Hydrocarbon Extraction Tool With Mechanical Fracturing Mandrel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fracking technologies require significant amounts of water, leading to environmental concerns and limitations in areas with insufficient water supplies, as they rely on large quantities of water for hydraulic fracturing, resulting in hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater.
Innovation Solution
A fracking tool and pumping system comprising a sucker rod and cylinder within a casing that pressurizes the wellbore space to release hydrocarbons, using a spiral rod to enhance fluid flow and reduce the need for excessive fracturing fluid, with a pressure-actuated port and seals to manage fluid pressure and flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional hydraulic fracturing methods are used to extract hydrocarbons from underground formations, then the fracturing process can effectively release trapped hydrocarbons, but significant quantities of water are consumed and hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful element (water) from the fracturing process by replacing the traditional hydraulic fracturing method with a mechanical fracturing tool that uses a expanding mandrel to physically fracture the formation without requiring large volumes of fracturing fluid
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the hydraulic system (fluid-based) with a mechanical system (expanding mandrel with blades) that physically fractures the formation through mechanical expansion, eliminating the need for significant water consumption
2Productivity
If traditional hydraulic fracturing is used, then hydrocarbons can be released from the formation, but the process requires significant water supplies which limits operations in water-scarce areas
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the fracturing process from fluid-based pressure application to solid mechanical expansion, allowing the system to operate independently of water availability and enabling deployment in water-scarce regions
3Productivity
If the expanding mandrel is pulled back to fracture the formation, then hydrocarbons are released into the wellbore, but the mandrel must be repositioned for continued extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables continuous useful action by allowing the mandrel to be repositioned to adjacent positions along the wellbore and repeated the expansion-fracture-extraction cycle, maintaining continuous hydrocarbon extraction without shutting down the system between formation treatments
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 system efficiently extracts hydrocarbons with reduced water usage, minimizing environmental impact and enabling fracking in water-scarce areas by creating a controlled pressure differential to fracture formations and facilitate hydrocarbon release.
Implementation Method 1
Fracturing the formation by pulling the expanding mandrel back, thereby releasing any trapped material into the wellbore
Implementation Method 2
The pumping portion of the system uses a spiral rod whose movement enhance fluid flow in the wellbore space that is effective to move material to the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A novel tool for improving the efficiency of extraction of hydrocarbons from underground formations is described. The tool is configured to produce localized waves of high pressure fluid at a location within a wellbore. These pressure waves are effective to displace hydrocarbons within a geological formation such that enter the interior of the wellbore where they can be more easily removed by means of an accompanying pump assembly.