Degradable Frangible Components for Downhole Tool Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Frangible components in wellbore tools, such as shear pins and shear rings, often break into debris after actuation, which can interfere with tool operation and hydrocarbon production, necessitating the development of degradable materials that can dissolve or degrade in wellbore environments to minimize debris and enhance operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of degradable materials like degradable metal alloys and elastomers for frangible components, which degrade through mechanisms like galvanic corrosion, swelling, or chemical changes, allowing for controlled breakdown and reduced debris in the wellbore, enabling efficient tool actuation and hydrocarbon production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional frangible components are used for tool actuation, then reliable mechanical function is achieved, but debris is generated that interferes with tool operation and hydrocarbon production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of frangible components from traditional metals to degradable materials such as biopolymers, starch-based materials, or cellulose-based materials. These materials maintain sufficient mechanical strength for reliable tool actuation but subsequently degrade into soluble fragments that dissolve in wellbore fluids, eliminating debris interference with tool operation and hydrocarbon production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable frangible components made of degradable materials that serve their mechanical function temporarily during tool actuation and then naturally degrade and dissolve in the wellbore environment. This eliminates the need for costly debris removal operations while maintaining reliable initial function
2Object-generated harmful factors
If degradable materials are used for frangible components, then debris is reduced in the wellbore, but material strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully selects and formulates degradable materials with controlled degradation rates and appropriate mechanical properties. By adjusting material composition, molecular weight, and cross-linking density, the frangible components achieve sufficient strength for tool actuation while ensuring complete degradation into soluble fragments that reduce wellbore debris
Solution Approach 2:
The patent may employ composite formulations combining degradable polymers with reinforcing agents or fillers to enhance mechanical strength while maintaining degradability. This allows the frangible components to meet both strength requirements for reliable actuation and debris reduction requirements through controlled material composition
3Adaptability or versatility
If frangible components break into pieces during actuation, then tool configuration change is achieved, but operational interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the degradation parameter of frangible components from persistent solid fragments to time-dependent soluble material. The degradable materials break into pieces during actuation to enable tool configuration change, then progressively dissolve in wellbore fluids over time, eliminating operational interference and ensuring smooth subsequent tool operation and hydrocarbon production
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 degradable components effectively reduce debris in the wellbore, improving tool operation and hydrocarbon production by ensuring controlled breakdown and minimizing interference, thus enhancing the efficiency and longevity of wellbore tools.
Implementation Method 1
The degradable components effectively reduce debris in the wellbore, improving tool operation and hydrocarbon production by ensuring controlled breakdown
Implementation Method 2
The use of degradable materials like degradable metal alloys and elastomers for frangible components, which degrade through mechanisms like galvanic corrosion, swelling, or chemical changes
Implementation Method 3
The use of degradable materials like degradable metal alloys and elastomers for frangible components, which degrade through mechanisms like galvanic corrosion, swelling, or chemical changes
Data Source
AI summary
Frangible components like shear pins, rupture disks, retainer rings, and shear rings of downhole tools (e.g., frac plugs, sliding sleeves, darts, packers, expansion joints, valves, and tool-conveyance coupling apparatuses) may be composed of a degradable material that degrades in a wellbore environment at a desired time during the performance of a subterranean formation operation. For example, a tool string may include a conveyance or top adapter sub threadably coupled to a first end of a stinger; a wellbore tool coupled to the stinger via a coupling at a second end opposing the first end of the stinger, wherein the coupling comprises a frangible, degradable shear pin and a frangible, degradable shear ring, wherein the frangible, degradable shear pin and the frangible, degradable shear ring independently comprise a degradable metal alloy selected from the group consisting of a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, and any combination thereof.