Composite Drilling Stripper Element for Tool Joint Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating flow control diverters in the oil and gas industry often experience mechanical failures due to tool joints passing through the stripper elements, leading to sealing issues and downtime in drilling operations, posing risks to workers.
Innovation Solution
The use of stripping elements comprising a stiffening member made of a harder material and a deformable member made of a softer material, over-molded or insert molded onto the stiffening member, which includes apertures or multiple members around the circumference to accommodate tool joints and prevent deformation and failure during pipe displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-material stripper element is used, then the sealing function is provided, but the element is compromised or damaged by tool joints passing through it
Solution Approach 1:
The stripper element is constructed as a composite structure with an inner core made of a first material and an outer layer made of a second material. The inner core provides structural support and resistance to tool joint passage, while the outer layer provides sealing functionality. This composite construction resolves the contradiction by combining materials with different properties to simultaneously achieve both strength and sealing capability.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a harder stripper element is used to resist tool joints, then durability is improved, but sealing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stripper element employs local quality by assigning different material properties to different regions of the same component. The inner core uses a harder, more durable material to resist tool joint passage, while the outer layer uses a softer, more compliant material to maintain sealing capability. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between durability and sealing reliability.
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 design reduces or prevents failures of rotating flow control diverters, ensuring reliable sealing and reducing downtime, while allowing for the safe operation of drilling equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable member formed of a second softer material over-molded or insert molded onto the stiffening member... which includes apertures or multiple members around the circumference to accommodate tool joints and prevent deformation and failure during pipe displacement
Data Source
AI summary
A stripping element for rotary flow control diverters used in the oil and gas industry can include a stiffening member formed of a first harder material than a deformable member formed of a second softer material over-molded to the stiffening member. The stiffening member can include apertures that provide for the second softer material of the deformable member to be displaced through the apertures when a pipe of a drill is displaced through the stripping element. The stiffening member can include multiple members that stiffen the deformable member to prevent the deformable member from bending into the stripping element when a pipe of a drill is displaced through the stripping element. The multiple members can be displaced out in a direction away from the pipe of the drill when the pipe of the drill is displaced through the stripping element to prevent the stripping element from being compromised.