Flexible Joint Guide Device for Wellbore Obstruction Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireline logging tools often get held up on ledges in wellbores due to the lack of control during descent, leading to delays and potential damage, especially in deviated wells where obstacles are more frequent and prior art solutions are complex, heavy, and require active monitoring or impact-based navigation.

Innovation Solution

A guide device with a lightweight mandrel and flexible joint that allows angular displacement, combined with a centralising device to position the tip near or above the wellbore centerline, enabling the tool string to navigate past obstructions without impact and maintaining momentum, and is designed to be simple, drillable, and easy to maintain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If wireline logging tools are lowered by gravity alone, then deployment speed is improved, but control over descent is lost leading to holdup on ledges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidcontrol over descent

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is attached to the tool string before deployment, with the tip positioned to protrude forward. This preliminary positioning allows the tip to engage with ledges and obstructions before the main tool string reaches them, preventing holdup while maintaining gravity-driven descent speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device acts as an intermediary between the tool string and wellbore obstructions. The tip protrudes from the tool string to interact with ledges, transferring the interaction forces through the mandrel and joint mechanism, thereby protecting the main tool string from direct contact with obstructions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If impact-based navigation is used to overcome ledges, then passage through obstructions is achieved, but tool string momentum is lost and damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassage through obstructionsVSAvoidmomentum loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The tip is positioned to engage ledges in advance, allowing the tool string to follow the path created by the tip rather than impacting directly. This preliminary engagement guides the tool string smoothly over obstructions, maintaining momentum and reducing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible joint and mandrel assembly act as a cushioning mechanism between the tool string and ledge impacts. The joint allows angular displacement to absorb impact forces, protecting the tool string from damage while maintaining continuous descent motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex hole finding devices with rollers are used, then ledge navigation capability is improved, but device weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveledge navigation capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential function needed for ledge navigation - a protruding tip to engage obstructions - rather than using complex roller assemblies. This simplified approach maintains ledge navigation capability while dramatically reducing device complexity and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device is segmented into simple functional components: a tip, mandrel, and flexible joint. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function (engagement, transmission, accommodation) while keeping the overall device simple and lightweight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Strength

If metal components are used in the guide device, then strength and durability are improved, but drillability is lost if the device is lost in the wellbore

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent strengthVSAvoiddrillability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tip is made from composite material that combines the strength needed for ledge engagement with the drillability required for easy removal if lost. This composite construction allows the device to withstand impact forces while being removable by standard drilling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11371296B2Guide device

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 PETROMAC IP

AI summary

A guide device for a tool string to guide the tool string down a wellbore, the guide device comprising: a coupling to connect the guide device to an end of a tool string, a mandrel and a tip at a leading end of the mandrel, a centralising device supported by the mandrel, and a joint (a flexible joint or articulation joint) between the mandrel and the coupling allowing angular displacement of the mandrel relative to the tool string so that the tip can displace from a longitudinal axis of the tool string.