Test device and test method for packer element

Abstract

The application provides a testing device for packer rubber, which comprises a body, a temperature control element arranged on the body, a first head arranged at the lower end of the body, and a mechanism to be tested arranged concentrically in the body, wherein the mechanism to be tested comprises a rubber seat for fixing the packer rubber, and an observation tube is arranged in the body, and the deformation of the packer rubber can be observed through the observation tube after the heating medium is injected into the body through the pressure transmission hole of the first head and heated through the temperature control element. In addition, the application also provides a testing method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cemented well completion in oil and gas exploration and development, and specifically to a testing device and method for packer sleeves. Background Technology

[0002] In oil and gas well cementing operations in the petroleum engineering industry, packer-type tailpipe hangers are often used to achieve annular isolation, reducing the risk of annular air channeling caused by poor casing cementing quality and the risk of working under pressure at the wellhead, thus improving the inherent safety of well control. In well completion operations, annular isolation is often achieved using completion-specific hanging packers and permanent packers to isolate the high pressure during subsequent fracturing operations, protecting the upper tubing string and improving the reliability of fracturing operations. However, in practical applications, packer sleeves are susceptible to premature setting due to factors such as circulation rate and temperature, which seriously affects the smooth progress of subsequent operations.

[0003] Currently, most existing packer sleeve performance testing devices are for testing packer annular sealing performance, corrosion resistance, and creep performance. However, these devices cannot simulate or test the effects of packer sleeve deformation at high temperatures and achieve visualization.

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this paper aims to provide a testing device and method for packer cartridges to monitor the deformation dimensions of the cartridges under different temperature and pressure conditions in real time, thereby guiding the selection and optimization of the cartridges' dimensions and structure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a testing device and method for packer rubber sleeves, which can observe the deformation of the packer rubber sleeve in real time under pressure and heat and measure the deformation size of the packer rubber sleeve in a timely manner.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a testing apparatus for a packer cartridge is provided, comprising a body on which a temperature control element is provided. The first end cap located at the lower end of the body, and The test mechanism is concentrically arranged within the body, and the test mechanism includes a rubber sleeve seat for fixing the packer rubber sleeve. The testing device also includes an observation tube disposed within the main body. After a heating medium is injected into the main body through the pressure transmission hole of the first end cap and pressurized, and heated by the temperature control element, the deformation of the packer sleeve is observed through the observation tube.

[0007] In one embodiment, a viewing groove is formed on the side wall of the body, and the observation tube is sealed to the body through a first sealing ring to block the viewing groove.

[0008] In one embodiment, a plug is provided at the end of the rubber sleeve seat, and the packer rubber sleeve abuts against the plug.

[0009] In one embodiment, the device under test further includes an adjusting rod disposed at the end of the rubber sleeve seat away from the plug.

[0010] In one embodiment, a piston connecting sleeve is provided between the rubber sleeve seat and the adjusting rod, and the piston connecting sleeve forms a sealed connection with the body through a second sealing ring.

[0011] In one embodiment, test holes are formed on the side wall of the body, spaced apart from the viewing slot. At least two second sealing rings are provided on the side end face of the piston connecting sleeve, and the test hole is located within the range between the two second sealing rings during the test operation.

[0012] In one embodiment, a second end cap is provided at the upper end of the body, and the piston connecting sleeve is configured to abut against the second end cap during measurement operations.

[0013] In one embodiment, the temperature control element is configured as a heating band sleeved on the body, the heating band being configured to indirectly heat the packer cylinder through the body and the heating medium.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a testing method is provided, which utilizes the testing apparatus as described above, and includes the following: S1. Pressurize the body by injecting heating medium into the body through the pressure transmission hole of the first end cap, heat the packer rubber sleeve through the heating belt, and observe the deformation of the packer rubber sleeve through the observation tube. S2. After depressurizing through the pressure transmission hole, adjust the axial position of the rubber sleeve seat by adjusting the adjusting rod to make the packer rubber sleeve radially aligned with the test hole, and measure the expansion of the packer rubber sleeve in real time by measuring tools.

[0015] In one embodiment, the measuring tool includes any one of a vernier caliper, a depth gauge, and a laser measuring instrument.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: This application injects a heating medium (clean water) around the packer cartridge through a pressure transmission orifice. After injection, pressurization is applied to lower the boiling point of the water, thereby enabling the packer cartridge to withstand test temperatures exceeding 100°C, thus more easily meeting high-temperature testing requirements. This application not only allows observation of the packer cartridge deformation during testing via a visual groove and observation tube, but also enables the determination of the packer cartridge's specific expansion dimensions during measurement. Therefore, the above-mentioned testing can guide the optimization of the packer cartridge's structure and dimensions, further reducing the risk of premature sealing due to thermal expansion at high temperatures. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which...

