Convertible Diverter Device with Frangible Seats for Tool Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surge pressure reduction techniques during casing or liner installation in oil and gas wells cause restrictions in the workstring, leading to difficulties in passing tools and equipment, and existing integrity verification devices further restrict the workstring, potentially causing damage to the wellbore.
Innovation Solution
A frangible activation seat and integrity verification device that pulverize upon activation, leaving an unrestricted axial passageway, allowing tools and equipment to pass without obstruction, and ensuring proper tool activation verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a traditional activation seat is used to reduce surge pressure, then surge pressure is reduced during casing installation, but the activation seat creates a restriction in the workstring that prevents tools from passing through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the activation seat from the workstring by using a frangible connection that allows the activation seat to be detached and removed after serving its surge pressure reduction function. This extraction eliminates the restriction in the workstring while maintaining the surge pressure reduction benefit during the installation phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation seat is designed with a frangible connection that allows it to transition from a static, restrictive state during installation to a removed state after activation. The dynamic detachment mechanism enables the activation seat to be present only when needed for surge pressure reduction, then removed to clear the workstring for tool passage.
2Reliability
If an integrity verification device with a test seat is used, then proper activation is verified, but the test seat further restricts the workstring and may cause wellbore damage
Solution Approach 1:
The integrity verification device also uses a frangible connection to remove the test seat after verification is complete. This extraction eliminates the harmful restriction and damage risk while maintaining the reliability of activation verification during the testing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The test seat is designed as a disposable, frangibly connected component that serves its verification function and then is discarded/removed. This approach eliminates the need for permanent, restrictive structures in the workstring while maintaining verification reliability.
3Reliability
If the activation plug is made larger than the no-go diameter of the workstring wiper plug, then the activation plug can become lodged in the downhole casing wiper plug, but making it smaller may cause it to fall through the wiper plug
Solution Approach 1:
The activation plug is extracted from the workstring after activation by using the frangible connection mechanism. This removal eliminates the problem of the plug becoming lodged or falling through, as it is deliberately detached and removed after serving its positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation plug's size and position are dynamically managed through the frangible connection. During installation, the plug maintains its positioning function with appropriate dimensions, then the frangible connection allows it to be detached and removed, preventinglodgement or unintended passage issues.
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 solution provides an unrestricted passageway for tools and equipment, preventing wellbore damage and ensuring seamless operations by eliminating restrictions caused by activation and integrity verification seats.
Implementation Method 1
the frangible activation seat breaks into small particles and the small particles, along with the activation plug, are moved through the workstring and well casing
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic pressure applied above the frangible activation seat causes the frangible activation seat, the supporting sleeve, and the closing sleeve to move from the first position to the second position within the housing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use in the oil and gas industry for installation of drilling and production liners and sub-sea casing strings into a borehole through a drilling fluid on a workstring using a running tool with the benefits of surge pressure reduction is disclosed. In an embodiment, a convertible diverter device has a housing with diverting flow path which diverts fluid from its axial passageway to the annular space outside the convertible diverter device, and a closing sleeve, residing within the housing, the closing sleeve having a diverting position and a closed position. In the diverting position, the diverting flow path is not blocked by the closing sleeve, and in the closed position the closing sleeve sealingly blocks the diverting flow path, so only the axial passageway through the housing is accessible for passage of fluid and tools. The closing sleeve is shifted by use of a frangible activation seat, in combination with an activation plug, whereby the frangible activation seat is pulverized after the closing sleeve converts to the closed position. Thereby, the axial passageway is left with an effective internal diameter that may be equal to the internal diameter of the closing sleeve, which may ensure safe passage of fluids and cementing plugs through the converted diverter during casing cementing operations.