Accumulator Pressure Compensation for Stable Controlled Drilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing controlled pressure drilling technologies face issues with large, inflexible, and high-power consumption back pressure pump systems that require additional equipment and special power supplies, leading to increased operational costs and interruptions in drilling due to the inability to perform continuous and stable pressure compensation.
Innovation Solution
A pressure compensation device with an accumulator group that pre-stores drilling fluid from a horizontal pipe and quickly releases it to control wellhead back pressure, using an electrical flat valve, check valve, bladder type accumulators, and a support base to form parallel liquid paths for efficient hydraulic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a back pressure pump system is used to provide wellhead back pressure, then pressure compensation can be achieved, but the system becomes large in size, requires many corollary equipment, consumes high power, and occupies large field space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of pressure compensation from the complex back pressure pump system and implements it through a simplified accumulator-based device. The accumulator group replaces the pump system, eliminating the need for motors, control systems, and other corollary equipment while maintaining the core pressure compensation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by utilizing drilling fluid itself as the working medium in the accumulator. The bladder type accumulators store drilling fluid under pressure, and when activated, release the stored fluid to compensate for wellhead back pressure, replacing the need for mechanical pump systems with a hydraulic solution.
2Reliability
If a back pressure pump system is used for pressure compensation, then bottom pressure can be maintained stable, but the system cannot be repaired on the field when breaking down, leading to interruption of drilling operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the pressure compensation function into multiple independent bladder type accumulators arranged in parallel. Each accumulator operates independently, and if one fails, the others can continue to provide pressure compensation. This modular segmentation improves field repairability as individual units can be quickly replaced without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulators are pre-charged with drilling fluid and pressurized before being installed in the wellhead control device. This beforehand preparation ensures that when drilling operations need pressure compensation, the accumulators are already ready to immediately release stored fluid without requiring external power sources or complex activation systems, maintaining bottom pressure stability while simplifying field operations.
3Reliability
If additional equipment such as slurry pump or back pressure pump is configured to provide wellhead back pressure, then controlled pressure drilling can be achieved, but operational cost increases and field space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the drilling fluid serve multiple functions: it acts as both the drilling medium and the working fluid for pressure compensation. The same drilling fluid that circulates through the wellbore is stored in the accumulators and used to compensate for wellhead back pressure, eliminating the need for separate pump systems and reducing equipment quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the pressure compensation function with the existing drilling fluid circulation system. By integrating the accumulator group into the wellhead control device and using drilling fluid as the working medium, the system combines multiple functions into a single integrated unit, reducing the total equipment quantity and field space requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively addresses the inefficiencies of traditional systems by providing continuous and stable pressure compensation, reducing the need for extensive equipment and minimizing disruptions during controlled pressure drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
The accumulator group includes a frame, multiple bladder type accumulators
Implementation Method 2
quickly releases it to control wellhead back pressure
Implementation Method 3
A pressure compensation device with an accumulator group for controlled pressure drilling includes an electrical flat valve, a check valve
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure compensation device with an accumulator group for controlled pressure drilling includes an electrical flat valve, a check valve, an accumulator group, a flanged pup joint and a support base. The electrical flat valve is connected to the check valve and is mounted on a top surface of the support base. The accumulator group mounted on the whole support base is a pre-storage pressure compensation device for controlled pressure drilling, and is located at a downstream position of the check valve. The liquid inlet end of the accumulator group is connected to the check valve, and the liquid discharge end is connected to the flanged pup joint.