Downhole Tool Debris Relief Passageways
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole tool assemblies face malfunctions and difficulties in cased wellbores due to debris accumulation, particularly in sand-laden environments, leading to potential tool jamming, loss, and increased completion costs and delays.
Innovation Solution
A tool assembly with a perforation device, a resettable sealing device, and a debris relief passageway, including mechanical casing collar locators and auto-J profile sliding members with debris ports, allows for the prevention and removal of debris, ensuring tool functionality and ease of deployment and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing devices and moving components are used in downhole tool assemblies, then tool functionality and sealing capability are improved, but the risk of debris accumulation, tool jamming, and malfunction increases in sand-laden environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful debris from the system by providing dedicated debris relief passageways that allow sand and solids to be removed from critical areas around sliding members and sealing devices, preventing accumulation and malfunction while maintaining tool functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces debris relief passageways as intermediary channels between the debris-laden environment and the critical tool components, allowing debris to bypass sensitive areas and be safely discharged without interfering with sealing and actuation functions
2Productivity
If the number of segments to be perforated and treated in a single trip is increased, then productivity is improved, but the assembly size increases making deployment and retrieval more difficult in the presence of flowable solids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tool assembly into modular components with distributed debris relief capabilities, allowing each segment to independently manage debris while maintaining overall system functionality for treating multiple intervals without excessive length increase
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to the assembly to perform multiple functions, then versatility is improved, but the risk of solids blockages in tool actuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal debris relief passageways that serve multiple components and functions simultaneously, allowing a single debris relief system to protect sealing devices, sliding members, and actuation mechanisms across all tool functions, reducing the need for separate debris protection components
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 effectively prevents debris accumulation and ensures reliable operation of downhole tools in sand-laden environments, reducing the risk of tool malfunctions and facilitating efficient completion of well operations by maintaining tool mobility and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
debris relief passageway operatively associated with the sliding member, for use in discharge of settled debris about the sliding member
Implementation Method 2
debris relief passageway operatively associated with the sliding member, for use in discharge of settled debris
Data Source
AI summary
A tool assembly and method for completing a well are provided. The tool includes debris relief features that enable use in solids-laden environments, for example in the presence of sand. Forward and reverse circulation pathways to the isolated interval are present to allow clearing of debris from the wellbore annulus while the sealing device remains set against the wellbore.