Hydraulic Fracturing Plug Quick Connection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic fracturing plug connections to mandrels are time-consuming and unreliable, leading to safety and environmental concerns, as well as increased economic costs due to the complexity and potential misinstallation of multiple shear pins.
Innovation Solution
A quick connection system featuring pre-installed shear pins and a spring-loaded plunger that allows for rapid and secure attachment of a hydraulic fracturing plug to a mandrel, utilizing an 'L' shaped track for quick connect and disconnect, reducing the need for multiple pins and ensuring a positive connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydraulic fracturing plug connections use multiple shear pins (at least four pins) for insertion and rotation to lock components together, then the connection provides mechanical strength and reliability, but the connection process takes significant time and increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connection system pre-positions the shear pins within the plug body before deployment. The pins are stored in a confined space within the plug housing, already aligned and ready for insertion into the mandrel. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for operators to manually handle and position multiple pins during the connection process, significantly reducing connection time while maintaining the required mechanical strength through the pre-aligned pin configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system separates the shear pins from the mandrel structure and integrates them into the plug body as a distinct component. This segmentation allows the pins to be stored, protected, and deployed as part of the plug assembly rather than requiring separate manual installation into the mandrel. The pins are contained within a dedicated housing that guides their insertion path, simplifying the connection operation while preserving structural integrity.
2Strength
If conventional connections require insertion and rotation of multiple screws/pins by workers, then the connection establishes mechanical attachment, but the process is prone to misinstallation and separation risks causing safety and environmental concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connection system is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing. The shear pins are pre-positioned within the plug body in a configuration that automatically aligns with corresponding recesses in the mandrel during insertion. The connection mechanism includes self-checking features that provide visual or tactile confirmation of proper engagement, eliminating the need for complex manual rotation and locking operations. This self-service design dramatically reduces the skill level required and minimizes the risk of misinstallation while maintaining strong mechanical attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a quick-connect interface as an intermediary between the mandrel and plug body. This interface includes guided insertion paths, alignment features, and automated locking mechanisms that mediate the connection process. The intermediary structure translates a simple insertion motion into a secure, multi-pin locked connection without requiring the operator to directly manipulate multiple individual fasteners, thereby reducing installation complexity and error potential.
3Reliability
If conventional hydraulic fracturing plug systems use complex multi-pin connection mechanisms, then the connection provides robust mechanical attachment, but the operational costs increase due to time consumption and potential misinstallation
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the complex manual mechanical operation of inserting, positioning, and rotating multiple shear pins with a simplified insertion-and-lock mechanism. The quick connection interface uses spring-loaded or cam-actuated locking features that automatically engage when the plug is inserted into the mandrel. This substitution transforms a multi-step manual mechanical process into a single-motion operation, maintaining connection reliability while dramatically improving operational efficiency and reducing labor time.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism changes the operational parameters from requiring multiple discrete actions (insertion, rotation, locking of multiple pins) to a single insertion motion with automatic engagement. The system modifies the connection state transition from a complex multi-stage process to a simplified single-stage process, reducing the time and skill parameters required while maintaining the mechanical strength and reliability of the attachment through engineered locking features.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus that provides a quick connection for a hydraulic fracturing plug to a drill string mandrel. In an embodiment, the hydraulic fracturing plug includes one or more pins for connecting to one or more corresponding connection points on the drill string mandrel. The connection points may include a first section and a second section, where the second section may include an end point for receiving a pin on the hydraulic fracturing plug. The connection between the hydraulic fracturing plug and the drill string mandrel may also include a master pin.