Downhole tool including a valve having a modular activation system

Abstract

A downhole tool includes a body including a wall having an outer surface, an inner surface defining a passage, and an opening extending through the wall. The outer surface includes a recess. A sleeve is arranged in the passage and selectively positioned over the opening. A valve actuator module is detachably mounted in the recess. The valve actuator module forms a part of the outer surface and includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber extending between the inlet and the outlet, a piston arranged in the valve chamber, and an actuator delay mechanism selectively operatively connected to the piston. The actuator delay mechanism includes a spring and a piston sleeve that is selectively conducts pressure from the actuator delay mechanism in a first configuration and allows the piston to move freely relative to the actuator delay mechanism in a second configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool comprising:
 a body including a wall having an outer surface, an inner surface defining a passage, and an opening extending through the wall, the outer surface including a recess;   a valve sleeve arranged in the passage and selectively positioned over the opening; and   a valve actuator module detachably mounted in the recess, the valve actuator module forming a part of the outer surface and including a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber extending between the inlet and the outlet, a piston arranged in the valve chamber, and an actuator delay mechanism selectively operatively connected to the piston, the actuator delay mechanism including a spring and a piston sleeve that selectively conducts pressure from the actuator delay mechanism in a first configuration and allows the piston to move freely relative to the actuator delay mechanism in a second configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator delay mechanism includes a J-track member operable to incrementally shift the piston away from the outlet based on a number of pressure cycles applied to the valve chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes an orifice that is arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the piston including first end that selectively extends into the orifice and a second end that extends through the J-track member. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool according to  claim 3 , wherein the orifice includes a seal element that engages the first end of the piston. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool according to  claim 3 , wherein the J-track member includes a first end portion rotationally fixed in the valve chamber, a second end portion, and an internal passage, the piston sleeve being arranged at the second end portion. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool according to  claim 5 , wherein the J-track member includes a J-track extending between the first and the second end, the piston including a J-track guide extending radially outwardly between the first end and the second end, the J-track guide riding in the J-track to incrementally shift the piston away from the orifice. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool according to  claim 6 , wherein the piston sleeve includes a sleeve that extends about the second end of the piston and an end surface including an opening, the second end of the piston extending through the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool according to  claim 7 , wherein the piston includes a key member projecting radially outwardly between the second end and the J-track guide and the opening in the piston sleeve includes a keyway receptive of the key member, the piston being free of the actuator delay mechanism when the key member aligns with the keyway. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring acts upon the end surface of the piston sleeve to bias the piston toward the orifice. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve sleeve defines a toe sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:
 a surface system;   a subsurface system including a system of tubulars, at least one of the system of tubulars includes a downhole tool comprising:
 a body including a wall having an outer surface, an inner surface defining a passage, and an opening extending through the wall, the outer surface including a recess; 
 a valve sleeve arranged in the passage and selectively positioned over the opening; and 
 a valve actuator module detachably mounted in the recess, the valve actuator module forming a part of the outer surface and including a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber extending between the inlet and the outlet, a piston arranged in the valve chamber, and an actuator delay mechanism selectively operatively connected to the piston, the actuator delay mechanism including a spring and a piston sleeve that selectively conducts pressure from the actuator delay mechanism in a first configuration and allows the piston to move freely relative to the actuator delay mechanism in a second configuration. 
   
     
     
         12 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 11 , wherein the actuator delay mechanism includes a J-track member operable to incrementally shift the piston away from the outlet based on a number of pressure cycles applied to the valve chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 12 , wherein the housing includes an orifice that is arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the piston including first end that selectively extends into the orifice and a second end that extends through the J-track member. 
     
     
         14 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 13 , wherein the orifice includes a seal element that engages the first end of the piston. 
     
     
         15 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 13 , wherein the J-track member includes a first end portion rotationally fixed in the valve chamber, a second end portion, and an internal passage, the piston sleeve being arranged at the second end portion. 
     
     
         16 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 15 , wherein the J-track member includes a J-track extending between the first and the second end, the piston including a J-track guide extending radially outwardly between the first end and the second end, the J-track guide riding in the J-track to incrementally shift the piston away from the orifice. 
     
     
         17 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 16 , wherein the piston sleeve includes a sleeve that extends about the second end of the piston and an end surface including an opening, the second end of the piston extending through the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 17 , wherein the piston includes a key member projecting radially outwardly between the second end and the J-track guide and the opening in the piston sleeve includes a keyway receptive of the key member, the piston being free of the actuator delay mechanism when the key member aligns with the keyway. 
     
     
         19 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 18 , wherein the spring acts upon the end surface of the piston sleeve to bias the piston toward the orifice. 
     
     
         20 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve sleeve defines a toe sleeve.