Downhole Tool Expander Ring for Borehole Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for establishing contact or proximity with the borehole wall in oil and gas exploration are inefficient, affecting tool durability, cost, and complexity, particularly in drilling and wireline environments.
Innovation Solution
A downhole tool equipped with an expander ring that can be rotated to increase its outer profile for engaging the borehole wall, facilitating sensor measurements and fluid sampling, and then reduced in profile to allow for tool movement, utilizing an asymmetric wall thickness and actuation mechanisms like motors and gear interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the tool maintains constant contact with the borehole wall for sensor measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but tool mobility and ability to move between locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The expander ring is designed to be dynamically changeable between expanded and retracted states. When expanded, it provides stable contact with the borehole wall for accurate sensor measurements. When retracted, it allows the tool to move freely between locations. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between maintaining measurement accuracy and preserving tool mobility.
2Measurement precision
If the tool maintains constant contact with the borehole wall, then data collection quality is improved, but tool durability deteriorates due to increased wear and operational constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The expander ring operates periodically, expanding only when measurement or sampling operations are required and retracting during tool movement between locations. This periodic engagement minimizes cumulative wear on the expander ring and borehole wall, thereby improving tool durability while maintaining high-quality data collection during active measurement phases.
3Device complexity
If the tool uses a fixed profile design, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different operational modes (measurement vs. movement) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The expander ring provides a simple yet effective dynamic mechanism that transforms the tool between two operational states: expanded for measurement/sampling and retracted for movement. This dynamic component adds minimal complexity while enabling significant operational versatility, allowing the same tool to adapt to different operational modes without requiring multiple specialized tools.
Data Source
AI summary
In at least some embodiments, a downhole tool includes a tool body defining a tool centerline, and a recessed ring guide intermediate to ends of the tool body. The downhole tool also includes an expander ring having an asymmetric wall thickness and rotatable around the recessed ring guide between a reduced tool profile orientation and an expanded tool profile orientation. The downhole tool also includes an actuator configured to rotate the expander ring between the reduced profile orientation and the expanded profile orientation.