Fracturing Tool Valve Mechanism for Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gravel packing and fracturing tools often experience well swabbing issues when picking up the inner string, leading to a drop in formation pressure due to fluid loss, as flapper valves either fail to remain open or are inadvertently closed, causing significant pressure reduction during operations.
Innovation Solution
The tool incorporates a multi-acting circulation valve and j-slot mechanism that allows deliberate switching between squeeze and circulation modes, ensuring the wash pipe valve remains open until a predetermined force is applied for a specific time, and uses a lockable sleeve to control gravel exit ports, preventing fluid loss and allowing acid injection during packer setting and production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a flapper valve is used in the wash pipe to prevent fluid loss, then fluid loss is reduced, but the valve may be inadvertently closed during tool pickup causing well swabbing
Solution Approach 1:
A retaining sleeve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the flapper valve and the tool assembly. The retaining sleeve holds the flapper valve in the open position during tool pickup operations, preventing inadvertent closure while allowing the valve to close properly when needed. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by providing reliable position control without causing fluid loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining sleeve is pre-configured to maintain the flapper valve in the open position before tool pickup occurs. By establishing the valve's open state in advance and maintaining it throughout the pickup operation, the system prevents well swabbing before it can occur, while still allowing controlled closure when required.
2Ease of operation
If the shear pin setting is lowered to ensure the sleeve moves when needed, then the flapper valve can be released, but the valve is often inadvertently sheared causing swabbing
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining sleeve serves as an intermediary that protects the shear pin mechanism from inadvertent activation during normal operations. It maintains stable valve position while allowing controlled release when properly actuated, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and position stability.
3Loss of substance
If the wash pipe valve is closed to prevent fluid loss during pickup, then fluid loss is reduced, but formation pressure drops due to swabbing
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining sleeve acts as an intermediary that maintains the wash pipe valve in the open position during tool pickup operations. This prevents formation pressure drop by allowing fluid communication while still preventing fluid loss through the valve's controlled closure when needed, resolving the contradiction between fluid loss prevention and pressure maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A fracturing and gravel packing tool has features that prevent well swabbing when the tool is picked up with respect to a set isolation packer. An upper or jet valve allows switching between the squeeze and circulation positions without risk of closing the wash pipe valve. The wash pipe valve can only be closed with multiple movements in opposed direction that occur after a predetermined force is held for a finite time to allow movement that arms the wash pipe valve. The jet valve can prevent fluid loss to the formation when being set down whether the crossover tool is supported on the packer or on the smart collet.