Expandable Device Pyrotechnic Jacket Expansion Well Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expandable devices for well annulus insulation face issues such as defective connections, potential liner fracture or explosion due to over-expansion, and mechanical weakness from drilling openings, which compromise sealing effectiveness and increase manufacturing costs and time.
Innovation Solution
An expandable device featuring a tubular conduit with a coaxial cylindrical jacket connected leaktight to the pipe, utilizing a pyrotechnic gas-generating charge within a gas generator to deform the jacket beyond its elastic limit without pressurized liquid, with non-return valves controlling pressure release to prevent over-expansion and ensure secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressurized liquid is used to deform the jacket, then the jacket can be expanded to seal the annulus, but the connection may defect or the jacket may fracture causing harmful fluid communication
Solution Approach 1:
A controlled opening is provided in the jacket at a predetermined location to allow excess pressurized fluid to escape. This prevents dangerous over-pressurization that could cause jacket fracture or explosion, while still allowing the jacket to expand sufficiently to seal the annulus effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
A controlled opening acts as an intermediary pressure relief mechanism between the pressurized fluid system and the jacket structure. It provides a safe path for excess fluid to escape, mediating the pressure buildup to prevent catastrophic failure while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If openings are drilled in the pipe for fluid communication, then the jacket can be expanded, but the pipe mechanical resistance to traction and torsion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid communication openings are extracted from the pipe itself and relocated to the jacket structure. The controlled opening is formed in the jacket rather than drilling into the pipe, thereby maintaining the pipe's mechanical integrity while still enabling jacket expansion through fluid communication.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drilling operations are performed to create fluid communication, then the jacket can be activated, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid communication opening is extracted from the pipe and relocated to the jacket, where it can be formed as part of the jacket manufacturing process rather than requiring separate drilling operations on the assembled pipe-jacket structure. This integrates the opening creation into the jacket fabrication, reducing overall manufacturing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled opening is combined with the jacket structure itself, forming an integrated component during jacket manufacturing. This merging of the opening feature into the jacket fabrication process eliminates the need for separate drilling and modification operations, reducing manufacturing steps and time.
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 enables deformation of the jacket without pressurized liquid, enhances sealing effectiveness by preventing liner collapse, and reduces manufacturing complexity and costs by eliminating the need for drilling openings, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of well annulus insulation.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrotechnic charge which, when activated, generates in said space a pressure P1 sufficient to deform said jacket beyond its elastic deformation
Implementation Method 2
deform said jacket beyond its elastic deformation
Implementation Method 3
a first non-return valve authorizing a fluid passage only in the outside direction of said expandable jacket towards the inside of the gas generator
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
The present invention concerns an expandable device, in particular for hydraulic fracturing, that comprises: - a tubular conduit (1); - and, against the outer face of same, a coaxial expandable cylindrical sleeve (20), the opposing ends of which are sealingly linked to said outer face; said tubular conduit (1) thus delimiting, with said sleeve (20), a sealed space (E), the portion of the conduit (1) located opposite said space (E) being free of means of fluid communication with said space (E), characterised by the fact that said space (E) receives a pyrotechnic charge (3) or is in fluid communication with a pyrotechnic charge (3) which, when activated, generates a pressure P1 in said space (E) that is sufficient to deform said sleeve (20) beyond the elastic deformation of same.