Annular Pressure Activated Downhole Tool Trigger Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Activating downhole tools in wellbore operations is challenging due to damage or clogging of hydraulic lines and whipstock valves, making it difficult to set tools without relying on control lines passing through a drill bit and whipstock connector.
Innovation Solution
An annular pressure activated downhole tool system that uses a housing with an annular projection and a mandrel supported by a power spring, where a trigger engages with the inner surface to release the spring and shift the mandrel upon exposure to selected annular pressure, eliminating the need for complex plumbing or wiring through the whipstock connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic lines and whipstock valves are used to activate downhole tools, then tool activation is enabled, but the system becomes vulnerable to damage and clogging making setting difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the activation mechanism from the hydraulic line system by using a burst disk that responds directly to annular pressure in the wellbore. This eliminates the need for hydraulic lines to pass through the whipstock connector and drill bit, removing the vulnerability to damage and clogging while maintaining reliable tool activation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The burst disk acts as an intermediary element that converts annular pressure directly into mechanical activation force. Instead of transmitting hydraulic fluid through vulnerable lines, the burst disk membrane ruptures under pressure to release a spring-loaded mandrel, providing a reliable activation mechanism that bypasses the problematic hydraulic line pathway
2Ease of operation
If control lines are passed through the drill bit and whipstock connector to activate tools, then tool activation is achieved, but the complexity of the system increases due to required plumbing and wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex hydraulic line routing through the whipstock connector and drill bit by using annular pressure from the wellbore environment directly to activate the tool. This extraction of the activation mechanism from the complex plumbing system simplifies the overall device while maintaining full activation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing annular pressure in the wellbore environment to activate the tool without requiring external hydraulic lines or control systems. The burst disk responds automatically to the ambient pressure conditions, eliminating the need for complex plumbing and wiring while maintaining ease of operation
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 reliable activation of downhole tools, such as packers and anchors, by utilizing annular pressure to release the power spring and apply force to the mandrel, thereby simplifying the activation process and reducing the risk of tool damage from hydraulic line issues.
Implementation Method 1
A power spring arranged about the mandrel and extending between the power spring support and the annular projection
Implementation Method 2
The trigger is operable to disengage from the inner surface of the housing, releasing the power spring, and shifting the mandrel along the passage when exposed to a selected annular pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An annular pressure activated downhole tool has a housing including an outer surface, an inner surface defining a passage, an annular projection projecting into the passage from the inner surface, and an opening. A mandrel extends into the passage. The mandrel has a first end and a second end. A power spring support is detachably connected to the second end of the mandrel in the passage. A power spring is arranged about the mandrel and extends between the power spring support and the annular projection. A trigger housing is arranged in one of the mandrel and the power spring support. A trigger arranged in the trigger housing selectively engages with the inner surface. The trigger is operable to disengage from the inner surface of the housing, releasing the power spring, and shifting the mandrel along the passage when exposed to a selected annular pressure.