Electro-hydraulic actuation system

Abstract

An electro-hydraulic actuator includes a housing having an interior portion a first opening and a second opening, a transducer is arranged in the interior portion. The transducer includes a sensor operatively coupled to a signal source at the first opening. A selectively activatable valve component is arranged at the second opening. The selectively activatable valve component maintains a desired pressure in the interior portion of the housing. An actuator is operatively coupled to the transducer and operable to activate the selectively activatable valve component exposing the interior portion to a volume of fluid in response to a signal from the transducer to activate a downhole system.

1 . An electro-hydraulic actuator comprising:
 a housing having an interior portion a first opening and a second opening;   a transducer arranged in the interior portion, the transducer including a sensor operatively coupled to a signal source at the first opening;   a selectively activatable valve component arranged at the second opening, the selectively activatable valve component maintaining a desired pressure in the interior portion of the housing; and   an actuator operatively coupled to the transducer and operable to activate the selectively activatable valve component exposing the interior portion to a volume of fluid in response to a signal from the transducer to activate a downhole system.   
     
     
         2 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises a pressure transducer. 
     
     
         3 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 2 , wherein the actuator includes an actuator member and a biasing member operable to shift the actuator member toward the selectively activatable valve component. 
     
     
         4 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 3 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring. 
     
     
         5 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 3 , wherein the biasing member comprises a hydraulic force. 
     
     
         6 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 2 , wherein the selectively activatable valve component comprises a membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 6 , wherein the actuator comprises a piercing member operable to pierce the membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 3 , wherein the actuator includes a collet. 
     
     
         9 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 1 , wherein the desired pressure comprises atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 1 , wherein the transducer is sealed to the housing at the first opening. 
     
     
         11 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a circuit assembly arranged in the interior portion and operatively connected to the transducer and the actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 11 , further at least one power source operatively coupled to the circuit assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The electro-hydraulic actuator according to  claim 1 , wherein the downhole system includes a plurality of dogs. 
     
     
         14 . A method of actuating a downhole system, comprising:
 receiving a signal with a transducer arranged in an electro-hydraulic actuator housing;   triggering an actuator based on the signal;   operating a valve with the actuator allowing a volume of fluid to enter the actuator housing creating reduction in a volume of fluid exterior to the actuator housing; and   activating a downhole system based on the reduction in the volume of fluid.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein operating a valve includes piercing a membrane. 
     
     
         16 . A resource exploration system comprising:
 a surface portion; and   a downhole portion including a plurality of tubulars, at least one of the plurality of tubulars including a downhole system and an electro-hydraulic actuator operable to activate the downhole system, the electro-hydraulic actuator comprising:
 a housing having an interior portion a first opening and a second opening; 
 a transducer arranged in the interior portion, the transducer including a sensor operatively coupled to a signal source at the first opening; 
 a selectively activatable valve component arranged at the second opening, the selectively activatable valve component maintaining a desired pressure in the interior portion of the housing; and 
 an actuator operatively coupled to the transducer and operable to activate the selectively activatable valve component exposing the interior portion to a volume of fluid in response to a signal from the transducer to activate the downhole system. 
   
     
     
         17 . The resource exploration system according to  claim 16 , wherein the transducer comprises a pressure transducer. 
     
     
         18 . The resource exploration system according to  claim 16 , wherein the actuator includes an actuator member and a biasing member operable to shift the actuator member toward the selectively activatable valve component. 
     
     
         19 . The resource exploration system according to  claim 18 , wherein the selectively activatable valve component comprises a membrane and wherein the actuator member comprises a piercing member operable to penetrate the membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The resource exploration system according to  claim 16 , wherein the desired pressure comprises atmospheric pressure.