Diverter Tool Bypass Port Surge Pressure Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in hydrocarbon production is the surge pressure caused by small annular clearances between casing sections during wellbore operations, which can damage formations and lead to uncontrolled fluid flow, increasing costs and operational risks.
Innovation Solution
A diverter tool with a housing, sleeve, and seat mechanism that diverts surge pressure through a bypass port and locks in a closed position, allowing for controlled fluid flow and subsequent operations without restricting passage for tools or cement plugs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If casing sections are run with small annular clearance to maximize inner diameter for hydrocarbon flow, then productivity is improved, but surge pressure increases causing formation damage
Solution Approach 1:
A diverter tool is introduced as an intermediary device between the running string and the casing. The diverter tool includes a bypass port that allows fluid to flow around the running string, diverting surge pressure away from the formation. This mediator enables the casing to be run with minimal annular clearance while preventing formation damage by providing an alternative flow path for the displaced fluid.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If casing is run at reduced speed to decrease surge pressure, then formation damage is prevented, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter tool acts as a mediator that enables normal-speed casing installation while preventing formation damage. By providing a bypass port that diverts fluid flow around the running string, the tool allows the casing to be run at standard speeds without creating harmful surge pressures against the formation, thus eliminating the need to slow down operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If diverter tool bypass port remains open to reduce surge pressure, then formation damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter tool employs a dynamic bypass port that can transition between open and closed states. The bypass port is initially open during casing installation to divert surge pressure and protect the formation. After the casing is successfully set, the bypass port closes to restore full flow through the casing interior. This dynamic behavior allows the tool to provide formation protection only when needed, simplifying the overall system design.
4Productivity
If annular clearance is minimized for maximum inner diameter, then productivity is improved, but fluid velocity increases causing uncontrolled flow
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter tool provides an additional flow dimension by creating a bypass path around the running string. Instead of forcing all fluid to move vertically through the narrow annular clearance between casing and wellbore, the bypass port allows fluid to flow laterally around the running string and then continue upward. This dimensional change in flow path significantly reduces fluid velocity and prevents uncontrolled flow while maintaining maximum annular clearance for productivity.
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 tool reduces surge pressure, prevents formation damage, and ensures efficient wellbore operations by diverting pressure and sealing the bypass port, enabling maximum inner diameter for hydrocarbon flow and tool passage.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass port communicating the longitudinal bore outside of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The seat in the sleeve in the closed position rotates from the interposed condition to the stowed position and exposes the internal bore of the sleeve to the longitudinal bore of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A diverter tool reduces surge pressure when running casing into a wellbore. The tool is kept open while running the casing so surge pressure can pass out a bypass port. The tool is then closed with a ball that lands in a seat disposed in an interposed condition in a sleeve of the tool's housing. Fluid pressure applied against the seat in the interposed condition engaged with the ball overcomes a first fixture temporarily holding the sleeve open. The fluid pressure shifts the freed sleeve closed. Additional fluid pressure applied against the seat with the captured ball then overcomes a second fixture temporarily holding the seat in the sleeve. Once freed, the seat with the captured ball pivots from the interposed condition to a stowed condition to expose the internal bore of the sleeve to the longitudinal bore of the tool so additional cementing operations can be performed.