Acoustic Land and Lock Monitoring for Tubing Hangers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current resource extraction systems lack efficient methods to determine the landed and locked positions of tubing hangers within wellhead spools, leading to potential operational inefficiencies and safety risks due to uncertainty in the positioning of critical components.

Innovation Solution

A land and lock monitoring system utilizing acoustic waves and sensors to detect the landed and locked positions of tubing hangers, employing transmitters and receivers to emit and receive acoustic signals, and processing these signals to provide real-time feedback on the position and locking status of the hanger within the wellhead spool.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional mechanical positioning methods are used for tubing hanger installation, then the system structure remains simple, but the ability to accurately determine landed and locked positions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical positioning detection methods with an acoustic wave-based monitoring system. Transducers generate and detect acoustic waves to determine the landed and locked positions of the tubing hanger, eliminating the need for complex mechanical sensors while improving detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium to transmit information about the tubing hanger's position. The acoustic waves interact with the mechanical components (producing characteristic signals at landed/locked positions) and transfer this information to the monitoring system, enabling non-contact detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If real-time monitoring of hanger position is implemented, then operational safety and efficiency are improved, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system utilizes the existing mechanical components of the tubing hanger and wellhead assembly as part of the detection mechanism. The acoustic waves interact with these components, which automatically provide the necessary structural information without requiring separate sensing elements, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic transducers serve multiple functions: they generate acoustic waves, detect the waves after they interact with the tubing hanger, and provide positioning information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each detection task.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If acoustic wave monitoring is used to detect hanger position, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidtransducer energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic transducers operate in periodic pulses rather than continuously, generating acoustic waves only when position detection is required. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring while maintaining the ability to detect hanger position accurately when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables real-time monitoring and confirmation of the landed and locked positions of tubing hangers, reducing operational uncertainties and enhancing safety by providing immediate feedback on the hanger's status within the wellhead spool, thus improving the efficiency and reliability of resource extraction processes.

Implementation Method 1

One of the first transducer component or the second transducer component is configured to emit acoustic waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic waves: Sound

Implementation Method 2

the other one of the first transducer component or the second transducer component is configured to output sensor signals indicative of a received portion of the acoustic waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS11905824B2Land and lock monitoring system for hanger

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 CAMERSON INT CORP

AI summary

A monitoring system includes a first transducer component configured to couple to a running tool that is configured to place an insert into a housing and a second transducer component configured to couple to the housing. One of the first transducer component or the second transducer component is configured to emit acoustic waves, and the other one of the first transducer component or the second transducer component is configured to output sensor signals indicative of a received portion of the acoustic waves. The monitoring system also includes one or more processors configured to determine that the insert is in a landed position in the housing based on the sensor signals.