Adjustable Injection Valve for Plug and Abandonment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore anchoring devices fail to prevent the loss of filling materials during plug and abandonment operations due to unpredictable fluid flow caused by low formation pressure, and lack adjustable features to optimize cracking pressure for varying operational parameters.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable injection valve with a spring-based mechanism and an adjustor nut that allows for adjustable cracking pressure, enabling controlled flow of barrier materials into the wellbore by creating a vacuum, optimized based on formation pressure to prevent material loss and ensure effective plugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed cracking pressure valve is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying formation pressures and causes material loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the cracking pressure of the injection valve adjustable rather than fixed. The valve incorporates an adjustment mechanism that allows the cracking pressure to be modified based on formation pressure conditions, enabling the system to adapt dynamically to varying operational parameters while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the cracking pressure parameter of the injection valve to be adjusted according to different formation pressure conditions. This enables the valve to optimize its performance for specific wellbore conditions, preventing material loss while accommodating variations in formation pressure without requiring a completely different valve design.
2Loss of substance
If no vacuum creation mechanism is used, then the device is simpler, but filling material is lost to the subterranean formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the injection valve as an intermediary mechanism between the filling material and the wellbore environment. By controlling the valve's cracking pressure and timing, it mediates the injection process to create temporary vacuum conditions that prevent material loss to the formation while allowing controlled placement of filling material, thus reducing substance loss without requiring complex additional vacuum generation equipment.
3Productivity
If the cracking pressure is not adjusted, then the operation is faster, but the plugging efficiency is reduced due to material loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adjusting the cracking pressure of the injection valve before the plug and abandonment operation based on expected formation pressure conditions. This preliminary configuration allows the operation to proceed efficiently without requiring mid-operation adjustments, while still preventing material loss through optimized vacuum creation, thus maintaining high productivity without sacrificing material.
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 adjustable injection valve ensures controllable and optimal injection of barrier materials, preventing material loss into the formation and ensuring successful wellbore plugging by adapting to varying formation pressures, thus enhancing the efficiency of plug and abandonment operations.
Implementation Method 1
The adjustable injection valve can include an adjustable spring that can be adjusted to adjust a cracking pressure of the adjustable injection valve
Implementation Method 2
the spring having an initial pressure setting that is adjustable prior to the anchoring device being positioned in a wellbore to adjust a cracking pressure of the adjustable injection valve
Implementation Method 3
enabling controlled flow of barrier materials into the wellbore by creating a vacuum
Implementation Method 4
The cracking pressure of the adjustable injection valve can be adjusted based on a formation pressure of the wellbore to optimize flow and flow control of the barrier material from the anchoring device into the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A wellbore anchoring device having an adjustable injection valve is disclosed. The anchoring device can include the adjustable injection valve and a spring. The spring can be positioned adjacent to the adjustable injection valve. The spring can include an initial pressure setting that is adjustable prior to the anchoring device being positioned in a wellbore to adjust a cracking pressure of the adjustable injection valve.