Disintegrable Tubular Anchoring System for Borehole Component Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Downhole constructions, such as oil and gas wells, require frequent replacement of borehole components due to limited service lives, which is time-consuming and expensive, necessitating new methods to eliminate the need for milling and drilling operations for component removal.

Innovation Solution

A disintegrable tubular anchoring system comprising a frustoconical member, sleeve, and seal made from a metal composite with a cellular nanomatrix, allowing for selective and controllable disintegration in response to downhole fluids or conditions, eliminating the need for mechanical removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional borehole components are used with limited service lives, then the components can be easily manufactured and installed, but they require time-consuming and expensive milling or drilling operations for removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of component manufactureVSAvoidtime for component removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the component materials to include disintegrable substances such as iron, steel, or other corrosion-prone materials that can chemically react with downhole fluids to disintegrate over time, eliminating the need for mechanical removal operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable borehole components designed with limited service lives that intentionally disintegrate after completing their function, replacing expensive and time-consuming removal operations with cheaper, self-destructing materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Duration of action of moving object

If conventional borehole components are used with limited service lives, then the components can fulfill their temporary function, but they require expensive milling or drilling operations for disposal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice life of componentVSAvoidcost of removal operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the traditionally harmful effect of material corrosion and degradation into a beneficial disintegration mechanism, where the corrosion-prone materials that were previously considered weaknesses become the desired feature for automatic disposal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Loss of time

If disintegrable materials are used for borehole components, then mechanical removal operations are eliminated, but the components must maintain structural integrity during their service life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for component removalVSAvoidstructural integrity of component

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls material composition parameters to achieve a balance between early-stage structural strength and later-stage disintegration, using specific ratios of disintegrable substances mixed with stronger materials to maintain integrity during service then facilitate controlled breakdown

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials combining disintegrable substances (iron, steel, corrosion-prone materials) with other materials to create components that exhibit both required mechanical strength during service and controlled disintegration capability after service life expires

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Enables temporary anchoring and sealing without the need for mechanical removal, reducing operational costs and time by allowing components to disintegrate in response to fluids or changes, restoring the borehole pathway effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a disintegrable tubular anchoring system that comprises a frustoconical member; a sleeve with at least one first surface being radially alterable... wherein the frustoconical member, sleeve, seal, and seat are disintegrable and independently comprise a metal composite which includes a cellular nanomatrix comprising a metallic nanomatrix material; and a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nanomatrix

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDisintegration:

Data Source

PatentUS8950504B2Disintegrable tubular anchoring system and method of using the same

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A disintegrable tubular anchoring system comprises a frustoconical member; a sleeve with at least one first surface being radially alterable in response to longitudinal movement of the frustoconical member relative to the sleeve, the first surface being engagable with a wall of a structure; a seal with at least one second surface being radially alterable; and a seat having a land being sealingly engagable with a removable plug runnable thereagainst. The frustoconical member, sleeve, seal, and seat are disintegrable and independently comprise a metal composite which includes a cellular nanomatrix comprising a metallic nanomatrix material; and a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nanomatrix. A process of isolating a structure comprises disposing the disintegrable tubular anchoring system in the structure; radially altering the sleeve to engage a surface of the structure; and radially altering the seal to the isolate the structure.