Downhole Tool Composite Wedge Mandrel Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional downhole tools face challenges in wellbore isolation due to degradation under extreme downhole conditions, poor sealing efficiency, and difficulty in removal, leading to increased operational costs and time, especially in horizontal orientations and high-pressure environments.
Innovation Solution
A downhole tool comprising a wedge mandrel made of composite filament wound material, a fingered member, and a seal element, with components that can react to downhole conditions such as pressure and temperature changes, allowing for self-actuation and easier drill-through, reducing the need for intervention services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional downhole tools are used, then they can provide basic wellbore isolation, but they degrade under extreme downhole conditions (high pressure, temperature, horizontal orientations)
Solution Approach 1:
The tool incorporates a composite structure with a body made of drillable material (such as cement or other removable materials) and a seal element made of elastomeric or polymeric material. This composite approach allows the body to be easily removed while the seal element provides reliable sealing under extreme downhole conditions including high pressure, temperature, and horizontal orientations.
2Strength
If conventional tools with metal components are used, then they provide structural strength, but they increase the time and cost for removal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The tool body is designed to be made of drillable material that can be easily removed by drilling operations, eliminating the need for complex retrieval operations required for metal components. This disposable approach to the body structure significantly reduces removal time and operational costs, while the seal element can be designed to remain or be separately retrieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is segmented into distinct components: a removable body made of drillable material and a seal element made of durable elastomeric or polymeric material. This segmentation allows the body to be easily drilled out while the seal element provides lasting sealing functionality, optimizing both installation and removal processes.
3Reliability
If conventional sealing mechanisms are used, then they can seal against tubulars, but they fail to seal against formation under high pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is designed with specific material properties (elastomeric or polymeric) that allow it to deform and adapt to varying pressure conditions, including high pressures from fracturing operations. The seal element can be actuated to engage with both the tubular and formation, maintaining sealing effectiveness across a range of pressure conditions through material property optimization.
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 provides a reliable and resilient seal, facilitates faster and more economical wellbore isolation, and reduces the time and energy required for removal, while being suitable for high-pressure and horizontal orientations.
Implementation Method 1
the tool or device is made of a reactive material that degrades in response to downhole conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole tool suitable for use in a wellbore that includes a wedge mandrel having a distal end; a proximate end; an outer surface; and a flowbore. The tool includes a fingered member disposed around the wedge mandrel. The tool includes a ball seat insert disposed in the flowbore, as well as a support platform disposed in the flowbore.