Elastomer Sleeve for Wellbore Tubular Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore tubular cement sheaths often fail to prevent fluid flow from reaching the surface due to strain loading and micro-annuli formation at the casing/cement interface, necessitating an effective sealing mechanism.
Innovation Solution
An elastomer sleeve is elastically stretched and snugly fitted onto the wellbore tubular without clamping, providing residual tension for secure placement and enhanced sealing, which is then surrounded by a cement sheath to prevent fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cement sheath is placed around wellbore tubular to prevent fluid flow, then sealing capability is improved, but strain loading and micro-annuli formation occur at the casing/cement interface
Solution Approach 1:
An elastomer sleeve is introduced as an intermediary layer between the wellbore tubular (casing) and the cement sheath. This sleeve acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the casing and cement, thereby eliminating the micro-annuli formation at the casing/cement interface while maintaining the sealing capability of the cement sheath.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible elastomer sleeve is used to create a compliant barrier between the rigid casing and cement sheath. The elastomer material can deform and conform to the casing surface, providing a continuous seal that prevents micro-annuli formation while allowing for thermal and pressure variations in the wellbore environment.
2Ease of manufacture
If elastomer sleeve is stretched and fitted snugly to wellbore tubular without clamping, then application simplicity is improved, but securing the sleeve in position becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer sleeve utilizes its elastic properties to transition from a stretched, removable state during installation to a contracted, secured state after installation. The dynamic behavior of the elastomer allows it to be easily stretched over the casing for simple application, then automatically contracts to provide securing force without requiring additional clamping mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer sleeve is designed to secure itself to the wellbore tubular through its own elastic recovery force. When stretched and placed over the casing, the sleeve automatically contracts and grips the casing surface, providing self-securing functionality without requiring external clamping devices, adhesives, or additional fastening operations.
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 elastomer sleeve effectively seals micro-annuli and reduces strain loading on the cement sheath, ensuring a reliable barrier against fluid flow to the surface, even without additional clamping or adhesive materials.
Implementation Method 1
bringing the elastomer sleeve in an elastically stretched condition, by applying a stretching force to the elastomer sleeve, whereby elastically stretching the elastomer sleeve in a circumferential direction
Implementation Method 2
a swellable packer has the ability to swell and seal off the microannulus
Data Source
AI summary
An elastomer sleeve is applied to a wellbore tubular. The elastomer sleeve, which defines a circumference around longitudinal bore in a longitudinal direction, is brought in an elastically stretched condition by applying a stretching force to the elastomer sleeve. While the elastomer sleeve is kept in the elastically stretched condition, it is moved in the longitudinal direction over the wellbore tubular to a selected position on the wellbore tubular whereby the wellbore tubular extends through the bore. The elastomer sleeve is then snuggly fitted to an outside surface of the wellbore tubular by relaxing the elastically stretching force. The thus prepared wellbore tubular may be lowered into a wellbore in the Earth, and cement may be pumped on the outside of the wellbore tubular to form a cement sheath which fully surrounds the elastomer sleeve.