Flapper retention devices and methods

Abstract

A flow control device comprising a flapper retention device electrically activated to a hold position to retain the flapper in an open position in response to the operator being in a first position and the retention device electrically deactivated to a released position permitting movement of the flapper in response to the operator being in a second position. When the operator is in the first position, an end of the operator is located in the closure path of the flapper and in the second position the end of the operator is located out of the closure path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow control device, comprising:
 a housing comprising a valve seat having a bore therethrough;   a flapper carried by the housing and moveable through a closure path between a closed position contacting the valve seat and an open position;   an operator having an end, the operator axially moveable within the housing between a first position wherein the end is located in the closure path and a second position wherein the end is located out of the closure path; and   a flapper retention device electrically activated to a hold position to retain the flapper in the open position in response to the operator being in the first position and the flapper retention device electrically deactivated to a released position permitting movement of the flapper in response to the operator being in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The flow control device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical motor operationally connected to the operator to move the operator to the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises an electromagnetic coil. 
     
     
         5 . The flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises a sleeve disposing a portion of the flapper when the flapper retention device is in the hold position. 
     
     
         6 . The flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises a piston engaging the flapper when the flapper retention device is in the hold position. 
     
     
         7 . The flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises:
 a position sensor to detect the position of the operator and to generate a hold control signal in response to detecting the operator in the first position and to generate a release control signal in response to detecting the operator in the second position; and   a latch activated to the hold position in response to the generated hold control signal and the latch deactivated to the released position in response to the generated release control signal.   
     
     
         8 . The flow control device of  claim 7 , further comprising an electrical motor operationally connected to the operator to move the operator to the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The flow control device of  claim 7 , further comprising an electric actuator to move the latch between the hold position and the released position. 
     
     
         10 . The flow control device of  claim 7 , wherein the latch comprises an electromagnetic coil electrically energized to magnetically hold the flapper when in the hold position. 
     
     
         11 . The flow control device of  claim 7 , wherein the latch comprises a permanent magnet movable between the hold position in magnetic connection with the flapper and the released position. 
     
     
         12 . The flow control device of  claim 11 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises an electric actuator to move the latch between the hold position and the release position. 
     
     
         13 . A wellbore method, comprising:
 utilizing a flow control device disposed in a wellbore on a tubular string, the flow control device comprising a housing carrying a valve seat having a bore therethrough, and a flapper carried by the housing and moveable through a closure path between a closed position contacting the valve seat and an open position;   moving the flapper to the open position in response to axially moving the operator in the housing to a first position wherein an end of the operator is in the closure path; and   electrically activating a flapper retention device to a hold position retaining the flapper in the open position in response to detecting the operator in the first position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the axially moving operator to the first position comprises operating an electric motor located in the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising deactivating the flapper retention device to a released position permitting the flapper to move to the closed position in response to detecting the operator in a second position wherein the end of the operator is located out of the closure path. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises an electromagnetic coil. 
     
     
         17 . A well system, comprising:
 a tubular string disposed in a wellbore, the tubular string carrying a housing comprising a valve seat having a bore therethrough;   a flapper carried by the housing and moveable through a closure path between a closed position contacting the valve seat and an open position;   an operator having an end, the operator axially moveable within the housing between a first position wherein the end is located in the closure path and a second position wherein the end is located out of the closure path; and   a flapper retention device electrically activated to a hold position to retain the flapper in the open position in response to the operator being in the first position and the flapper retention device electrically deactivated to a released position permitting movement of the flapper in response to the operator being in the second position.   
     
     
         18 . The well system of  claim 17 , wherein the flapper retention device comprises:
 a position sensor to detect the position of the operator and to generate a hold control signal in response to detecting the operator in the first position and to generate a release control signal in response to detecting the operator in the second position; and   a latch activated to the hold position in response to the generated hold control signal and the latch deactivated to the released position in response to the generated release control signal.   
     
     
         19 . The well system of  claim 18 , wherein the flapper retention device further comprises an electric actuator to move the latch between the hold position and the release position. 
     
     
         20 . The well system of  claim 17 , further comprising an electrical motor operationally connected to the operator to move the operator to the first position.