Continuous Rod Centralizer Wear Reduction in Curved Wells
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of continuous rods in oil well pumping applications leads to excessive wear in wells with curved or serpentine profiles, as existing centralizers are not adapted for continuous rods, resulting in tubing and rod wear issues.
Innovation Solution
A continuous rod centralizer with a cylindrical body, radially extending vanes, and clamps at both ends to secure the centralizer along the rod, along with an inner sleeve to prevent debris entry, allowing for relative rotation and longitudinal movement confinement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If continuous rod is used to replace multiple connected sucker rods, then the number of connections is reduced and tubing wear is decreased, but excessive wear occurs in wells with curved or serpentine profiles
Solution Approach 1:
A centralizer device is introduced as an intermediary component between the continuous rod and the wellbore. This centralizer includes a body with an interior surface defining a bore that receives the continuous rod, and vanes extending radially from the exterior surface. The centralizer maintains the rod in a centralized position within the wellbore, preventing excessive contact with the wellbore wall in curved sections and thereby reducing wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralizer design incorporates rod clamps that can be adjusted along the continuous rod to change the operational parameters. The clamps are positioned at specific locations to accommodate curved well profiles, allowing the centralizer to adapt to different well geometries and maintain proper rod positioning throughout the wellbore.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a centralizer is added to reduce wear in curved wells, then rod wear is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralizer is divided into functional segments: a central body, multiple rod clamps, and radial vanes. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall wear reduction objective. The modular design also facilitates easier installation and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralizer body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, houses the rod clamps for positioning, extends vanes for flow management, and defines a bore to receive the continuous rod. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving wear reduction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rod clamps are used to secure the centralizer body, then the centralizer is stabilized along the rod, but the clamps may cause additional contact points and potential wear
Solution Approach 1:
The rod clamps are designed with a configuration that mirrors or copies the outer surface profile of the continuous rod. This copying ensures uniform contact distribution across the rod surface, preventing concentrated stress points and reducing the potential for localized wear at the clamp contact areas.
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 centralizer effectively reduces wear on continuous rods by stabilizing the centralizer body along the rod, preventing debris entry, and allowing for rotation, thus minimizing damage and wear in wells with curved profiles.
Implementation Method 1
The centralizer body may be of a resilient material and the continuous rod insertion opening is in a normally closed position, where the continuous rod insertion opening flexes open to facilitate insertion of the continuous rod and then resiliently returning to its original closed position.
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous rod centralizer has a cylindrical centralizer body with a first end, a second end, an interior surface defining a bore which receives the continuous rod, and vanes extending radially from the exterior surface. A first rod clamp clamps onto the continuous rod at the first end of the body to confine movement of the body along the continuous rod in a first direction. A second rod clamp clamps onto the continuous rod at the second end of the body to confine movement of the body along the continuous rod in a second direction.