Elastic Seal Disintegration in Downhole Tools

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing complexity of well drilling conditions, particularly at greater depths, necessitates a well treatment method that reduces costs and shortens processes by enabling efficient release and removal of seal members for downhole tools and securing flow paths during hydrocarbon resource extraction.

Innovation Solution

A well treatment method involving the use of a seal member made from an elastic material that disintegrates when contacted with a well treatment fluid, such as acids, alkalis, or organic solvents, allowing for controlled release and removal of downhole tools, thereby reducing the need for costly and time-consuming retrieval or destruction methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If seal members are made from elastic material to ensure sealing performance, then sealing reliability is improved, but removal and release becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidtime for removal and release

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic material is pre-formulated with specific polymer compositions (natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers) and additives that enable controlled disintegration when exposed to well treatment fluids. This preliminary design allows the seal to maintain integrity during operation but automatically degrade after serving its purpose, eliminating manual removal time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member's chemical composition parameters are specifically selected to respond to well treatment fluid conditions (acids, alkalis, organic solvents). The material parameters change from stable and intact during sealing operation to disintegrating and removable after treatment, enabling automatic release without additional time investment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If seal members are made from elastic material to ensure sealing performance, then sealing reliability is improved, but operational costs increase due to retrieval or destruction methods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidoperational costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The seal member is designed as a disposable component made from cost-effective elastic materials that can be easily replaced. After serving its sealing function, the seal automatically disintegrates when exposed to well treatment fluids, eliminating the need for expensive retrieval operations or mechanical destruction methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member performs self-service by automatically disintegrating and releasing itself when exposed to well treatment fluids. This self-release mechanism eliminates the need for additional retrieval operations, reducing operational costs associated with personnel, equipment, and time for seal removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the well treatment process includes seal release and tool removal steps, then complete well treatment is achieved, but process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete well treatmentVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal release function is extracted from the mechanical retrieval process and integrated into the chemical well treatment process itself. The seal automatically disintegrates when exposed to well treatment fluids, eliminating the need for separate mechanical removal steps and simplifying the overall process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If conventional retrieval or destruction methods are used for seal removal, then seal members can be removed, but the process is time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal removal capabilityVSAvoidtime for retrieval or destruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical retrieval or destruction system is replaced with a chemical disintegration system. The seal member is formulated to automatically break down when exposed to well treatment fluids (acids, alkalis, organic solvents), eliminating the need for mechanical retrieval operations and significantly reducing time and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This method enables the accelerated release of seals and removal of downhole tools, reducing operational expenses and shortening the well drilling process by allowing for controlled disintegration of the elastic material in response to varying downhole environments, thus enhancing production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

disintegrating an elastic material by contacting a seal member for downhole tools comprising an elastic material with a well treatment fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical disintegration: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS9879500B2Well treatment method by disintegrating elastic material by contacting seal member for downhole tools comprising elastic material with well treatment fluid

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 KUREHA CORPORATION

AI summary

A well treatment method characterized by disintegrating an elastic material by contacting a seal member for downhole tools comprising the elastic material with a well treatment fluid (acids such as hydrochloric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, and hydrofluoric acid, alkalis, hot water, steam, organic solvents, and the like).