Electric Plunger Catcher Assembly Without Well-Pressure Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional catcher mechanisms for plungers in oil and gas wells rely on well fluid pressure, which can lead to environmentally harmful gas emissions, variable operation due to fluctuating pressure, and require frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An electrically operated catcher mechanism using a motor-driven actuator to control the movement of a catcher ball, eliminating the need for well fluid pressure and reducing emissions, with manual override for power failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional catcher mechanism uses well pressure to operate, then the mechanism can function without external power sources, but it causes environmentally harmful gas emissions and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pressure-driven mechanical system with an electric motor-driven actuator system. The electric motor provides controlled rotational motion to the actuator, which in turn moves the catcher ball between catch and release positions, eliminating the need for well pressure and associated gas emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the well pressure dependency from the catcher mechanism operation. By using an electric motor as the power source, the system separates the catching function from the well pressure environment, thereby eliminating harmful gas emissions associated with pressure-driven operation.
2Reliability
If a conventional catcher mechanism relies on well pressure for operation, then the structure can be simpler, but operation becomes variable due to fluctuating pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the pressure-dependent mechanical operation with an electrically-driven system. The electric motor provides consistent, controllable power regardless of well pressure fluctuations, ensuring reliable and consistent operation of the catcher mechanism under varying well conditions.
3Ease of repair
If a conventional catcher mechanism uses well pressure operation, then maintenance frequency can be reduced, but the system requires frequent maintenance anyway
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pressure-driven mechanical system with an electric motor-driven actuator. This substitution reduces maintenance requirements by eliminating wear associated with pressure-driven components and provides more reliable operation, thereby reducing the frequency of maintenance interventions.
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 electrically operated mechanism provides consistent and reliable plunger catching and releasing without gas emissions, reducing maintenance needs and operating independently of well pressure fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
A compression spring urges the ball inward against the plunger to hold the plunger within the lubricator
Implementation Method 2
An electric motor transforms electrical energy to mechanical energy to rotate the cam
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically operated catcher mechanism that is part of a lubricator and catcher unit used in conjunction with a bypass plunger in an oil or gas well include an electrically operated mechanism to move between the catch and release positions. The electrically operated catcher mechanism includes a cam rotated by a motor which causes the device to move between catch and release positions.