IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,618,303
Granted Patent B2
US 12,618,303 · App. 18/530,862 · Granted May 5, 2026

Single solenoid valve electro-hydraulic control system that actuates control valve

Inventors: Lorenzzo Breda Minassa (Tomball, TX); Robert William Gissler (Spring, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B34/066E21B23/04E21B33/0355E21B34/10E21B34/14F16K31/40G05D16/2022G05D16/204E21B34/16E21B2200/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,618,303
App. No.
18/530,862
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method comprises charging a first hydraulic line to have greater pressure than a second hydraulic line and energizing a solenoid valve, wherein charging the first hydraulic line and energizing the solenoid valve initiates transition of an interval control valve (ICV) from a first state to a second state. The method comprises discontinuing energizing the solenoid valve and maintaining the greater pressure in the first hydraulic line until the ICV reaches a desired state.

Claims (23)

1 . A method comprising:

charging a first hydraulic line to have greater pressure than a second hydraulic line to enable fluid flow from the first hydraulic line through a shuttle valve to a solenoid valve and energizing the solenoid valve to initiate transition of an interval control valve (ICV) from a first state to a second state;

discontinuing energizing the solenoid valve to stop ICV movement when the ICV reaches the second state;

charging the second hydraulic line to have a greater pressure than the first hydraulic line to enable fluid flow from the second hydraulic line through the shuttle valve to the solenoid valve and energizing the solenoid valve to initiate transition of the ICV from the second state to the first state; and

discontinuing energizing the solenoid valve to stop ICV movement when the ICV reaches the first state.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state and the second state respectively correspond to an open state and a close state.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

extending the first hydraulic line and the second hydraulic line from a hydraulic power system positioned at a surface of a wellbore to the ICV positioned downhole in the wellbore.

4 . The method of claim 3 ,

wherein the solenoid valve and the ICV are components of a completion sub coupled at a bottom of a tubing string downhole in the wellbore such that an annulus is defined between the tubing string and a casing string in the wellbore, and

wherein the method further comprises,

regulating flow between an interior of the tubing string and the annulus based on transitioning the ICV between the open state and the close state.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the solenoid valve and the ICV valve are positioned downhole in a wellbore, and

wherein energizing the solenoid valve comprises,

controlling the solenoid valve to open or close using a power source at the surface of the wellbore and that is electrically coupled to the solenoid valve.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein charging the first hydraulic line to have greater pressure than the second hydraulic line and energizing the solenoid valve comprises energizing the solenoid valve through the shuttle valve coupled with the first and the second hydraulic lines and hydraulically coupled with the solenoid valve.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating transition of the ICV from the first state to the second state comprises initiating transition of the ICV using a first inverse shuttle valve coupled with the second hydraulic line and hydraulically coupled with a close side of the ICV, and using a second inverse shuttle valve coupled to the first hydraulic line and hydraulically coupled with an open side of the ICV.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein initiating transition of the ICV from the first state to the second state comprises initiating transition of the ICV using a dynamic flow restrictor that is hydraulically coupled between the solenoid valve and the first inverse shuttle valve and the second inverse shuttle valve.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

maintaining a constant differential pressure across the dynamic flow restrictor.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the dynamic flow restrictor comprises an automatically adjustable variable-metering orifice.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid valve comprises a normally closed solenoid valve.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2024
From: MINASSA, LORENZZO BREDA; GISSLER, ROBERT WILLIAM
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 066069/0645 →
Continuity (7)
Division 17645289 · Dec 20, 2021
Provisional Application 63141624 · Jan 26, 2021
Provisional Application 63141635 · Jan 26, 2021
Provisional Application 63141630 · Jan 26, 2021
Provisional Application 63141615 · Jan 26, 2021
Provisional Application 63141618 · Jan 26, 2021
Related Publication 20240125204A1 · Apr 18, 2024
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