Downhole Barrier Delivery Device for Wellbore Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore fluid barrier technologies face challenges in effectively isolating sections of wellbores and preventing contamination during cement plug setting and fluid diversion operations, as they struggle to maintain the position and integrity of cement or treatment fluids against wellbore fluids of different densities or viscosities.
Innovation Solution
A downhole barrier delivery device that transports and deploys a fluid barrier with radially expanding slats and impermeable membranes, which is secured within a tubular housing with bypass ports and conditional operators, allowing fluid to bypass the barrier during transport and expanding to create a seal upon deployment, preventing mixing with wellbore fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cement plug is used to isolate wellbore sections, then hydraulic seal is created, but the cement may interact with wellbore fluids and lose positional integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fluid barrier as an intermediary substance between the cement plug and wellbore fluids. This barrier prevents direct contact and interaction between cement and wellbore fluids, maintaining both the hydraulic seal integrity of the cement and its positional stability. The fluid barrier acts as a mediator that isolates the cement from harmful fluid interactions while allowing the cement to maintain its sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by deploying the fluid barrier before setting the cement plug. The fluid barrier is positioned in advance to prevent mixing between cement and wellbore fluids during the cement setting process. This preliminary placement ensures that when cement is introduced, it maintains its positional integrity and hydraulic sealing capability without contamination or interaction with wellbore fluids.
2Productivity
If treatment fluid is pumped for fluid diversion, then treatment objective is achieved, but contamination with wellbore fluid may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid barrier serves as an intermediary that separates treatment fluid from wellbore fluid during pumping operations. This barrier prevents contamination while allowing the treatment fluid to be delivered to the target zone for fluid diversion. The mediator maintains treatment fluid purity without impeding the productivity of the fluid diversion operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses segmentation by creating distinct fluid zones separated by the fluid barrier. The barrier divides the wellbore into separate segments where treatment fluid and wellbore fluid do not mix. This segmentation ensures treatment fluid purity is maintained while enabling efficient fluid diversion to the target formation zone.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cement density differs from wellbore fluid density, then cement plug can be positioned, but mixing or contamination may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid barrier acts as a mediator between cement plug and wellbore fluids with different densities. It prevents direct interaction and mixing that would occur due to density differences, maintaining both the positioned stability of the cement plug and the integrity of the fluid barrier itself. The barrier isolates the two fluids, allowing density differences to be managed without contamination.
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 device ensures the cement or treatment fluid maintains its positional integrity and remains uncontaminated, effectively isolating sections of the wellbore and supporting the fluid barrier, thereby enhancing wellbore stability and fluid diversion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a bypass channel extending along a length of the tubular housing between the outer surface of the tubular housing and the inner bore, wherein the inner bore and bypass channel are separated by an impermeable barrier; a first end of the bypass channel fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a first bypass port; and a second end of the bypass channel fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a second bypass port
Implementation Method 2
A downhole barrier delivery device that transports and deploys a fluid barrier with radially expanding slats and impermeable membranes
Implementation Method 3
fluid barrier with radially expanding slats and impermeable membranes, which is secured within a tubular housing with bypass ports and conditional operators, allowing fluid to bypass the barrier during transport and expanding to create a seal upon deployment, preventing mixing with wellbore fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole barrier delivery device is provided including a tubular housing having an outer surface, a first end having a fluid entrance aperture, a second end opposite the first end having a fluid exit aperture, and an inner bore extending from the fluid entrance aperture to the fluid exit aperture. A bypass channel extends along the length of the tubular housing between the outer surface of the tubular housing and the inner bore, wherein the central bore and the bypass channel are separated by an impermeable barrier. A first end of the bypass channel is fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a first bypass port. A second end of the bypass channel is fluidly coupled with the inner bore via a second bypass port.