Actuatable Wellbore Isolation Assembly with Sliding Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cup tools used for wellbore isolation lose integrity during movement through tubing strings, rendering them unreliable for certain wellbore servicing operations.
Innovation Solution
An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly with a housing, radially expandable isolating member, and sliding sleeve, where the sliding sleeve transitions between positions to control the expansion of the isolating member, allowing selective fluid isolation via an actuator assemblage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cup tools are used for wellbore isolation, then fluid isolation can be achieved, but the tools lose integrity during movement through tubing strings, rendering them unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation tool is divided into multiple components: a cup packer assembly, a sliding sleeve, and an actuator assembly. The cup packer can be set at different locations along the tubing string, creating multiple isolation points. This segmentation allows the tool to maintain integrity during deployment while providing reliable isolation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cup packer is designed to transition from a compressed transport state to an expanded isolation state. During movement through the tubing string, the cup packer remains compressed within the sliding sleeve, maintaining integrity. When actuated, it expands radially to engage the tubing wall and provide fluid isolation, thus adapting its state to different operational phases.
2Ease of operation
If cup tools are moved through tubing strings for positioning, then they can reach the target zone, but they degrade or wear during movement, losing integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The cup packer assembly is nested within the sliding sleeve during transport through the tubing string. This protective nesting configuration shields the cup packer from wear and degradation during movement, while still allowing it to reach the target zone effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding sleeve is designed to maintain the cup packer in a protected, compressed state during the entire deployment process. This preliminary protective action prevents wear before the isolation function is needed, preserving the cup packer's strength until it is actuated at the target location.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the isolating member is kept in a non-expanded conformation during movement, then integrity is maintained, but fluid isolation cannot be achieved until actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The isolating member dynamically transitions between a compressed non-expanded conformation during transport and an expanded conformation during isolation. This dynamic state change allows the member to maintain integrity during movement while providing reliable fluid isolation when actuated by the actuator assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding sleeve maintains the isolating member in a protected non-expanded state during deployment, preserving its integrity. The actuator assembly then applies preliminary force to expand the isolating member into the tubing wall, creating the fluid isolation barrier when needed.
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
The solution provides reliable fluid isolation in wellbores by maintaining the integrity of the isolating member during deployment and operation, enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of wellbore servicing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the housing... a sliding sleeve being movable from a first position in which the sliding sleeve retains the expandable isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation to a second position in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the expandable isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation
Data Source
AI summary
An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly including a housing defining an axial flowbore and including a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion; a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about the housing; a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about the mandrel, the sliding sleeve being movable from a first position, in which the sliding sleeve retains the isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation, to a second position, in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation; and an actuator assemblage configured to allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first to the second position. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator assemblage includes a biasing chamber having a biasing member disposed therein, wherein the biasing member is configured to apply a force to the sliding sleeve to move the sliding sleeve from the first to the second position.