Downhole Valve Actuation Methods and Apparatus

Abstract

In some embodiments a method of shifting a downhole-located device between positions with an actuator includes inserting the actuator into the well, engaging the actuator with the shiftable device and actuating the actuator to shift the shiftable device between positions.

1 . A method of shifting a shiftable device between at least first and second positions with a removable actuator, the actuator being driven by at least one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power, the shiftable device being anchored within a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 inserting the actuator into the well;   releasably engaging the actuator with the shiftable device;   when the shiftable device is in a first position, actuating the actuator by providing at least one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power to the actuator to shift the shiftable device into a second position without requiring the use of either a rig or a slick line; and   disengaging the actuator from the shiftable device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including, before disengaging the actuator from the shiftable device, actuating the actuator to shift the shiftable device out of the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the shiftable device is a fluid flow control valve having at least one open-flow position and at least one closed-flow position, wherein the first position of the shiftable device is a closed-flow position and the second position of the shiftable device is an open-flow position. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further including, before disengaging the actuator from the shiftable device, actuating the actuator to shift the shiftable device back to the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including, after disengaging the actuator from the shiftable device, removing the actuator from the well without disturbing the location of the shiftable device within the well. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further including coupling the actuator to a production tubing, wherein the actuator is insertable into and removable from the well by moving the production tubing into and out of the well. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further including anchoring the shiftable device in the well as part of a set of lower completion components insertable into the well in a first trip, wherein the actuator is lowered into the well and releasably slideably engaged with the shiftable device in a second trip. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the well is a low bottom-hole pressure well, further including
 coupling at least one submersible pump to the production tubing, and   after removing the production tubing from the well, removing at least one submersible pump from the production tubing, coupling at least one other submersible pump to the production tubing and inserting the production tubing back into the well.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is slideable into and out of the shiftable device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the actuator includes a piston and an engagement arm, the piston and engagement arm being concurrently moveable between at least first and second positions, further including providing at least one among air, hydraulic fluid and electricity to the piston from the surface to selectively move the piston and engagement arm between their respective first and second positions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the engagement arm includes at least one among at least one profile and at least one collect and the shiftable device includes at least one among at least one profile and at least one collect, further including selectively moving the engagement arm to cause at least one profile or collect thereon to engage at least one profile or collet of the shiftable device and move the shiftable device between its respective first and second positions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the shiftable device includes at least one among a shiftable sleeve, flapper valve, ball valve, sliding sleeve and gravel pack closing sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . A method of shifting a shiftable device between at least first and second positions with an actuator, the actuator being driven by at least one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power, the shiftable device being anchored within a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 coupling the actuator to a production tubing;   after the shiftable member is anchored in the well, inserting the production tubing into the well;   slideably engaging the actuator with the shiftable device;   when desired and as many times as desired, actuating the actuator by providing at least one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power to the actuator to shift the shiftable device between its respective at least first and second positions without requiring the use of either a rig or a slick line.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further including
 when desired and as many time as desired
 slideably disengaging the actuator from the shiftable device, 
 removing the production tubing and actuator from the well without disturbing the location of the shiftable device within the well, 
 reinserting the production tubing, 
 reengaging the actuator with the shiftable device, and 
 actuating the actuator by providing at least one among hydraulic pressure, pneumatic pressure and electric power to the actuator to shift the shiftable device between its respective at least first and second positions without requiring the use of either a rig or a slick line. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the shiftable device is a fluid flow control valve having at least one open flow position and at least one closed flow position, wherein the first position of the shiftable device is a closed flow position and the second position of the shiftable device is an open flow position, wherein the shiftable device is in its first position when the actuator is engaged with and disengaged from the shiftable device, whereby the well may be sealed or isolated when the actuator is disengaged from the shiftable device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the well is a low bottom-hole pressure well, further including
 coupling at least one submersible pump to the production tubing, and   after removing the production tubing from the well, removing at least one submersible pump from the production tubing, coupling at least one other submersible pump to the production tubing and inserting the product tubing back into the well.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the shiftable device includes at least one among a shiftable sleeve, flapper valve, ball valve, sliding sleeve and gravel pack closing sleeve that is shiftable between open and closed positions, further wherein the actuator includes a balanced hydraulic piston and an engagement arm extending therefrom, further including actuating the hydraulic piston to move the engagement arm up and down, wherein downward movement of the engagement arm causes the shiftable device to move from a closed position to an open position and upward movement of the engagement arm causes the shiftable device to move from an open position to a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . A method of remotely shifting a valve between open and closed positions with a hydraulic valve actuator, the valve being disposed in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 inserting the valve actuator into the well;   engaging the valve actuator with the valve, the valve being in a closed position; and   repeatedly, as desired,
 when the valve is in a closed position, actuating the valve actuator by providing hydraulic pressure to the valve actuator to shift the valve into an open position without requiring the connection of hydraulic control lines directly to the valve, and 
 when the valve is in an open position, actuating the valve actuator by providing hydraulic pressure to the valve actuator to shift the valve into a closed position without requiring the connection of hydraulic control lines directly to the valve. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including,
 when the valve is in a closed position, repeatedly as desired,
 disengaging the valve actuator from the valve without disturbing the location of the valve within the well, 
 removing the valve actuator from the well, 
 reinserting the valve actuator into the well, and 
 reengaging the valve actuator with the valve. 
   
     
     
         20 . Apparatus useful for shifting a shiftable device between at least first and second positions, the shiftable device being anchored in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing insertable into and out of the well without disturbing the location of the shiftable device within the well;   a hydraulically-driven piston disposed within said housing;   at least two hydraulic control lines fluidly coupled to said housing and capable of providing hydraulic pressure from the surface to said housing to cause said piston to move between at least a piston up and a piston down position within said housing; and   an engagement arm extending from and being concurrently moveable with said piston and releasably engageable with the shiftable device, said engagement arm capable of mechanically shifting the shiftable device between at least first and second positions without requiring the use of either a rig or a slick line,   wherein said piston and said engagement arm may be hydraulically actuated to selectively remotely shift the shiftable member between at least first and second positions.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the shiftable device includes at least one profile and said engagement arm includes at least one collect, wherein said at least one collet of said engagement arm is releasably engageable with at least one profile of the shiftable device to cause the shiftable device to move between at least first and second positions. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the shiftable device includes at least one collet and said engagement arm includes at least one profile, wherein said at least one profile of said engagement arm is releasably engageable with at least one collet of the shiftable device to cause shiftable device to move between at least first and second positions. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the shiftable device includes at least one among a shiftable sleeve, flapper valve, ball valve, sliding sleeve and gravel pack closing sleeve.