Fill-up and Circulation Tool Sealing Dynamics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fill-up and circulation tools in subterranean operations face challenges in maintaining a reliable seal and efficient fluid delivery during casing running and circulation operations, leading to potential casing damage and fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A fill-up and circulation tool featuring a central assembly with a mandrel, nose assembly, and an outer assembly coupled with a biasing member and valve that changes position between closed and open positions, utilizing an annular sealing channel to regulate pressure and facilitate fluid flow, ensuring proper sealing and fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circulating tool is removed from the casing to restart the fill-up operation, then air can escape through the bore of the casing to prevent over-pressurizing, but the sealing capacity is lost and the operation cannot be continuously performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fill-up tool and circulation tool into a single integrated device. The tool includes a circulating assembly with a sealable bore that can function both as a fill-up tool (when the circulating assembly is retracted) and as a circulation tool (when the circulating assembly is extended and sealed). This eliminates the need to remove the tool between operations, allowing continuous operation while maintaining sealing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulating assembly is designed to be movable relative to the fill-up assembly, transitioning between retracted and extended positions. A sealable bore in the circulating assembly can be positioned to seal against the casing when in the extended position, creating a fluid communication path for circulation operations, and retracted when in the fill-up position. This dynamic configuration allows the single tool to perform both functions reliably.
2Reliability
If the circulating tool remains inserted in the casing, then sealing capacity is maintained, but fluid flow path is blocked and circulation cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating assembly transitions between retracted and extended positions to dynamically adjust the fluid flow path. When retracted, the sealable bore is positioned to seal against the casing, blocking the fluid path and maintaining sealing capacity for fill-up operations. When extended, the sealable bore seals against the casing while simultaneously opening a fluid communication path through the circulating assembly, enabling circulation operations without compromising sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is divided into distinct functional assemblies: a fill-up assembly and a circulating assembly. The circulating assembly includes a sealable bore that can be independently positioned and sealed. This segmentation allows the circulating assembly to create a dedicated fluid flow path when needed for circulation, while the fill-up assembly maintains the primary sealing function, thereby resolving the conflict between sealing capacity and fluid delivery efficiency.
3Productivity
If a single tool is used for both fill-up and circulation operations, then operational efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is designed as a universal device that can perform both fill-up and circulation operations. The fill-up assembly provides the primary function of filling the casing with fluid, while the circulating assembly can be extended and sealed to provide circulation functionality. This multi-functionality allows a single tool to replace two separate tools, improving operational efficiency despite the increased structural complexity of accommodating multiple functions in one device.
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 effectively maintains a seal and delivers fluids efficiently, preventing casing damage and fluid leakage by adjusting the sealing ratio based on pressure differences, allowing for safe and repeated use in subterranean operations.
Implementation Method 1
an outer assembly coupled to the central assembly including a biasing member disposed between a portion of the mandrel and an exterior sleeve and a valve configured to be biased to the closed position until a predetermined pressure difference is exceeded
Implementation Method 2
an annular sealing channel between a surface of the central assembly and an interior surface of the outer assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A fill-up and circulation tool includes a central assembly including a mandrel, a nose assembly disposed at a terminal end of the mandrel, an outer assembly coupled to the central assembly, and a valve configured to change position between a closed position and an open position, wherein changing position between the closed position and the open position includes movement of the outer assembly relative to the central assembly.