Downhole Plug Socket Structure to Prevent Seal Member Breakage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Downhole plugs with elastic members used for wellbore plugging face issues due to uncontrolled deformation, leading to potential breakage of components when the elastic member deforms and enters between the mandrel and retaining member, causing structural failure.
Innovation Solution
A plug design featuring a tubular member with an annular elastic member and a retaining member having an annular shape, where the retaining member includes an inner portion contacting the tubular member and an outer portion with a larger inner diameter, allowing for movement and dispersion of pressure, preventing breakage by ensuring the elastic member does not enter between the mandrel and retaining member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic member is deformed by pressure to plug the wellbore, then the plugging function is achieved, but the elastic member may enter between the mandrel and retaining member causing breakage
Solution Approach 1:
A stopper member is introduced as an intermediary component between the elastic member and the retaining member. This stopper member prevents the elastic member from entering the gap between the mandrel and retaining member during deformation, thereby protecting the structural integrity while maintaining the plugging function
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member is positioned in advance to cushion against the potential harmful effect of the elastic member entering the gap. By having this protective structure pre-positioned, the system prevents breakage before it can occur during the plugging operation
2Reliability
If the elastic member deforms radially outward to block the wellbore, then the plugging effectiveness is improved, but uncontrolled deformation may cause breakage of other components
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper member acts as a mediator that controls the deformation path of the elastic member. It allows the elastic member to deform radially outward for effective plugging while preventing it from moving axially into the gap where it would cause harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member provides preliminary anti-action by opposing the axial movement of the elastic member before it can enter the gap between the mandrel and retaining member. This prevents the harmful effect of uncontrolled deformation while allowing the desired radial deformation for plugging
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 breakage of the plug components during deformation, allowing for efficient wellbore plugging without adverse effects on the plug's structural integrity, enabling reliable well completion operations.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic member 102 is deformed as a gap between the cone 105 and the retaining member 103 is narrowed due to an axial movement of the mandrel 101. Then, the elastic member 102 extends radially outward
Data Source
AI summary
A plug which does not cause an adverse effect such as failure of a member constituting the plug when a wellbore is plugged. A downhole plug (10) includes a mandrel (1) having a hollow structure, an annular sealing member (2) attached to an outer circumferential surface of the mandrel (1) and being deformable by exerted pressure, and an annular socket (3) attached, adjacent to the annular sealing member (2), onto the outer circumferential surface of the mandrel (1), downstream of where a pressure is exerted on the sealing member (2). The annular socket (3) is configured to include a socket-inner portion (31) which comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the mandrel (1), and a socket-outer portion (32) in an annular shape having an inner diameter equivalent to or larger than that of the socket-inner portion (31) and movably attached to the socket-inner portion (31). The socket-outer portion (32) includes a face facing the sealing member (2).