Drill String Cleaning Tool With Magnetic Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wellbore cleaning methods require multiple trips, leaving the formation exposed and inefficient, as they necessitate separate drill and clean-up strings, with existing tools limited in cleaning distance and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method and tool design that integrates cleaning members with magnets to retain them during drilling, allowing for selective activation during the drilling trip, enabling simultaneous drilling and cleaning with a single trip using a drill string equipped with interchangeable sub-assemblies like scraper, milling, and brushing tools, activated by fluid pressure and magnetic repulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate work string is run in after the drill string to clean the wellbore, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the total time for the operation increases significantly requiring at least two trips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drilling function and cleaning function into a single integrated tool assembly that can be deployed on one trip. The cleaning members (scrapers, brushes, or millings) are incorporated into the drill string itself, allowing simultaneous drilling and cleaning operations, thereby eliminating the need for a separate work string trip while maintaining effective cleaning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The drill string is designed with multi-functional capability by incorporating cleaning members that can be activated during or after drilling. The same drill string performs both drilling and cleaning functions, making it a universal tool that eliminates the need for dedicated separate equipment for each function
2Reliability
If the drill string is pulled out to install a clean up work string, then cleaning can be performed, but the formation is left exposed creating potential problems
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning members are pre-positioned on the drill string and can be activated to clean the wellbore before the drill string is completely removed. This preliminary cleaning action ensures the formation is protected and the wellbore is prepared while the drill string is still in place, avoiding the harmful effects of leaving the formation exposed
3Reliability
If cleaning members are extended during drilling, then cleaning can occur, but debris and formation particulates can ingress into the tool
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning members are designed with dynamic deployment capability, allowing them to be extended only when needed for cleaning and retracted when not in use. This dynamic configuration minimizes the exposure of internal tool components to debris and formation particulates during drilling operations, reducing ingress risks while maintaining cleaning effectiveness when activated
4Reliability
If a fixed distance scraper is used ahead of the packer, then cleaning is possible, but only a portion of the casing is cleaned and debris is pushed into the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning tool is segmented into multiple cleaning members positioned at different locations along the drill string. This segmentation allows different sections of the wellbore to be cleaned by different members, increasing overall cleaning coverage. The members can be spaced to address various zones, ensuring comprehensive cleaning rather than limited to a fixed distance ahead of one packer
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
Enables efficient and comprehensive wellbore cleaning during a single drilling trip, reducing exposure time and improving cleaning effectiveness while minimizing tool complexity and weight, maintaining fluid circulation and preventing debris ingress.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning members of the cleaning sub assembly according to the invention are retained in the stowed position by provision of magnets associated therewith
Implementation Method 2
selective activation during the drilling trip, enabling simultaneous drilling and cleaning with a single trip using a drill string equipped with interchangeable sub-assemblies like scraper, milling, and brushing tools, activated by fluid pressure and magnetic repulsion
Implementation Method 3
activated by fluid pressure and magnetic repulsion
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2a~2e
Figure 3a~3e
AI summary
A method of drilling and cleaning a wellbore while rotating the drill string after full drilling depth is reached without running the drill string out the bore to install a clean up work string is disclosed wherein a drill string having a drill bit at one end includes at least one near bit selectively activatable cleaning tool (10, 11, 12) mounted within the length of the drill string, said cleaning tool having a cleaning member (18) adapted to be moved from a close fitting stowed configuration within a recess (17) to a deployed configuration upon a body of the tool, wherein the cleaning member has magnets (19, 43) for use in positioning thereof, and compact tools for scraping, milling and brushing with improved resistance to ingress of detritus, debris and formation particulates are disclosed.