Hydraulic Anchoring Assembly for Insertable Progressing Cavity Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insertable progressing cavity pumps (I-PCPs) face challenges in anchoring and sealing within wells due to the limitations of mechanical packers and slips, including corrosion, surface damage, and the need for a pump seating nipple (PSN), which can be damaged and is not retrofittable, and requires significant force for deployment, especially in deep or deviated wells.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic anchoring assembly that uses inflatable packers and hydraulic slips for anchoring and sealing, with a fluid restriction mechanism to create a pressure differential for inflation, allowing deployment without a PSN and accommodating deep or deviated well conditions by using a cup seal to assist in deployment and maintaining grip with a hydraulic slip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical packers and slips are used for anchoring and sealing, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but they suffer from corrosion, surface damage, and require a pump seating nipple that can be damaged and is not retrofittable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical packers and slips with inflatable packers that use fluid pressure to expand and seal against the wellbore wall. This substitution eliminates the corrosion and surface damage issues associated with mechanical contact while maintaining anchoring and sealing functions through pneumatic expansion of the inflatable elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inflatable packers that are inflated with fluid pressure to achieve sealing and anchoring. The inflatable elements expand radially to contact the wellbore wall, creating a reliable seal without requiring mechanical engagement or a pump seating nipple, thereby improving reliability while reducing structural complexity.
2Force
If a pump seating nipple is used for deployment, then anchoring can be achieved, but significant force is required that can damage the PSN and is not suitable for deep or deviated wells
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable packers are deployed in a compressed state during insertion, then inflated after reaching the target position. This preliminary compression allows the assembly to be inserted without requiring high deployment force, and the inflation occurs at the desired location, making the system suitable for deep and deviated wells while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static mechanical engagement to a dynamic inflatable system. The packers can be inflated to different pressures as needed, allowing flexible adjustment of anchoring force without damaging components. This dynamic capability enables reliable deployment in various well conditions including deep and deviated wells where high force would be required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical packers are used, then anchoring is achieved through mechanical engagement, but they lack compliance and are prone to corrosion and surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inflatable packers made of flexible materials that can conform to the wellbore geometry. These flexible shells expand radially to create a compliant seal that adapts to the wellbore surface, eliminating the corrosion and surface damage issues associated with rigid mechanical packers while improving adaptability to various well conditions.
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 hydraulic anchoring assembly provides reliable anchoring and sealing for I-PCPs without a PSN, enabling efficient pumping in various well conditions, including deep and deviated wells, with improved compliance and reduced risk of damage, and allows for hydraulic pump-down assistance to prevent sucker rod buckling.
Implementation Method 1
the inflatable packer being inflated by increasing pressure of fluids within the inner mandrel above an inflate pressure to seal the inner mandrel to the well
Implementation Method 2
a fluid restriction (typically in the form of one or more cup seals) located upstream of the or all of the inflatable packers, to provide a pressure differential sufficient to cause inflation of the or each inflatable packers
Implementation Method 3
the hydraulic slip being activated by further increasing pressure of fluids within the inner mandrel above a slip deployment pressure for gripping the well to resist longitudinal and rotational movement of the inner mandrel in the well
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic anchoring assembly (10, 10a), and method of its use, for anchoring and sealing an insertable progressing cavity pump on rods in a well. The assembly (10, 10a) has one or more cup seals (42, 42a), upstream of one or more inflatable packers (14, 14a) upstream of one or more hydraulic slips (16). The cup seals (42, 42a) provide a pressure differential for inflation of the upstream most inflatable packer (14), which in turn provides a pressure differential for the downstream inflatable packer(s) (14a) to inflate to produce a fluid tight seal between the insertable progressing cavity pump and the well. In highly deviated wells the up seals (42, 42a) can be used to pump the hydraulic anchoring assembly (10, 10a) down the well in situations where the rods would otherwise buckle.