Annular Packer Deflection via Piston and Fluid Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore drilling and production systems face challenges in maintaining effective sealing and reducing wear in telescopic joints due to movement of platforms at sea surfaces, leading to inefficiencies in fluid control and maintenance operations.
Innovation Solution
An annular packer assembly with a packer-contacting ring and piston system that uses fluid pressure to radially deflect a packer against the inner barrel, supported within the outer barrel without rigid components, allowing for efficient installation, maintenance, and monitoring of wear through position sensors and electronic controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a packer is supported within the outer barrel using rigid components, then structural strength is improved, but wear on packer components increases and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packer is supported within the outer barrel using a flexible membrane or diaphragm rather than rigid components. This flexible element allows the packer to be held in position while accommodating movement and reducing wear, eliminating the need for complex rigid support structures that would require frequent maintenance.
2Reliability
If fluid pressure is used to deflect the packer radially inward, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to piston and fluid delivery system
Solution Approach 1:
Fluid pressure is applied through a piston mechanism to deflect the packer radially inward against the inner barrel, creating an effective seal. The fluid delivery system includes passages and seals that distribute pressure uniformly to achieve reliable sealing while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Reliability
If position sensors and electronic controllers are added for real-time monitoring, then operational reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Position sensors are integrated to detect the location of the packer and piston, providing real-time feedback to electronic controllers. This monitoring system tracks wear and operational status, enabling predictive maintenance and improving reliability by alerting operators to potential issues before they cause failures.
4Ease of operation
If the packer is held in position without bonding, then ease of installation and maintenance is improved, but reliability of positioning may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding mechanism is removed from the packer assembly, allowing the packer to be installed and removed without chemical adhesives. The packer is instead held in position by the flexible membrane support and fluid pressure mechanism, which provides reliable positioning while enabling easy installation and maintenance through simple mechanical means.
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 reduces wear on packer components, enables efficient maintenance, and provides real-time monitoring of packer condition, minimizing downtime and operational costs by utilizing fluid pressure to maintain sealing and support the packer against the inner barrel.
Implementation Method 1
A piston may be positioned within the outer barrel and configured to receive the fluid or to be driven by the fluid in an axial direction, which in turn drives the packer-contacting ring in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an annular packer assembly configured to be positioned within an outer annular barrel. The annular packer assembly includes a packer having a radially-inner surface configured to contact an inner annular barrel and a radially-outer surface, and the packer extends axially from a first end to a second end. The annular packer assembly also includes a piston assembly configured to move axially relative to the outer annular barrel to deflect the second end of the packer radially-inwardly into an annular space between the inner annular barrel and the outer annular barrel to seal about the inner annular barrel.