[0018] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates the structure of a test apparatus for a packer cartridge according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 The measurement status of the test apparatus for packer cartridges according to the present invention is shown.

[0020] In the accompanying drawings, the same parts use the same reference numerals. The drawings are not drawn to scale. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not an exhaustive list of all embodiments. Furthermore, without conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0022] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0023] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms “installation,” “connection,” “linking,” “fixing,” etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components.

[0024] Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0025] Current packer cartridge performance testing devices are mostly used for testing packer annular sealing performance, corrosion resistance, and creep performance. However, these devices cannot simulate or test the effects of packer cartridge deformation at high temperatures, nor can they provide visualization of these effects. This application allows for real-time observation of packer cartridge deformation under pressure and heat, and timely measurement of the deformation dimensions. This can guide the selection and optimization of cartridge structure and dimensions, effectively reducing the risk of premature sealing due to temperature fluctuations during application and improving operational safety.

[0026] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 The schematic diagram illustrates the structure of a test apparatus for a packer cartridge according to the present invention.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a testing device for a packer cartridge is provided, mainly comprising a body 10, a first end cap 12 disposed at the lower end of the body 10, and a test mechanism concentrically arranged within the body 10. Preferably, the test mechanism includes a cartridge seat 21 for fixing the packer cartridge 15, and a temperature control element for heating the body 10 is also provided on the body 10.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, a pressure transmission hole 121 is provided on the first end cap 12. Therefore, when the packer sleeve 15 is in a predetermined position within the body 10, clean water can be injected into the test pressure chamber of the body 10 through the pressure transmission hole 121 and pressurized to provide a high-pressure environment for the packer sleeve 15, thereby lowering the boiling point of the clean water. At the same time, the temperature control element heats the packer sleeve 15 to provide a high-temperature environment, thereby enabling the test temperature of the packer sleeve to exceed 100°C to ensure that the packer sleeve 15 can undergo high-temperature expansion testing under a heating medium (such as clean water).

[0030] In this invention, the pressure transmission hole 121 is constructed as an NPT threaded test pressure hole. The first end cap 12 is threadedly connected to the body 10, and an O-ring is provided between them to provide a double sealing effect. Therefore, when pressure is applied through the pressure transmission hole 121, it can ensure that the pressure in the test pressure cavity of the body 10 increases steadily, which is helpful for subsequent testing.

[0031] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, a viewing groove 101 is formed on the side wall of the main body 10, and an observation tube 13 is disposed inside the main body 10. During assembly, both ends of the observation tube 13 can be completely fixed to the inner wall of the main body 10, thereby fully sealing the viewing groove 101 and achieving an effective sealing effect. Thus, during the testing process, the specific situation of the internal pressure cavity of the main body 10 can be observed in real time through the viewing groove 101 and the observation tube 13, so as to further observe the deformation of the packer sleeve 15.

[0032] In this invention, the observation tube 13 is constructed as a visualization polymer glass tube, and a first sealing ring 131 is provided at the upper and lower ends of the observation tube 13. The first sealing ring 131 enables the outer wall surface of the observation tube 13 to achieve a sealed connection with the inner wall surface of the body 10, thereby ensuring the stability of the pressure in the test chamber of the body 10, which is helpful for subsequent testing work.

[0033] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, a plug 22 is provided at the end of the rubber sleeve seat 21. The packer rubber sleeve 15 is sleeved on the outside of the rubber sleeve seat 21, and the plug 22 is threadedly connected to the rubber sleeve seat 21, thereby providing support for the packer rubber sleeve 15. At the same time, the plug 22 is axially abutting against the packer rubber sleeve 15 throughout the entire test process to effectively limit its movement.

[0034] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the mechanism under test also includes an adjusting rod 23 disposed at the end of the rubber sleeve seat 21 away from the plug 22, and a piston connecting sleeve 24 disposed between the rubber sleeve seat 21 and the adjusting rod 23. Preferably, internal threads are provided at both ends of the piston connecting sleeve 24, so that it can be fixedly connected to the rubber sleeve seat 21 and the adjusting rod 23 respectively, thereby enabling the rubber sleeve seat 21, the piston connecting sleeve 24 and the adjusting rod 23 to achieve synchronous axial movement.

