Expandable Plug Assembly for Dynamic Underbalance Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The formation of shock damaged regions and loose debris in perforation tunnels impairs the productivity of production wells and injectivity of injector wells, as existing methods for manipulating wellbore pressure conditions to enhance debris removal and stimulation are not effective in confining these effects to a defined region of the wellbore.
Innovation Solution
A downhole tool assembly with a transient plug arrangement that includes expandable and collapsible plug elements, which are actuated to create a dynamic underbalance or overbalance effect, isolating a discrete segment of the wellbore to focus debris removal and stimulation efforts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressure manipulation is applied to remove debris from perforation tunnels, then debris removal effectiveness is improved, but the effect cannot be confined to a defined region of the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is divided into discrete isolated segments using expandable plug assemblies. Each plug assembly creates a sealed-off zone that allows pressure manipulation to be applied independently to specific intervals containing perforation tunnels, preventing the propagation of pressure effects to other regions of the wellbore.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug assemblies provide localized isolation with different properties at different locations. The plugs create sealed boundaries at specific wellbore intervals while allowing targeted pressure application only where needed, enabling debris removal to be focused on defined regions rather than affecting the entire wellbore.
2Power
If packers or plugs are positioned to isolate the interval, then the underbalance or overbalance effect is amplified and response is quicker, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug assemblies are designed with movable plug elements that can transition between collapsed and expanded states. This dynamic capability allows the plugs to be deployed and retrieved without requiring permanent installation, enabling quick response times while maintaining the ability to amplify pressure effects when isolated segments are created.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug assemblies utilize the existing wellbore geometry and pressure differentials to achieve isolation. The expandable plugs conform to the wellbore wall and create seals using the available space, reducing the need for additional complex sealing mechanisms or external support structures.
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 tool assembly effectively confines the dynamic underbalance or overbalance effect to a specific wellbore segment, enhancing debris removal and stimulation, thereby improving fluid communication and well performance by isolating the effects of the pressure manipulation to a defined area.
Implementation Method 1
A downhole tool assembly for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body carrying an explosive which is selectively detonated to create a dynamic underbalance or overbalance effect in the wellbore
Implementation Method 2
The underbalanced condition results in a suction force that will extract debris out of the perforation tunnels and fluid from the wellbore into the tube enabling the well to flow more effectively
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole tool assembly for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body carrying an explosive which is selectively detonated to create a dynamic underbalance or overbalance effect in the wellbore. The tubular body has opposite ends provided with plug assemblies including plug elements movable between a normally collapsed state and an actuable expanded state. The plug elements are adapted to be actuated to the expanded state between the tubular body and an outer extent of the wellbore before the creation of the dynamic underbalance or overbalance effect to isolate a discrete segment of the wellbore to which the dynamic underbalance or overbalance effect is confined.