Through-tubing Annular Isolation Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the hydrocarbon exploration and recovery industry, existing methods face challenges in deploying tools through wellbores with varying diameters, as tools must maintain a minimum inside diameter and expanding to fit larger boreholes, which can lead to difficulties in maintaining the necessary dimensions during deployment.

Innovation Solution

A through-tubing annular isolation device comprising a plurality of building elements tethered together, allowing a tubular form to be achieved at a second energy condition and a dimensionally smaller form at a first energy condition, enabling the device to be passed through tubing and deployed beyond its end, using elastic elements or magnetism for transformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a tool is designed to fit through tubing with a minimum inside diameter, then the tool can be deployed through existing tubing strings, but the tool cannot expand to fit larger boreholes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool outside diameterVSAvoidability to fit different borehole sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation device employs a dynamic structure that transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded operational configuration. The device includes expandable elements such as cones, cylinders, or irregularly shaped components that can change their outer diameter to adapt between the constrained tubing passage and the larger borehole isolation requirement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes a nested structure where building elements are contained within one another in a compressed state for delivery through tubing. Upon deployment, these nested elements expand outward to form the isolation structure, allowing the device to fit through small tubing while creating a larger functional form in the borehole

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a tool is designed to expand to fit larger boreholes, then the tool can isolate the annular space effectively, but the tool cannot be passed through tubing with limited inside diameter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to isolate annular spaceVSAvoidtool outside diameter

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes parameter changes in its structural dimensions, transitioning from a small compressed diameter for delivery to a large expanded diameter for isolation. This parameter transformation is achieved through elastic elements, magnetic forces, or mechanical expansion mechanisms that alter the device's physical dimensions upon deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If tubing strings are extended by pulling them out of the borehole and reinserting, then the tubing can be replaced or extended, but the operation becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetubing string extensionVSAvoidtime for tubing operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The isolation device is divided into multiple building elements that can be delivered through existing tubing and assembled in place. This segmentation allows the equivalent function of tubing extension to be achieved by deploying modular components through the existing string rather than retrieving and reinserting the entire string

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device acts as an intermediary that enables tubing string extension functionality without requiring the tubing itself to be extended. By deploying the isolation device through existing tubing and allowing it to expand and seal, the system achieves the effect of extended tubing capability without the complex operation of pulling and reinserting strings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 the extension of tubing strings in a structurally competent and sealed manner without pulling the string out of the borehole, allowing for a common-sized device to be delivered through existing tubing, with significant size reduction from a deployed 6.625 inches to less than 3.75 inches in collapsed form.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of building elements tethered sequentially together such that a tubular form is achieved at a second energy condition and a dimensionally smaller form is achieved at a first energy condition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

using elastic elements or magnetism for transformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS10107065B2Through-tubing deployed annular isolation device and method

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

A through-tubing annular isolation device includes a plurality of building elements tethered sequentially together such that a tubular form is achieved at a second energy condition and a dimensionally smaller form is achieved at a first energy condition. A method for isolating an annular space through-tubing.