Cementing Attachment Partitions Segmentation Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
During reverse cementing, it is challenging to determine when the annulus is fully covered with cement, leading to potential excessive cement entering the pipe, which complicates subsequent drilling due to the irregular geometry of the annulus, and existing techniques lack effective methods to prevent cement from setting in the well casing.
Innovation Solution
A well tool attachment with a tubular body and partitions that divides the bore into segments, including hydrophobic surfaces to prevent cement bonding, facilitating the breaking up of cement into segments that can be easily dismantled during drilling, and optionally forming converging flow areas to indicate the end of cement flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If reverse cementing is performed without plugs in the annulus, then cement can be pumped into the annulus, but it is difficult to determine when the annulus is fully covered and excessive cement may enter the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
A marker bead is introduced as an intermediary tracer substance mixed with the cement slurry. The bead travels with the cement flow and provides visual indication when it exits the casing, serving as a mediator to communicate cement placement status from the annulus to the surface without requiring direct observation of the annulus itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback by observing the emergence of the marker bead at the casing exit. When the bead appears, it provides real-time feedback that the cement slurry has fully displaced the fluid in the annulus and is beginning to enter the casing, allowing the operator to immediately stop pumping.
2Reliability
If excessive cement enters the pipe during reverse cementing, then the pipe becomes filled with cement, but subsequent drilling becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The marker bead is mixed into the cement slurry before pumping begins, performing the indication function in advance. This preliminary preparation ensures that the bead is ready to provide immediate visual feedback as soon as the cement enters the annulus and travels to the casing exit, preventing over-pumping before the indication can occur.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cement sets in the well casing, then the cement forms a solid block, but drilling through set cement requires excessive force and causes wear on drill bits
Solution Approach 1:
The cement slurry is mixed with a foaming agent that creates numerous small air bubbles distributed throughout the cement matrix. When the cement sets, these bubbles create a cellular, segmented structure rather than a solid continuous block. This segmentation reduces the overall density and mechanical strength of the set cement, allowing drill bits to penetrate with significantly less force and reducing bit wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The cement slurry is transformed into a composite material by incorporating air bubbles as a secondary phase within the cement matrix. This creates a lightweight composite structure where the air voids act as a cushioning matrix, reducing the hardness and density of the set cement while maintaining sufficient structural properties for well integrity.
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 solution allows for easier and faster drilling by segmenting the cement, reducing resistance and effort required to drill through set cement, while being cost-effective and reducing wear on drill bits compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
including hydrophobic surfaces to prevent cement bonding
Data Source
AI summary
A well tool attachment includes a tubular body with a bore therethrough extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular body is configured to seat in a shoe track of a well casing. A plurality of partitions are suspended from the tubular body, dividing the bore of the tubular body into a plurality of segments extending axially through the tubular body. The partitions are configured to break up cement slurry entering the bore of the tubular body into a plurality of cement segments to facilitate drilling after downhole cement sets.