Casing Vacuum Fitting for Extended Reach Wellbore Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inserting pipe strings, such as casing or liners, into extended reach wellbores with high lateral displacement is challenging due to excessive friction and the risk of well pressure control issues caused by trapped air during the cementing process, especially in highly inclined or horizontal wellbores.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a casing vacuum fitting that reduces internal pressure in the pipe string by connecting it to a vacuum pump, allowing the pipe string to be inserted more efficiently while minimizing the risk of well pressure control emergencies by evacuating air and reducing friction between the pipe string and the wellbore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air is used to provide buoyancy for inserting the pipe string, then insertion difficulty is reduced, but well pressure control safety deteriorates due to trapped air compression
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the air from the pipe string before insertion by connecting a vacuum pump to the pipe string through a vacuum fitting. This eliminates the trapped air that would otherwise be compressed during cementing operations, resolving the safety issue while maintaining the buoyancy benefit of having an evacuated pipe string.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum evacuation of the pipe string is performed as a preliminary action before the pipe string is inserted into the wellbore. By removing the air beforehand, the system prepares the pipe string in a safe state that eliminates subsequent pressure control risks during cementing operations.
2Force
If the pipe string is air-filled for buoyancy, then insertion friction is reduced, but the risk of dangerous well pressure conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful trapped air into a benefit by evacuating it beforehand. The evacuated space provides the same buoyancy advantage as air-filled pipe string but without the harmful compression effect during cementing, effectively turning a hazard into a safe and useful condition.
3Ease of operation
If centralizers are used to limit frictional contact, then insertion is facilitated, but insertion becomes impracticable for long pipe strings due to accumulated friction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the anti-weight principle by creating a buoyant force through vacuum evacuation that counteracts the gravitational force and frictional resistance. The evacuated pipe string experiences reduced weight and increased buoyancy, which compensates for the friction accumulated over long insertion distances, making previously impracticable insertions feasible.
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
This method enhances the insertion efficiency of pipe strings into wellbores by reducing friction and preventing well pressure control issues during cementing operations, ensuring safer and more reliable well construction.
Implementation Method 1
A method involving a casing vacuum fitting that reduces internal pressure in the pipe string by connecting it to a vacuum pump, allowing the pipe string to be inserted more efficiently while minimizing the risk of well pressure control emergencies by evacuating air and reducing friction between the pipe string and the wellbore
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for inserting a conduit into a wellbore includes inserting the conduit into the wellbore until an upper end of a predetermined section thereof is disposed proximate a selected position in the wellbore and reducing pressure in the conduit to a predetermined pressure.