Housing Running Tool Independent Sleeve Torque Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mineral extraction systems, particularly in subsea operations, the housing running tool may decouple from the housing before wash ports are fully closed due to insufficient torque, leading to a flow path remaining open between casings, which is detrimental to mineral extraction and lacks operator indication for corrective action.
Innovation Solution
The housing running tool is configured with an inner sleeve having an exterior threaded surface to rigidly couple with the housing and an outer sleeve with a key that engages a slot on the housing, allowing rotation of the housing without decoupling, ensuring all torque is transferred to the housing via the outer sleeve, maintaining the inner sleeve's coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the housing running tool uses a conventional coupling mechanism, then the tool can be assembled and disassembled easily, but the torque transferred to the housing is insufficient causing decoupling before wash ports are fully closed
Solution Approach 1:
The running tool is divided into two separate sleeves: an inner sleeve that provides axial support through threaded coupling with the housing, and an outer sleeve that provides rotational drive through key-slot engagement. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one function, enabling the outer sleeve to transfer full rotational torque to the housing without being constrained by the axial coupling requirements of the inner sleeve, thereby preventing decoupling during rotation operations.
2Ease of operation
If the housing running tool allows rotation during operation, then the wash ports can be closed properly, but the tool may decouple from the housing due to insufficient torque transfer
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the axial support function (inner sleeve with threads) from the rotational drive function (outer sleeve with key), the system enables reliable rotation during operation. The outer sleeve's key-slot engagement is specifically designed to handle rotational forces, allowing the housing to be rotated to close wash ports while the inner sleeve maintains axial positioning, thus preventing decoupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-sleeve design creates a dynamic system where the inner and outer sleeves can rotate independently relative to each other. The inner sleeve remains axially coupled to the housing while the outer sleeve rotates to drive the housing rotation, allowing the system to adapt to different operational phases (assembly, rotation, cementing) without losing coupling stability.
3Device complexity
If a single sleeve design is used, then the device structure is simpler, but it cannot provide both axial support and rotational torque transfer simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The running tool employs two distinct sleeves instead of a single sleeve: the inner sleeve with exterior threads provides axial support and positioning, while the outer sleeve with key engagement provides rotational torque transfer. This segmentation enables the device to perform multiple functions (axial support and rotational drive) simultaneously, enhancing versatility without requiring a single complex multi-functional component.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sleeve is nested within the outer sleeve, with the inner sleeve positioned inside the outer sleeve's interior cavity. This nested configuration allows both sleeves to coexist in a compact arrangement, enabling the device to achieve enhanced functionality through multiple components while maintaining a relatively compact overall structure.
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 configuration allows for the housing to be rotated in either direction without decoupling, ensuring the wash ports can be fully closed, maintaining the connection and preventing flow path openings, thus enhancing mineral extraction operations and providing operator confidence through clear indication of port states.
Implementation Method 1
an inner sleeve having an exterior threaded surface configured to engage an interior threaded surface of the housing to rigidly couple the inner sleeve to the housing
Implementation Method 2
an outer sleeve disposed about the inner sleeve and including a key configured to selectively engage a slot of the housing such that rotation of the outer sleeve drives the housing to rotate
Data Source
AI summary
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a housing running tool including an inner sleeve having a first mating surface configured to engage a second mating surface of a housing to rigidly couple the inner sleeve to the housing. The housing running tool also includes an outer sleeve disposed about the inner sleeve and configured to support the inner sleeve in an axial direction. The outer sleeve includes a first mounting feature configured to engage a second mounting feature of the housing such that substantially all torque applied to the housing running tool in a circumferential direction is transferred to the housing via the outer sleeve.