Expandable Open-Hole Anchor With Bowing Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an open-hole anchor that can pass through previous casing liners in a borehole, expand to engage the larger inner diameter of the open-hole borehole, and securely hold an expandable tubular in place both axially and rotationally during the expansion process, while being small enough to navigate through existing casing and large enough to provide sufficient frictional engagement.
Innovation Solution
An anchoring device with an expandable tubular and bands on its outer surface, where the bands bow radially outward as the tubular shortens in length, allowing them to engage the borehole wall and provide stable anchoring, with different lengths of bands contributing to varying degrees of expansion and contact points for enhanced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the anchor outer diameter is increased to provide sufficient frictional engagement with the open-hole borehole, then anchoring stability is improved, but the ability to pass through previous casing liners deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor is designed with expandable bands that can dynamically change their outer diameter. The bands are initially in a collapsed state with small diameter to pass through casing, then expand to large diameter for anchoring. This dynamic size change resolves the contradiction between needing small size for insertion and large size for anchoring stability
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable bands are nested within the tubular structure in a collapsed configuration, allowing the entire anchor assembly to fit through smaller casing diameters. Once deployed, the bands expand outward from this nested state to engage the borehole wall, providing the necessary anchoring stability without requiring the anchor to maintain a large diameter throughout insertion
2Ease of operation
If the anchor outer diameter is decreased to pass through previous casing, then ease of insertion is improved, but frictional engagement capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor transitions from a small-diameter collapsed state during insertion to a large-diameter expanded state during anchoring. This dynamic transformation allows the anchor to easily pass through casing while subsequently providing sufficient frictional engagement with the borehole wall
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor utilizes radial expansion to increase its outer diameter after insertion. By changing the dimension in the radial direction rather than requiring a large diameter from the outset, the anchor achieves both easy insertion through small casing and strong frictional engagement with the borehole
3Shape
If the tubular length is reduced during expansion, then radial expansion capability is improved, but axial stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bands are designed to buckle and change shape radially as the tubular expands. This dynamic shape change allows the bands to engage the borehole wall radially while the overall tubular structure maintains sufficient axial length to prevent longitudinal movement
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor is divided into multiple discrete bands rather than a continuous structure. This segmentation allows individual bands to buckle and expand radially independently, providing radial expansion capability while the distributed arrangement of multiple bands along the tubular maintains axial stability
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 solution allows for effective anchoring of the expandable tubular within the borehole by expanding radially outward, providing sufficient frictional engagement and stability during the expansion process, while being compact enough to pass through previous casing and adapt to the larger open-hole diameter.
Implementation Method 1
as the expandable tubular shortens in length in response to the expansion of the tubular
Implementation Method 2
The anchor must provide adequate frictional engagement between the expandable tubular and the inner diameter of the borehole to stabilize the expandable tubular against longitudinal axial movement
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~3B
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for expanding an anchoring device (100) in a borehole. In one aspect, an anchoring device is provided. The anchoring device includes an expandable tubular (125). The anchoring device further includes a plurality of bands (155) disposed on an outer surface of the expand¬ able tubular. Each band is attached to the tubular at a first connection point (160) and a second connection point (160), wherein each band is configured to bow radially outward as the expandable tubular shortens in length in response to the expansion of the tubular. In a further aspect, a method of attaching an anchoring device in a borehole is provided.