[0035] Preferably, the outer end of the piston connecting sleeve 24 contacts the body 10, and a second sealing ring 241 is provided between the piston connecting sleeve 24 and the body 10 to form a sealed connection between the piston connecting sleeve 24 and the body 10, thereby ensuring that the test hole 102 (see...) is sealed during the test operation. Figure 1 It is not connected to the test pressure cavity of the main body 10.

[0036] Figure 2 The measurement status of the test apparatus for packer cartridges according to the present invention is shown.

[0037] In this invention, such as Figures 1-2As shown, a test hole 102 is formed on the side wall of the main body 10, and the test hole 102 and the viewing slot 101 are arranged at intervals. This gives the device two working zones: during the testing operation, the deformation of the packer sleeve 15 can be observed through the viewing slot 101, and during the measurement operation, the specific expansion size of the packer sleeve 15 can be determined by the cooperation of the test hole 102 and the measuring tool.

[0038] Preferably, at least two second sealing rings 241 are provided between the piston connecting sleeve 24 and the body 10, and as shown in the figure... Figure 1 During the test operation shown, the test hole 102 is located between the two second sealing rings 241, thereby effectively isolating the test hole 102 from the test pressure cavity of the body 10 (during the test operation) to ensure that the test operation can be carried out smoothly.

[0039] In this invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the temperature control element is constructed as a heating band 11 sleeved outside the body 10. Preferably, the heating band 11 is sleeved on... Figure 1 The right side of the main body 10 is used for heating the device. The heating process involves the heating element 11 heating the main body 10, which then transfers the temperature to the packer cartridge 15 via the liquid in the pressure testing chamber, thus indirectly heating the packer cartridge 15. Preferably, the device lowers the boiling point of water by pressurizing it, thereby achieving a test temperature exceeding 100°C for the packer cartridge 15, making it easier to meet high-temperature testing requirements.

[0040] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, a second end cap 14 is provided at the upper end of the main body 10. Preferably, the second end cap 14 is fixedly connected to the main body 10, and the second end cap 14 is threadedly connected to the adjusting rod 23 through an internal thread. Therefore, the piston connecting sleeve 24, the rubber sleeve seat 21, the plug 22, and the packer rubber sleeve 15 can be driven to move synchronously by rotating the adjusting rod 23, that is, to move laterally while rotating. In this way, the packer rubber sleeve 15 can move to the test hole 102 for measurement after the test is completed. Preferably, during the measurement operation, the second end cap 14 will axially abut against the piston connecting sleeve 24 to perform a load-bearing function.

[0041] It is worth noting that the adjusting rod 23 in this invention adopts a large-pitch thread adjustment method, for example, a 12mm thread. Therefore, the adjusting rod 23 can move forward / backward by 12mm for each rotation. Thus, when adjusting the lateral position of the packer sleeve 15, the adjustment can be determined by the product of the number of rotations of the adjusting rod 23 and the thread pitch.

[0042] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a testing method is provided, which utilizes the testing apparatus as described above, and includes the following: The testing process specifically includes the following: First, the packer sleeve 15 and the sleeve seat 21 need to be assembled. Then, the plugs 22 and piston connecting sleeves 24 for receiving the packer sleeve 15 are installed at both ends of the sleeve seat 21. An adjusting rod 23 is fixedly connected to the end of the piston connecting sleeve 24 away from the sleeve seat 21, and the adjusting rod 23 is then rotatably connected to the second end cap 14.

[0043] Then, by rotating the adjusting rod 23, the packer sleeve 15 is sent into the predetermined position in the test pressure cavity of the body 10; clean water is injected into the test pressure cavity of the body 10 through the pressure transmission hole 121 of the first end cap 12 and pressurization is carried out to provide a high-pressure environment, while the heating belt 11 heats the packer sleeve 15 to provide a high-temperature environment; the specific situation of the pressure cavity inside the body 10 is observed in real time through the viewing slot 101 and the observation tube 13 to further observe the deformation of the packer sleeve 15.

[0044] In this invention, the boiling point of water is lowered by pressurization, thereby enabling the packer cartridge to withstand test temperatures exceeding 100°C, thus more easily meeting high-temperature testing requirements. Preferably, the boiling point of water pressurized to 1 MPa is 179.9°C.

[0045] The measurement process includes the following specific steps: When a specific expansion dimension needs to be measured, pressure can be released through the pressure transmission hole 121, and the axial position of the rubber sleeve seat 21 can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting rod 23, so that the packer rubber sleeve 15 is radially aligned with the test hole 102 (at this time, the second end cap 14 will axially abut against the piston connecting sleeve 24). The actual deformation dimension of the packer rubber sleeve 15 can be measured using a measuring tool.

