Wellbore Centraliser With Angled Wing Struts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional centralisers for wellbores face challenges in maintaining casing string centrality, especially in horizontal wellbores, due to deformation under the weight of the casing string, leading to uneven cementing and potential operational risks.

Innovation Solution

A centraliser design featuring strut members with an intermediate portion of greater stiffness than the end portions, equipped with angled wing portions, allowing for preferential flexing at the ends while maintaining centrality and flexibility to navigate wellbore restrictions, reducing the risk of deformation and improving cementing operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If bow spring centralisers are used to allow flexibility through wellbore restrictions, then the casing string can pass through restrictions, but the spring elements deform beyond capacity in horizontal wellbores causing the casing string to lie towards the low side

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to pass through wellbore restrictionsVSAvoidmaintain casing string position in horizontal wellbores

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The centraliser is divided into multiple strut members that can independently flex and deform. Each strut member acts as an independent segment that can bend through restrictions while maintaining the overall structural integrity and centralising function of the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the strut members have different flexibility characteristics. The end portions are designed to be more flexible than the intermediate portions, allowing localized deformation at the ends while maintaining stiffness in the intermediate regions to prevent excessive bending in horizontal wellbores.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If rigid body centralisers with fixed radial blades are used to maintain casing string centrality, then the casing string remains centralised, but the centraliser cannot adapt to wellbore restrictions and inhibits the ability to reach desired total depth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintain casing string positionVSAvoidability to navigate wellbore restrictions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The centraliser transitions from a rigid fixed structure to a dynamic flexible structure. The strut members are designed to flex and deform elastically, allowing the centraliser to adapt its shape and size in response to wellbore restrictions while returning to its original centralising configuration after passing through the restriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameters of the strut members, particularly their flexibility and deformability, are optimized to allow the centraliser to change its radial dimension and shape in response to wellbore conditions, enabling it to pass through restrictions while maintaining centralising capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the intermediate portion of strut members has greater stiffness than end portions to prevent deformation, then the centraliser maintains shape, but the ability to flex through restrictions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintain strut member shapeVSAvoidflexibility to pass through restrictions

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The strut members exhibit non-uniform flexibility distribution along their length. The end portions are designed with higher flexibility to accommodate deformation during restriction passage, while the intermediate portions maintain greater stiffness to preserve the overall centralising geometry and prevent excessive bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The strut member is segmented into functionally distinct portions: flexible end portions for deformation and stiff intermediate portions for shape maintenance. This segmentation allows each segment to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the overall performance of the centraliser.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 centraliser effectively maintains the casing string in a central position within the wellbore, enhances flexibility to pass through restrictions, and reduces the force required for deployment, thereby improving cementing operations and ensuring consistent cement thickness.

Implementation Method 1

The intermediate portion may have a greater stiffness than the first and second end portions of the strut member... provides for preferential flexing of the strut member at the end portions rather than the intermediate portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

one or more wing portions extending from the intermediate portion and which are angled relative to the intermediate portion... offsets the intermediate portion from the tubing in use

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGeometric offset: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS11555357B2Centraliser

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 VULCAN COMPLETION PROD UK LTD

AI summary

A centraliser (10) for use in centralising tubing (12) in a bore (W) comprises a first end collar (14), a second end collar (16) and a number of elongate strut members (18). The strut members (18) are interposed between the first end collar (14) and the second end collar (16) and are circumferentially arranged and spaced around the first end collar (14) and second end collar (16). The strut member (18) have a first end portion (20), a second end portion (22), an intermediate portion (24) and angled wing portions (26) which extend from the intermediate portion (24).