through the valve assembly, and 3) an actuation member coupled to the ball valve member, wherein the actuation member and ball valve member are coupled in such a way as to create a non-tangent relationship between linear movement of the actuation member and rotational movement of the ball valve member.

B. A method for actuating a valve assembly between an open position and a closed position. The method according to one embodiment includes 1) coupling a valve assembly to a conduit, the valve assembly including a valve body having inlet and outlet flow passageways connected by a valve chamber, a ball valve member located in the valve chamber for selective rotation between valve open and valve closed positions to control flow through the valve assembly, and an actuation member coupled to the ball valve member, wherein the actuation member and ball valve member are coupled in such a way as to create a non-tangent relationship between linear movement of the actuation member and rotational movement of the ball valve member, and 2) applying an axial load to the actuation member to move the ball valve member from the valve open position to the valve closed position.

[0030] Aspects A and B may have one or more of the following additional elements in combination:

Element 1: wherein the non-tangent relationship causes the ball valve member to rotate less for a given amount of linear movement as the ball valve member approaches the valve closed position and rotate more for the given amount of linear movement as the ball valve leaves the valve open position. Element 2: wherein the ball valve member and the actuation member include a collection of cams and pins or slots and pins to create the non-tangent relationship. Element 3: wherein the ball valve member and the actuation member include the collection of cams and pins to create the non-tangent relationship. Element 4: wherein the ball valve member includes one or more cams and the actuation member includes one or more pins, and further wherein linear movement of the one or more pins on the one or more cams creates the non tangent relationship as the ball valve member rotates toward the valve closed position. Element 5: wherein a trailing edge pin is associated with each of the one or more cams to rotate the ball valve member toward the valve closed position and a leading edge pin is associated with each of the one or more cams to return the ball valve member toward the valve opened position. Element 6: wherein the one or more cams have an irregular surface that creates the non-tangent relationship. Element 7: wherein the ball valve member and the actuation member include a collection of slots and pins to create the non-tangent relationship. Element 8: wherein at least one end of the ball valve member has a pair of pins coupled thereto, the pair of pins configured to rotate about the ball valve member and slide within corresponding pairs of slots in the actuation member to create the non-tangent relationship with linear movement of the actuation member. Element 9: wherein the ball valve member includes a trunnion coupled to the at least one end thereof, and further wherein the trunnion has a second pair of slots configured to allow the pair of pins to rotate about the ball valve member.

[0031] Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.