Compact Sleeve Valve With Friction Rings for Packerless Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sleeve valve apparatuses are cumbersome due to their length, requiring additional material and manufacturing complexity, and are difficult to handle, necessitating costly modifications to assembly equipment, while also needing a sleeve locator and resettable plug, which complicates operations.
Innovation Solution
Development of compact and lightweight sleeve valves with friction rings that provide consistent drag force, scraping action, buffer sealing, and secondary mechanical sealing, allowing for efficient shifting and sealing without the need for packers, and can be directly attached to casing sections, reducing material and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sleeve valve apparatuses are used with sufficient length to accommodate locator and plug, then reliability of operation is improved, but weight and length increase making them difficult to handle and manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the resettable plug (packer) from the traditional sleeve valve apparatus. By removing this component, the invention reduces the overall length and weight of the sleeve valve while maintaining operational reliability through alternative sealing mechanisms including friction rings and sealing elements that provide adequate sealing without requiring the additional plug component.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction rings in the patent serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide sealing action, drag force for hydraulic movement, and mechanical support. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall apparatus length and weight while maintaining reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional length is added to accommodate locator and plug, then operational capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the resettable plug component entirely, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing material requirements. The sleeve valve apparatus is designed to function without this additional component, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining operational capability through streamlined design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into integrated components. The friction rings combine sealing, drag force provision, and mechanical support functions that would traditionally require separate components. This merging reduces the total number of parts and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining full operational capability.
3Reliability
If longer sleeve valves are used, then functional requirements are met, but ease of handling during assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting and removing the resettable plug component, the patent significantly reduces the length of the sleeve valve apparatus. This length reduction makes the valve much easier to handle during assembly operations while still meeting all functional requirements through the retained and optimized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the sleeve valve by reducing its overall length. This parameter change improves handling ease during assembly while functional requirements are maintained through optimized friction ring design and sealing mechanisms that effective seal and operate within the compacted dimensions.
4Reliability
If traditional sleeve valves with sufficient length are used, then operational reliability is ensured, but assembly equipment modifications are required which increase cost and time
Solution Approach 1:
The removal of the resettable plug component simplifies the sleeve valve design to a configuration that can be assembled using existing equipment without modifications. This eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming equipment modifications while maintaining operational reliability through the optimized friction ring and sealing element system.
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 compact sleeve valves enhance manageability, reduce drilling rig make-up time, and lower overall costs by eliminating one threaded connection per stage, improving operational efficiency and reducing logistical and storage expenses.
Implementation Method 1
friction rings in sliding frictional and fluid sealing engagement with the housing
Implementation Method 2
providing scraping/wiping action against the inner surface of the housing to protect sealing elements from cement, scale, debris, etc.
Implementation Method 3
friction rings in sliding frictional and fluid sealing engagement with the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A sleeve valve for use in a casing string in a treatment zone or formation includes a tubular housing defining a housing bore and one or more ports; and an inner sleeve including friction rings in sliding frictional and fluid sealing engagement with the housing. The inner sleeve is axially shiftable within the housing between a closed sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are obstructed, and an open sleeve position wherein the one or more ports are unobstructed, thereby allowing fluid flow from the housing bore to the treatment zone or the formation. Systems and packerless fracturing methods including the sleeve valve are also provided.