[0046] The testing device for packer cartridges of the present invention can detect the dimensional change data of packer cartridge 15 at high temperature in this way, so as to guide the optimization of subsequent packers and other products.

[0047] In this invention, the measuring tool can be a vernier caliper or a depth gauge. Such tools need to extend through the measuring hole 102 into the interior of the body 10 to contact the outer wall of the packer sleeve 15, thereby determining the amount of expansion and deformation of the packer sleeve 15 by measuring the change in height. Alternatively, the measuring tool can be a laser measuring instrument. These tools utilize the principle of laser reflection ranging, so they only need to be aligned with the measuring hole 102 to determine the actual depth change, ultimately determining the amount of expansion and deformation of the packer sleeve 15.

[0048] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are: This application injects a heating medium (clean water) around the packer sleeve 15 through the pressure transmission hole 121, and then lowers the boiling point of the water by pressurizing it after injection, thereby enabling the test temperature of the packer sleeve 15 to exceed 100°C, making it easier to meet high-temperature testing requirements. This application not only allows observation of the deformation of the packer sleeve 15 during testing through the viewing slot 101 and observation tube 13, but also allows determination of the specific expansion dimensions of the packer sleeve 15 during measurement. Therefore, the above-mentioned testing can guide the optimization of the structure and dimensions of the packer sleeve 15, further reducing the risk of premature sealing caused by thermal expansion at high temperatures.

[0049] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can easily make changes or modifications within the scope of the present invention, and such changes or modifications should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A testing device for packer cartridges, comprising: The main body (10) is provided with a temperature control element. The first end cap (12) is provided at the lower end of the body (10), and The test mechanism is concentrically arranged within the body (10), and the test mechanism includes a rubber sleeve seat (21) for fixing the packer rubber sleeve (15). The testing device also includes an observation tube (13) disposed in the body (10). After the heating medium is injected into the body (10) through the pressure transmission hole (121) of the first end cap (12) and heated by the temperature control element, the deformation of the packer sleeve (15) is observed through the observation tube (13).

2. The testing apparatus for packer cartridges according to claim 1, characterized in that, A viewing groove (101) is formed on the side wall of the body (10), and the observation tube (13) is connected to the body (10) in a sealed manner through a first sealing ring (131) to block the viewing groove (101).

3. The testing apparatus for packer cartridges according to claim 2, characterized in that, A plug (22) is provided at the end of the rubber sleeve seat (21), and the packer rubber sleeve (15) abuts against the plug (22).

4. The testing apparatus for packer cartridges according to claim 3, characterized in that, The device under test also includes an adjusting rod (23) located at the end of the rubber sleeve seat (21) away from the plug (22).

5. The testing apparatus for packer cartridges according to claim 4, characterized in that, A piston connecting sleeve (24) is also provided between the rubber sleeve seat (21) and the adjusting rod (23). The piston connecting sleeve (24) forms a sealed connection with the body (10) through the second sealing ring (241).

6. The testing apparatus for packer cartridges according to claim 5, characterized in that, Test holes (102) are formed on the side wall of the body (10) at intervals from the visible slot (101). At least two spaced second sealing rings (241) are provided on the side end face of the piston connecting sleeve (24), and the test hole (102) is located between the two second sealing rings (241) during the test operation.

7. The testing apparatus for packer cartridges according to claim 6, characterized in that, A second end cap (14) is provided at the upper end of the body (10), and the piston connecting sleeve (24) is configured to abut against the second end cap (14) during measurement operations.

8. The testing apparatus for a packer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The temperature control element is constructed as a heating band (11) sleeved outside the body (10), and the heating band (11) is configured to heat the packer sleeve (15) indirectly through the body (10) and the heating medium.

9. A testing method utilizing the testing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the following: S1. Pressurize the body (10) by injecting heating medium into the body (10) through the pressure transmission hole (121) of the first end cap (12), heat the packer rubber cylinder (15) through the heating belt (11), and observe the deformation of the packer rubber cylinder (15) through the observation tube (13). S2. After depressurization through the pressure transmission hole (121), adjust the axial position of the rubber sleeve seat (21) by adjusting the adjusting rod (23) so that the packer rubber sleeve (15) is radially aligned with the test hole (102), and measure the expansion of the packer rubber sleeve (15) in real time by measuring tool.

10. The test method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The measuring tool includes any one of vernier calipers, depth gauges, and laser measuring instruments.

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