US 12,291,939 B2
Electrical actuation of a valve in a wellhead assembly
David G. Holliday, Spring, TX (US); John Mossop, Houston, TX (US); David Scantlebury, Richmond, TX (US); Matthew Crotwell, Houston, TX (US); Daniel J. McLaughlin, Katy, TX (US); Christopher D. Bartlett, Spring, TX (US); and Gregory K. Norwood, Boerne, TX (US)
Assigned to Innovex International, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Dril-Quip, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/103,639.
Application 18/103,639 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/083,041, filed on Oct. 28, 2020, granted, now 12,181,065.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/927,287, filed on Oct. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0175351 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 34/04 (2006.01); E21B 33/035 (2006.01); E21B 33/04 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 34/04 (2013.01) [E21B 33/035 (2013.01); E21B 33/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a tubing hanger configured to be positioned in a wellhead assembly, the tubing hanger configured to support a tubing string, the tubing hanger comprising:
a bore extending at least partially through the tubing hanger; and
a valve disposed along the bore of the tubing hanger, wherein the valve is configured to control the flow of a fluid medium through the bore, and wherein the valve is a gate valve comprising:
a first valve seat and a second valve seat spaced apart; and
a gate, wherein longitudinal movement of the gate with respect to the first and second valve seats transitions the gate valve between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the gate comprises one or more openings formed therein, the one or more openings spanning an area having a dimension in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the gate valve that is shorter than a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gate valve; and
an electrical actuator, wherein the electrical actuator is disposed at least partially within the tubing hanger, wherein the electrical actuator is configured to selectively open or close the valve in response to one or more electrical signals, and wherein the electrical actuator comprises a spindle, wherein rotation of the spindle is configured to shift the valve between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the valve is open, and wherein in the second position, the valve is closed.