Integrated Liner Hanger Cement Retainer for Single-Wellbore Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cementing operations in wellbores often result in incomplete cementation, leading to voids or leaks, which can cause undesirable fluid loss and require additional remedial cement squeeze operations, typically limited by the effectiveness of cement retainers positioned above the liner top packer.
Innovation Solution
An integrated liner hanger assembly with a cement retainer sub and sliding sleeve, allowing for a single trip to position the liner, activate the hanger and packer, and conduct a cement squeeze operation, enabling cement to flow through fluid passageways to fill voids or leaks below the liner top packer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cement retainers are positioned above the liner top packer, then the cementing operation can be simplified, but the ability to fill voids or leaks below the packer is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention repositions the cement retainer from a conventional axial position (above the packer) to a radial position (within the annulus below the packer). This dimensional change allows the retainer to access and fill voids in previously unreachable locations while maintaining operational simplicity through the sliding sleeve mechanism
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple tool trips are used for liner positioning, packer activation, and cement squeeze operations, then each operation can be performed thoroughly, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines three separate operations (liner positioning, packer activation, and cement squeeze operation) into a single integrated tool assembly. The sliding sleeve mechanism coordinates all functions through one tripping action, eliminating multiple tool trips while maintaining the quality of each individual operation
Solution Approach 2:
The cement retainer is pre-positioned within the annulus below the packer during liner installation, rather than requiring a separate tripping operation to deploy it later. This preliminary positioning enables immediate cement injection into voids once the slide sleeve is actuated, reducing overall operation time
3Device complexity
If cement retainers are positioned conventionally, then the device structure remains simple, but the ability to isolate and fill specific annular volumes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces fixed-position cement retainers with a dynamic sliding sleeve mechanism that can be axially moved to open or close fluid passageways. This dynamic design allows selective cement injection into specific annular volumes below the packer while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding sleeve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the liner hanger assembly and the cement injection process. It controls fluid flow through the passageways without requiring complex valve mechanisms, providing versatile cement injection capability while keeping the device structure simple
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an integrated liner hanger assembly that includes a liner hanger, a packer, and a cement retainer sub. The cement retainer sub includes a plurality of fluid passageways connecting a central bore of the liner hanger assembly to an annular volume downhole of the packer and uphole of the liner hanger. A running tool is configured to axially translate a sliding sleeve of the cement sub from a closed position to an open position in which flow if permitted through the passageways, and from the open position to a closed-and-locked position. In some embodiments, the system is configured such that running the assembly into the wellbore, actuating the liner hanger, actuating the packer assembly, translating the sliding sleeve from the closed and open position and from the open position to the closed-and-locked position, are completed in a single trip.