Blowout Preventer Packing Assembly with Extendable Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior annular blowout preventers face challenges in properly sealing around equipment of varying sizes due to fixed-sized metal inserts, which can either fail to seal or damage the equipment during actuation.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of extendable tip assemblies in the packing elements allows for adjustable metal inserts that can change their effective size during actuation, ensuring a proper seal regardless of the equipment size, while preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed-sized metal inserts are used in packing elements, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sealing effectiveness deteriorates when equipment sizes vary
Solution Approach 1:
The metal insert is designed with an extendable tip assembly that can change its effective size dynamically. The tip includes a movable member that extends or retracts based on the size of the equipment, allowing the packing element to adapt to different equipment diameters while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the metal insert by making the tip extendable. This allows the insert to adjust its dimensions to match different equipment sizes, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure and variable sealing requirements.
2Device complexity
If fixed-sized metal inserts are used in packing elements, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different equipment sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal insert incorporates a movable member that can extend or retract, transforming a static component into a dynamic one. This allows the same insert to adapt to different equipment sizes without requiring multiple fixed-size inserts, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The extendable tip assembly enables a single metal insert design to serve multiple equipment sizes. By making the tip extendable, one insert can function universally across different equipment diameters, reducing the need for multiple specialized inserts.
3Device complexity
If fixed-sized metal inserts are used in packing elements, then the structure is simple, but equipment damage risk increases during actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The extendable tip with movable member allows the metal insert to dynamically adjust its size to match the equipment. This prevents the insert from being too large and potentially damaging the equipment during actuation, while maintaining structural simplicity through a controlled extension mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the tip extendable, the invention changes the size parameter of the metal insert to match the equipment dimensions. This ensures the insert is neither too large (causing damage) nor too small (failing to seal), thereby eliminating equipment damage risk while keeping the structure simple.
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 solution ensures reliable sealing of the annulus in the wellbore across different equipment sizes without causing damage, enhancing the operational flexibility and effectiveness of the annular blowout preventers.
Implementation Method 1
a packing element that comprises a plurality of metal inserts embedded within an annular elastomeric unit
Implementation Method 2
The insert comprises an extendable tip assembly configured to extend a movable member away from the rigid insert
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A blowout preventer is disclosed that includes a housing defining a central passage. The central passage is configured to receive a tubular string therethrough. In addition, the blowout preventer includes a packing element disposed in the central passage. The packing element includes an elastomeric member, and a rigid insert mounted to the elastomeric member. The insert includes an extendable tip assembly configured to extend a movable member away from the rigid insert.