Annular Barrier Pressure Intensifier for Wellbore Zone Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Annular barriers in wellbores face challenges in expanding without damaging other components and maintaining collapse ratings, as high expansion pressures can lead to collapse and affect the sealing properties, while reducing sleeve strength compromises collapse ratings.
Innovation Solution
An annular barrier system with a pressure intensifying means, comprising a piston and piston housing with varying diameters and one-way check valves, allows for efficient expansion of the expandable sleeve at lower pressures, maintaining the collapse rating and preventing fluid backflow, thereby enhancing the barrier's resistance to collapse and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the expandable sleeve is expanded by increasing the pressure within the well, then the expansion is achieved, but the burst rating of the well is exceeded and other downhole tools may become ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pressure function into two separate systems: a low-pressure wellbore environment and a high-pressure expansion zone. The pressure intensifying means acts as an intermediary that segments the pressure domains, allowing expansion fluid to be pressurized locally without exposing the entire well to high pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure intensifying means serves as an intermediary device between the wellbore and the expandable sleeve. It receives low-pressure expansion fluid from the wellbore, intensifies the pressure locally, and delivers high-pressure fluid to expand the sleeve, thereby protecting other downhole tools from high pressure exposure.
2Stress or pressure
If the thickness or strength of the expandable sleeve is decreased to limit expansion pressure, then the allowed expansion pressure is reduced, but the collapse rating is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pressure functions by using a pressure intensifying means that operates independently from the wellbore pressure system. This allows the expandable sleeve to be designed with optimal thickness for collapse resistance while the pressure intensifying means provides the necessary expansion pressure without requiring the sleeve to bear excessive loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure intensifying means acts as an intermediary that decouples the expansion pressure requirement from the sleeve structural design. By providing localized pressure intensification, it allows the use of thinner, more collapse-resistant sleeves while still achieving the required expansion forces through the mechanical advantage of the piston system.
3Strength
If higher expansion pressures are used to meet collapse rating requirements, then the collapse rating is improved, but the burst rating and effectiveness of downhole tools are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the operational environments by creating distinct pressure zones: a low-pressure zone for downhole tools and a high-pressure zone for sleeve expansion. This segmentation allows downhole tools to function in their optimal low-pressure environment while the expandable sleeve receives high-pressure fluid only where needed through the pressure intensifying means.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure intensifying means serves as an intermediary that protects downhole tools from high-pressure exposure. It receives low-pressure fluid from the wellbore, intensifies it locally, and directs the high-pressure fluid solely to the expandable sleeve, thereby maintaining tool functionality while achieving the required collapse rating through optimized sleeve design.
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 system enables the annular barrier to expand at lower pressures, reducing the risk of collapse and maintaining sealing effectiveness, while allowing for the use in wells with varying pressure conditions, thus providing a more versatile and durable solution for zone isolation.
Implementation Method 1
a piston having a first end and a second end, the piston being slidably arranged within a piston housing, the piston housing comprising a first cylinder having a first diameter fitting the first end of the piston and having a first end surface area, and a second cylinder having a second diameter fitting the second end of the piston and having a second end surface area, the first end surface area being larger than the second end surface area
Implementation Method 2
a first one-way check valve arranged in the feed fluid connection for preventing fluid from exiting the second cylinder during compression of fluid by the piston and for allowing fluid to enter the second cylinder during decompression of fluid by the piston
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an annular barrier to be expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and an inside wall of a borehole for providing zone isolation between a first zone and a second zone of the borehole, comprising a tubular part for mounting as part of the well tubular structure and having an expansion opening, an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular part, each end of the expandable sleeve being connected with the tubular part, and an annular barrier space between the tubular part and the expandable sleeve, wherein the annular barrier further comprises a pressure intensifying means having an inlet in a first end in fluid communication with the expansion opening and having an outlet in a second end in fluid communication with the annular barrier space.