Downhole Tool Slip Insert with Drillable Hole
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional downhole tools used for wellbore isolation face challenges such as pre-setting, poor sealing, difficulty in drilling through due to metallic components, and accumulation of debris, which hinders efficient operation and retrieval, especially under extreme wellbore conditions of high pressure and temperature.
Innovation Solution
A downhole tool system utilizing a composite member with a deformable and resilient portion, made of filament wound material, that expands radially to form a seal and is designed for easy drill-through, featuring a mandrel with shear threads and slips with gripping elements to securely engage the tubular, allowing for reliable sealing and efficient removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional metallic slips and seals are used in downhole tools, then the tool can withstand high pressure and temperature conditions, but the tool becomes difficult to drill through and requires more time for removal
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into two distinct parts: a metallic setting mechanism (slips, cone, seal assembly) that remains in the wellbore to provide anchoring and sealing functions, and a composite body that is easily drillable. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the metal parts for durability under extreme conditions and the composite parts for easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite body is designed as a disposable component that can be easily drilled through and discarded after use. Since the composite material is not reusable but serves its purpose effectively during the fracing operation, this approach reduces the time and cost associated with drilling through durable metallic components.
2Reliability
If metallic components are used in the downhole tool, then the tool provides durable sealing and anchoring, but the tool accumulates debris and is harder to retrieve
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the tool into a metallic setting mechanism and a composite body, the design allows the metal slips and seal to remain anchored in the wellbore providing reliable sealing and anchoring functions, while the composite body can be easily retrieved or drilled through without accumulating significant debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite materials for the tool body provides a balance between durability during operation and ease of removal. The composite material is sufficiently strong to withstand the fracing operation but can be easily drilled through, reducing debris accumulation and simplifying retrieval operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the tool is made entirely of drillable composite material, then the tool is easy to drill through, but the tool may lack the strength to withstand extreme wellbore conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is segmented into a composite body for easy drill-through and metallic components (slips, cone, seal assembly) for withstanding extreme conditions. This allows each material to be used where it provides the most benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool utilizes both composite materials (for the body) and metallic materials (for the setting mechanism) to combine the advantages of easy drillability with the strength and durability needed to withstand high pressure and temperature wellbore conditions.
4Force
If conventional metallic slips are used, then the slips provide strong gripping engagement, but the slips are difficult to remove and may pre-set under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The slips are separated from the main tool body and designed as removable metallic components that can be easily detached and removed from the wellbore after the fracing operation, reducing time loss and eliminating the risk of pre-setting issues associated with integrated metallic structures.
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 system provides a reliable and resilient seal, facilitates faster and easier drill-through, and reduces the risk of pre-setting, enabling efficient wellbore isolation and production operations under extreme conditions while being cost-effective and smaller in size.
Implementation Method 1
the deformable portion may be urged radially outward and into engagement the surrounding tubular
Implementation Method 2
the resilient portion may be compressed axially
Implementation Method 3
slips with gripping elements to securely engage the tubular
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole tool having a mandrel and a slip. The mandrel has a mandrel body having a proximate end; a distal end; and an outer surface. The slip has a slip body; and an outer slip surface. The outer slip surface is configured with an insert bore, and an insert disposed therein. The insert has an outward most insert face that includes a hole.