Circumferential Entry Tube System for Shunt Well Completions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shunt tube systems in well completions often face blockages, preventing fluid access due to single entrance points, and spaced entrance tubes reduce available flow area, necessitating improved entrance mechanisms for enhanced fluid access.
Innovation Solution
The entry tube system provides full or nearly full circumference fluid flow into a chamber, allowing fluid to enter and flow to one or more shunt tubes connected to its downhole end, with a guide member directing fluid regardless of orientation, and optional restrictor devices to manage fluid entry based on pressure thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple spaced entrance tubes are used to prevent blockage, then reliability is improved, but the available open area for flow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single entrance is segmented into multiple circumferential openings distributed around the circumference of the entry tube. This segmentation allows fluid to enter through multiple paths simultaneously, preventing complete blockage while maintaining a large total open area, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and flow area.
2Area of stationary object
If a single entrance tube is used, then the available open area for flow is maximized, but reliability deteriorates due to potential blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The entrance structure transitions from a single-point (0D) or linear (1D) entrance to a circumferential distribution around the tube perimeter (2D/3D). This dimensional expansion provides multiple radial pathways for fluid entry, ensuring that blockage of one portion does not prevent overall fluid access while maintaining maximum open area.
3Ease of manufacture
If the entry tube is positioned on the bottom wall of a horizontal bore, then ease of installation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential coverage and blockage
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the circumferential entrance have different functional qualities - the bottom portion can be positioned near the bore wall for easy installation, while the side and top portions extend outward to ensure fluid access from multiple directions. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain both installation ease and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An entry tube system allows fluid to enter a chamber and flow to one or more shunt tubes connected to a downhole end of the entry tube. The fluid can enter the chamber about all or substantially all of the circumference of an inner mandrel disposed within the entry tube, and flow through the chamber to be directed into the shunt tubes.