Heat-Activated Liner Hanger Locking Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liner hangers in the resource recovery industry, activated by hydraulic cylinders, present potential leak paths during wellbore production, which can compromise the integrity of the liner attachment.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method utilizing a downhole member with a potential energy source and a locking device that is constrained by a heat-sensitive mechanism, allowing the energy source to activate the component upon temperature change, enabling secure attachment of the liner to a casing without hydraulic leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydraulic cylinders are used to activate the liner hanger, then the liner hanger can be deployed, but potential leak paths are created during wellbore production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak preventionVSAvoidactivation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the hydraulic cylinder and all associated hydraulic components from the system. Instead, it uses a purely mechanical spring-based potential energy source that is constrained by a thermal locking device, eliminating the source of potential leaks while maintaining the deployment function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the hydraulic activation system with a mechanical spring-based system. The spring stores potential energy mechanically, and the thermal locking device uses heat to change state and release the constraint, allowing the spring to deploy the liner hanger without any hydraulic fluid pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a thermal locking device is used to constrain the potential energy source, then hydraulic leaks are prevented, but heat activation is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak preventionVSAvoidactivation method

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device utilizes changes in material properties with temperature. The material transitions from a constrained state at lower temperatures to an unlocked state when heated, providing a reliable and simple activation method that eliminates leaks while maintaining ease of operation through thermal response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional hydraulic activation is used, then the liner hanger can be deployed, but the integrity of the liner attachment is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliner attachment integrityVSAvoidactivation system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes all hydraulic components including cylinders, seals, and fluid pathways from the activation system. This elimination of hydraulic elements directly prevents potential leak paths that would compromise liner attachment integrity, while the mechanical spring system provides sufficient deployment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the hydraulic activation system with a mechanical spring-based potential energy source. This replacement eliminates fluid pathways and potential leak points, ensuring liner attachment integrity is maintained while achieving deployment through purely mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution effectively prevents hydraulic leaks by using a heat-activated locking mechanism to deploy the liner hanger, ensuring reliable and leak-proof attachment within the wellbore, enhancing the stability and safety of the liner hanger system.

Implementation Method 1

a heat source. The locking device constrains the potential energy source from activating the component when the locking device is in a first state. The heat source changes the locking device from the first state to a second state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11326411B2Thermal activation of liner hanger for elastomer-less completion

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

An apparatus and method for placing a member in a wellbore. The apparatus includes member conveyable downhole, a component of the member configured to perform an action in the wellbore, a potential energy source, a locking device and a heat source. The potential energy source is capable of activating the component. The locking device constrains the potential energy source from activating the component when the locking device is in a first state. The heat source changes the locking device from the first state to a second state in which the locking device allows the potential energy source to activate the component.