Expandable Sleeve Well Tool for Variable-Diameter Fluid Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore intervention tools face challenges in injecting fluid into unknown or multiple holes in a well bore without significantly reducing the inner diameter, and existing straddle packers cause restrictions in the production tubing.
Innovation Solution
A well tool device with an expandable sleeve and expanders that radially expand to accommodate different inner diameters, allowing fluid injection into known or unknown holes, and a control system to manage fluid pressure and expandability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If straddles or straddle packers are used to isolate water producing zones, then water production is reduced, but the inner diameter of the production tubing is reduced causing flow restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The packer employs a dynamic expandable sleeve that transitions from a compressed state during insertion to an expanded state during operation. This allows the packer to adapt its inner diameter from a small size (for passage through production tubing) to a large size (for isolating water zones without restricting flow), resolving the contradiction between isolation effectiveness and flow capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable sleeve is nested within the mandrel structure, with the sleeve containing a cavity that can be inflated. This nested configuration allows the packer to maintain a compact form factor for insertion while providing sufficient internal volume for effective zonal isolation without reducing the production tubing inner diameter.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing wellbore intervention tools are used to inject fluid into unknown holes, then fluid injection is achieved, but the inner diameter is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tool employs a dynamic expandable sleeve that remains compressed during tool deployment and insertion, then expands only when needed for fluid injection. This dynamic behavior allows the tool to pass through production tubing with minimal restriction while providing sufficient internal volume for effective fluid injection into unknown holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is divided into functionally independent segments: the mandrel for structural support and insertion, the expandable sleeve for fluid injection, and the expander mechanism for activation. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function without compromising the others, maintaining inner diameter during insertion while enabling effective fluid injection when activated.
3Device complexity
If a fixed diameter tool is used for fluid injection, then the structure is simple, but the tool cannot accommodate varying inner diameters of well bores
Solution Approach 1:
The tool incorporates a dynamic expandable sleeve that transitions between compressed and expanded states based on operational requirements. This dynamic structure provides adaptability to varying well bore inner diameters while maintaining relative structural simplicity through the use of a standard mandrel-sleeve-expander configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool changes its internal diameter parameter through the expansion and compression of the sleeve. By controlling the expansion parameter, the tool can adapt to different well bore sizes and injection requirements without changing the fundamental tool structure or mandrel design, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
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
Enables efficient fluid injection into well bores with varying diameters without reducing the inner diameter, allowing for precise sealing and minimizing fluid residue, and can be deployed using e-line technology to reduce operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable sleeve provided circumferentially outside of the mandrel; a first expander for moving a first side of the expandable sleeve between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state
Implementation Method 2
a control fluid system for controlling the fluid pressure in a first fluid compartment provided radially between the expandable sleeve and the mandrel
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a well tool device (1) for injecting an injection fluid (59) through a hole (H) in a well bore (WB). The well tool device (1) comprises a mandrel (10), an expandable sleeve (15) provided circumferentially outside of the mandrel (10), a first expander (30) for moving a first side (15a) of the expandable sleeve (15) between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state and a second expander (40) for moving a second side (15b) of the expandable sleeve (15) between a radially retracted state and a radially expanded state. The well tool device (10) also comprises an injection fluid system (50) comprising an injection fluid line (53) and a nozzle element (51), wherein the nozzle element (51) is providing fluid communication between the injection fluid line (53) and an outlet (51a) provided on the outside of the expandable sleeve (15). The well tool device (10) also comprises a control fluid system (60) for controlling the fluid pressure in a first fluid compartment (66) provided radially between the expandable sleeve (15) and the mandrel (10).