Annular Barrier Diaphragm for High Collapse Pressure Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Annular barriers in wellbores face challenges in withstanding collapse pressures without increasing the thickness of the expandable sleeve, which is crucial for maintaining zone isolation in wells with high drawdown pressure during production and depletion, as existing solutions cannot adequately compensate for varying collapse pressures.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a metal diaphragm within the annular barrier space, which divides it into compartments, allowing the barrier to withstand higher outside pressures without altering the pressure inside the well tubular structure, and optionally using a second diaphragm to manage pressures from both sides, along with deformable materials and sealing elements to maintain seal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the wall thickness of the expandable sleeve is increased to withstand collapse pressure, then the collapse rating is improved, but the expansion pressure required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annular barrier space is divided into multiple compartments using diaphragms, allowing independent pressure management in each compartment. This segmentation enables the expansion compartment to maintain high pressure for sleeve expansion while the barrier compartment withstands external collapse pressures, resolving the contradiction between collapse resistance and expansion pressure requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Diaphragms act as intermediary elements between the expansion compartment and barrier compartment, isolating the pressures from each other. The diaphragms allow the system to achieve both high collapse rating and controlled expansion pressure by mediating the pressure transmission between compartments
2Ease of manufacture
If the expandable sleeve is expanded by increasing pressure within the well, then the expansion is achieved, but the well is exposed to high expansion pressure
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the annular barrier space into expansion and barrier compartments separated by diaphragms, the system allows pressure to be applied locally to the expansion compartment without exposing the entire well to high pressures. The diaphragm acts as a barrier that contains the high expansion pressure within a specific compartment
Solution Approach 2:
The high expansion pressure is extracted from the well environment and confined to a specific expansion compartment. The diaphragm separates the expansion function from the well bore, allowing pressure application without compromising overall well pressure integrity
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 enables the annular barrier to maintain seal integrity under varying pressures without collapsing, allowing its use in wells with high drawdown pressure, extending its functionality and robustness by using diaphragms instead of valves, thus increasing its lifespan and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a first diaphragm made of metal and arranged in the annular barrier space divides the annular barrier space into a barrier compartment and an expansion compartment
Implementation Method 2
The expandable sleeve is typically made of an elastomeric material, but may also be made of metal
Implementation Method 3
The expandable sleeve of an annular barrier may be expanded by increasing the pressure within the well
Implementation Method 4
one or more perforations may be arranged for extruding the sealant material out of the cover when the expandable sleeve is being expanded so that a seal is provided between the annular barrier and the borehole
Implementation Method 5
the annular barrier is capable of withstanding an outside pressure that is higher than the pressure in the well tubular structure without changing the pressure inside the well tubular structure since the diaphragm seals off the inside of the well tubular structure from the outside of the well tubular structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an annular barrier arranged in a borehole for providing zone isolation between a first zone and a second zone. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an annular barrier system as well as to a method of using annular barriers in an annulus to seal off a first zone from a second zone.