Drillable Casing Cleaning Tool with Fluid Cooling Channels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well cleaning tools face issues such as high-tensile components requiring additional time and effort to drill out, potential equipment failure due to small dimensions, temperature-induced degradation of scraper blades, and increased pressure waves that hinder well production.
Innovation Solution
A well cleaning tool with a drillable and optionally dissolvable design, featuring a resiliently deformable plate member and fluid channels to manage heat and debris, minimizing the 'plunger effect and extending the life of cleaning elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If compression springs and high-tensile components are used to outwardly bias cleaning elements, then the cleaning tool can withstand down-well operating forces, but additional time and effort are required to drill out the tool, and equipment failure may occur due to small dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from high-tensile steel to drillable material (such as aluminum alloy or composite materials), transforming the mechanical properties to enable easy drilling out while maintaining sufficient strength for down-well operations through alternative structural designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a disposable cleaning tool design where the entire tool body is made of drillable material that can be easily removed with standard drilling equipment, eliminating the need to drill out high-tensile components and reducing equipment failure risks
2Reliability
If mechanical scraping action is used to remove debris from casing walls, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but temperature increases causing degradation of scraper blades and wellbore stability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fluid jets directed at the casing wall to remove debris through hydraulic action rather than mechanical scraping, eliminating the friction-generated heat while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through high-velocity fluid streams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical scraping system with a fluid-based cleaning system, substituting the scraper blades that generate heat through friction with fluid jets that remove debris through hydraulic force and cavitation effects
3Reliability
If cleaning tools are lowered into the well to scrape debris, then debris removal is achieved, but pressure waves are generated that can render the well useless
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluid circulation systems to remove debris without requiring the tool to be lowered into the well, using upward-flowing fluid streams to carry debris to the surface while avoiding the plunger effect pressure waves associated with lowering tools
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 effectively removes debris, reduces operational costs, and prevents equipment failure by using a drillable material and fluid channels to manage heat and pressure, enhancing cleaning efficiency and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning element mounted on the elongate body and being displaceable with respect to the elongate body in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis, wherein the cleaning element comprises at least one fluid channel in fluid communication with the central fluid bore and extending through the cleaning element
Data Source
AI summary
A well cleaning tool (100) comprising: an elongate body (102) having a longitudinal axis; a central fluid bore (120) aligned with the longitudinal axis; and a cleaning element (110) mounted on the elongate body (102) and being displaceable with respect to the elongate body (102) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis, wherein the cleaning element (102) comprises at least one fluid channel (150) in fluid communication with the central fluid bore (120) and extending through the cleaning element (110) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis.