Integrated Shoe Track Assembly Reducing Casing Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wellbore shoe track systems are inefficient and costly due to the use of multiple casing joints and lengthy casing threads, which increase operational costs and decrease productivity.
Innovation Solution
A single 5-foot long tool that integrates all necessary components, including valves and plug landing seats, eliminating the need for multiple casing sections and cement integrity for pressure testing, thereby reducing the number of components and overall length of the shoe track.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional shoe track systems use multiple casing joints and lengthy casing threads, then structural strength and cement integrity are improved, but operational cost increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (float shoe, casing joints, top plug, landing collar) into a single integrated shoe track assembly. This merging eliminates the need for multiple casing joints and threads while maintaining structural integrity through the integrated design, thereby reducing operational complexity and improving productivity
2Reliability
If conventional shoe track systems use multiple casing joints, then cement integrity for pressure testing is achieved, but the number of components and overall length increase operational cost
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated shoe track assembly merges the float shoe, casing joints, and top plug into a single component that inherently provides pressure testing integrity without requiring multiple separate joints and cementing operations, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of pressure testing integrity from the complex multi-component conventional system and embeds it directly into the integrated shoe track assembly, eliminating the need for separate cementing operations and multiple joints
3Length of stationary object
If conventional shoe track extends to 160 feet in length, then structural coverage is provided, but the length increases cost and decreases efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all necessary components into a single integrated assembly, the patent achieves the required structural coverage in a compact 5-foot length rather than requiring a 160-foot extended configuration with multiple joints, thereby improving operational efficiency while maintaining adequate coverage
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe track assembly system includes an elongated housing extending from a first end to a second end; one or more valves secured within the elongated housing; one or more plug landing seats extending into the elongated housing; one or more plugs to be dropped into the elongated housing and engage with the one or more plug landing seats; the system is to receive casing pressure testing without relying on a shoe track cement integrity; and the system is to contain all required shoe track equipment as required by an operation.