Bit-run Seat Protector for Wellbore Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bit-run wear bushings are not suitable to protect all seats inside a wellbore during drilling operations, as they require separate trips and are not effectively designed to safeguard the inner profiles of wellhead components.
Innovation Solution
A running tool attached to a drill string with detachable seat protectors that are sequentially released and installed at different wellbore locations, providing comprehensive surface protection within the wellbore during drilling and retrievable upon completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate trip is used to run a wear bushing to the wellhead, then the wear bushing can be installed to protect the wellhead components, but additional trips and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wear bushing installation with the drill string tripping operation by attaching the wear bushing to the drill string itself. This allows the wear bushing to be positioned at the wellhead during the same trip used for drilling operations, eliminating the need for separate installation trips and reducing overall time loss.
2Productivity
If a bit run wear bushing is held to a tool via shear pins, then the wear bushing can be deployed with the drill string, but the wear bushing cannot protect all seats inside the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The wear protection system is divided into multiple segmentable wear bushings that can be positioned at different locations along the drill string. Each wear bushing can be independently deployed to protect specific seats or components within the wellbore, enabling comprehensive protection coverage while maintaining single-trip deployment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wear bushing system is designed with universal applicability to protect multiple different types of seats and wellhead components. The modular design allows the same basic wear bushing structure to be adapted for various protection needs at different locations, providing versatile protection coverage throughout the wellbore.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple seat protectors are deployed on a single trip, then comprehensive surface protection is achieved, but the retrieval mechanism must be reliable and simple
Solution Approach 1:
The wear bushings are designed with self-retaining features that allow them to automatically secure themselves to the drill string during tripping operations. The retrieval mechanism utilizes the existing drill string motion and weight to automatically disengage and retrieve the wear bushings, eliminating the need for complex external retrieval devices or additional operational steps.
Data Source
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AI summary
A drilling system employs a set of bushings 30, 32, 34 that protect seats 14, 20, 24 used for casing hangers. The system includes one or more seat protectors 30, 32, 34 that attach to a running tool 52. The running tool 52 is lowered down the wellbore with the seat protectors 30, 32, 34 attached and deposits a bushing at each surface to be protected. The running tool 52 may retrieve the bushings 30, 32, 34 as the running tool 52 is withdrawn from the wellbore.