Collar Tool Assembly for Stuck Pipe Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stuck pipes in subterranean wells, particularly in deviated and horizontal wells, cause significant delays and costs due to wear and damage from cuttings accumulation, leading to reduced fluid flow and increased risk of pipe sticking, with existing solutions being inefficient in delivering treatment fluids during circulation disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A collar tool assembly with a hollow interior cavity for storing well treatment fluid, equipped with a remotely activatable hydraulic system that injects fluid into the well bore, allowing for localized delivery of treatment fluids to release stuck pipes, even when circulation through the tubular string is not possible, featuring a programmable logic controller to manage the injection port and a displacing plate for fluid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If treatment fluid is delivered through circulation system, then fluid can reach stuck pipe, but circulation must be possible through tubular string
Solution Approach 1:
The collar tool assembly stores treatment fluid in advance within its hollow interior cavity, positioned at the location where it is needed. This preliminary action allows the treatment fluid to be delivered immediately when the pipe becomes stuck, without requiring circulation through the tubular string from the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar tool assembly acts as an intermediary device between the surface circulation system and the stuck pipe. It provides an alternative pathway for treatment fluid delivery by storing fluid locally and injecting it directly into the wellbore through injection ports, bypassing the need for circulation through the tubular string.
2Loss of time
If collar tool assembly stores treatment fluid locally, then quick delivery is possible, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar tool assembly is divided into functional segments: a hollow interior cavity for fluid storage, an injection port assembly for fluid delivery, and a hydraulic system for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing the overall complexity while enabling quick treatment fluid delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar tool assembly is equipped with its own hydraulic system and injection port assembly, allowing it to autonomously deliver treatment fluid without requiring complex external control systems. The device serves itself by having integrated components that work together to perform the treatment function.
3Quantity of substance
If cuttings accumulate at lower side of deviated bore, then fluid flow velocity reduces, but tubular string can become stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The collar tool assembly provides treatment fluid directly at the location where cuttings have accumulated and caused the pipe to stick. By injecting treatment fluid locally at the stuck location rather than relying on general circulation, the system addresses the specific problem area where fluid flow velocity has been reduced by cuttings accumulation.
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
Enables quick and effective delivery of treatment fluids to stuck pipes, reducing the risk of pipe sticking and increasing the chances of successful pipe movement, while also providing additional weight and stiffness for improved drilling operations and corrosion resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system operable to force a treatment fluid of the outer cavity out of the tubular body when the injection port assembly is in the injection port open position
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for moving a tubular string within a subterranean well include a collar tool assembly that has a tubular body. The tubular body has an inner bore that is in fluid communication with an inner bore of the tubular string. An outer cavity is located radially outward of the inner bore. An injection port assembly extends from the outer cavity to an outer diameter surface of the tubular body and can move between an injection port closed position and an injection port open position. A hydraulic system can force a treatment fluid of the outer cavity out of the tubular body when the injection port is in the injection port open position. An injection port programmable logic controller is in signal communication with the hydraulic system and can command the injection port assembly to move between the injection port closed position and the injection port open position.