Subterranean Hydraulic Jack Gripping Teeth Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In situations involving telescoping space out joints (TSOJ), the need to release the tubing hanger to achieve desired movement at a subterranean location can lead to safety issues, such as loss of well control, particularly when trying to close a barrier valve with a shifting tool while the hanger is unset.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic actuator is used to lift the shifting tool with the hanger remaining fixed, employing a control line-powered piston with gripping teeth to engage and lift the pipe, and a check valve that maintains the shifted position with controlled pressure, acting as a dump valve to allow downward movement when pressure differential is reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hanger is released to allow the shifting tool to operate, then the tool can be actuated at a remote location, but the safety feature is disabled and loss of well control may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the hanger release function from the shifting tool operation. The hanger remains set on the casing while the shifting tool is actuated independently through the TSOJ mechanism, allowing remote operation without compromising well control safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The TSOJ acts as an intermediary mechanism between the surface control system and the subsurface shifting tool. It transmits force while maintaining the hanger in a set position, enabling remote tool operation without releasing the safety feature.
2Productivity
If the hanger is released and picked up to bring surfaces together, then the barrier valve can be closed, but additional time and movement are required before the tool can operate
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is pre-positioned in a set state on the casing before the shifting tool operation is initiated. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for subsequent hanger pickup and surface alignment, allowing immediate tool operation and reducing total cycle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by keeping the hanger set and the TSOJ engaged, eliminating idle time for hanger repositioning. The shifting tool can be actuated continuously once the control line is pressurized, improving overall productivity.
3Reliability
If a hydraulic actuator is added to lift the shifting tool with hanger remaining fixed, then remote operation is enabled with safety maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A hydraulic piston actuated by control line pressure is used to lift the shifting tool while the hanger remains set. The hydraulic system provides controlled force application, enabling remote operation without compromising safety, though it does increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses changes in pressure parameters to control the hydraulic piston's movement. Control line pressure differential enables the piston to lift the tool, while pressure equalization allows the tool to return, providing a simple yet effective control mechanism.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the shifted position is held with maintained control line pressure, then the tool position is stable, but the system cannot respond to pressure differential changes
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve provides a feedback mechanism that monitors pressure differential changes. When the pressure differential across the check valve exceeds a predetermined threshold, the valve opens to allow the piston to return to its original position, providing automatic adaptation to pressure changes while maintaining stability under normal 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
This solution enables remote operation of tools without releasing the hanger, maintaining safety features and ensuring the shifted position is held until a predetermined pressure differential is met, allowing for controlled movement and operation even if the control line is damaged.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic piston is surface actuated to move gripping teeth against the pipe and then take the pipe with the gripping teeth
Implementation Method 2
a check valve that responds to pressure differential to act as a dump valve. This allows holding the shifting tool in the shifted position by maintaining control line pressure and allowing the shifting tool to come back down by venting the control line pressure to a predetermined differential pressure across the check valve
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method allows the operation of a remotely located tool in an application where there is a telescoping space out joint in such a manner that the hanger need not be released. A hydraulic piston is surface actuated to move gripping teeth against the pipe and then take the pipe with the gripping teeth so that a tool that is engaged by the string can be remotely operated while safety features for the well can remain operative. The shifted position is held with maintained control line pressure. Some release of the control line pressure will not allow the operating piston to return. Rather, a check valve holds the shifted piston position until a differential pressure on the check valve drops to a predetermined value so that the check valve acts as a dump valve. The system operates off annulus pressure if the control line is damaged.