Coring Tool Activation Module Sealing Inner Barrel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coring tools often fail to accurately represent the characteristics of earth formations due to contamination from presaturation fluid and drilling fluids, as the existing sealing mechanisms can displace or disengage improperly, leading to inaccurate core sample analysis.
Innovation Solution
An activation module with a sealing element that selectively seals the inner barrel entrance, disengaging when a core sample is advanced to prevent contamination and reduce the risk of core jamming, while maintaining pressure compensation to ensure accurate fluid displacement and sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealing mechanism is used to block the inner barrel entrance during coring, then contamination of the core sample is reduced, but the sealing mechanism may displace or disengage improperly causing inaccurate core sample analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a static seal to a dynamic system where the activator body moves axially in response to core sample advancement. The seal is engaged during coring and automatically disengages when the core sample pushes the activator body, ensuring both contamination prevention and reliable operation without improper displacement
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the core sample itself as a feedback mechanism - as the core sample advances into the inner barrel, it directly actuates the activator body to move axially and disengage the seal. This self-regulating feedback ensures the seal remains stable during coring but automatically opens at the appropriate moment, eliminating the risk of improper disengagement
2Manufacturing precision
If the sealing mechanism is engaged to prevent contamination, then core sample purity is improved, but the risk of core jamming increases due to potential disengagement issues
Solution Approach 1:
The core sample itself serves to disengage the sealing mechanism by pushing the activator body axially as it enters the inner barrel. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate actuation systems that could fail, ensuring the seal opens reliably without causing core jamming while maintaining purity during the coring process
3Object-affected harmful factors
If presaturation fluid is used to line the inner barrel, then core sample contamination is reduced, but fluid displacement accuracy may be compromised due to sealing mechanism failures
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic sealing mechanism ensures continuous, reliable sealing during the fluid displacement process. The seal remains engaged throughout coring to maintain presaturation fluid integrity and automatically disengages only when actuated by core sample advancement, preventing both contamination and ensuring accurate fluid displacement measurements without the failures associated with static sealing mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
Activation modules for selectively sealing entrances to inner barrels of coring tools may include an activator body sized and configured to obstruct the entrance to the inner barrel when the activation module is in a first state and to release the entrance to the inner barrel when the activation module is in a second state. A sealing element may be located at a periphery of the activator body, and may be configured to form a seal between at least a portion of an interior of the inner barrel and at least a portion of an exterior of the inner barrel when the activation module is in the first state and to disengage the seal when the activation module is in the second state.