BPV Profile Cleaning Tool with Magnetic Brush Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Back-pressure valve (BPV) profiles in wellheads accumulate debris, leading to potential sticking issues during installation or retrieval, which can hinder well operations and require costly intervention.

Innovation Solution

A BPV profile cleaning tool with a brush assembly and magnets is integrated into a lubricator tool, where the brush with metallic bristles and attached magnets remove and attract debris, facilitating cleaning and preventing sticking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a BPV profile is used in a wellhead, then pressure isolation and one-way flow control are achieved, but debris accumulation occurs on the profile surface over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure isolation reliabilityVSAvoiddebris accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning tool is operated before BPV installation or retrieval to remove debris from the profile surface in advance, preventing sticking issues that would occur during subsequent operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The brush assembly physically removes and extracts accumulated debris, metal shavings, and scale from the BPV profile surface, separating harmful contaminants from the functional surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If debris is not cleaned from the BPV profile, then the profile maintains its original surface condition, but BPV installation or retrieval becomes difficult due to sticking

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveBPV installation easeVSAvoidBPV retrieval reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The profile is cleaned in advance before BPV operations, ensuring the surface is free from debris that would cause sticking during installation or retrieval operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The brush assembly acts as an intermediary tool between the cleaning operation and the BPV, preparing the profile surface to facilitate smooth BPV installation and retrieval without direct contamination interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a cleaning tool is introduced to remove debris, then BPV installation and retrieval reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveBPV operation reliabilityVSAvoidcleaning tool structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning function is merged with the existing BPV lubricator tool, combining debris removal capability with the already-present rod and handling mechanisms, thereby avoiding a completely separate complex cleaning system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lubricator tool is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the BPV handling/lubrication device and the profile cleaning tool, eliminating the need for dedicated separate equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If metallic bristles are used in the brush assembly, then effective debris removal is achieved, but risk of bristle breakage and contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris removal efficiencyVSAvoidbristle contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Magnets are introduced as intermediary components that capture and hold metallic bristle pieces and metal debris, preventing broken bristles from contaminating the profile while maintaining the effectiveness of metallic bristles for debris removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of metallic bristle breakage is converted into a benefit by using magnets to capture and retain the broken pieces, transforming a contamination risk into a controlled collection mechanism that prevents profile contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 tool effectively cleans the BPV profile, ensuring successful installation, reducing the risk of sticking, and eliminating the need for additional intervention operations, thus maintaining wellhead functionality and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The second magnet is configured to attract metallic debris detached from the BPV profile by the brush

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

operating the BPV rod to move the brush assembly within the BPV profile such that the plurality of bristles repeatedly contact a surface of the BPV profile

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical abrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS20240191600A1Cleaning a valve profile in a wellhead

Publication Date: 2024.06.13 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A back pressure valve (BPV) profile cleaning tool includes a brush assembly configured to attach to a BPV rod of a BPV lubricator tool and a second magnet configured to attach to an end of the BPV rod. The brush assembly includes a brush that includes a plurality of bristles and at least one first magnet. The brush further includes an outer diameter sized for insertion into a BPV profile of a wellhead. The second magnet includes an outer diameter sized to fit through the BPV profile of the wellhead.