Expandable Monobore Liner Barrier Sleeve Cementing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for securing a tubular to a casing during cementing often result in a sealed connection being compromised due to cement debris, requiring time-consuming and costly techniques to ensure cleanliness of the mounting location.
Innovation Solution
A barrier sleeve with an incompressible material is used to protect the mounting location, allowing cementing to occur while maintaining a sealed annular space, which is later drilled out to expose a recess for accurate positioning and expansion of the tubular, with optional features like a sliding sleeve valve for fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cementing is performed without protection, then cementing efficiency is improved, but the mounting location becomes contaminated with cement debris compromising the sealed connection
Solution Approach 1:
A barrier sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the cementing operation and the mounting location. The sleeve allows cement to be pumped through it while preventing cement debris from contaminating the mounting area where the tubular will later be attached, thus maintaining both cementing efficiency and connection quality
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier sleeve is installed in advance before cementing operations. This preliminary action protects the mounting location during cementing, eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning operations and ensuring the area is ready for tubular attachment when needed
2Reliability
If brushes and scrapers are run into the mounting location after cementing, then the sealed connection quality is improved, but the operational time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier sleeve performs the protection function in advance during cementing operations, eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning operations with brushes and scrapers. This preliminary protective action saves significant operational time while ensuring the mounting location remains clean for tubular attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier sleeve is removed (drilled out) after it has served its protective purpose during cementing. This extraction eliminates the need for cleaning operations, as the sleeve itself is removed rather than cleaned, and the mounting location remains uncontaminated
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 ensures a clean and sealed attachment of the tubular to the casing, reducing the risk of cement contamination and allowing for efficient expansion and cementing in a single or two trips, thereby minimizing operational time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
This allows the barrier sleeve to be compliant to changes in hydrostatic pressure as the casing is lowered into place
Data Source
AI summary
A liner is inserted in the casing and is preferably expanded into sealing contact with the mounting location on the casing. After expansion a cement retainer positioned at the bottom of the expanded liner and the sliding sleeve located either above the mounting location of the liner in the casing shoe or in the liner below the mounted top section allow cement to be delivered outside the expanded liner and the displaced wellbore fluid to return into the casing through so that the liner can be cemented. The cement retainer can be delivered with either the liner or the expansion tools to allow expansion and cementing in a single trip. A shifting tool can be run on the expansion string to actuate the sliding sleeve and if necessary to allow for cement to be pumped from the drill string into the annulus through the sliding sleeve. The cement retainer can be milled out in a separate trip.