Selective Landing Tool Locking for Control Line Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for landing and orienting downhole tools in a wellbore often damage control lines during the coupling process, leading to inefficiencies and potential tool failure.
Innovation Solution
A production selective landing tool (PSLT) that utilizes a locking mechanism with a mandrel, locking lugs, and a ratchet ring to orient and lock the tool in a casing without damaging control lines, allowing for the use of electric, fiber optic, or hydraulic lines to send control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional landing and orienting mechanism is used to couple the tool to the casing, then the tool can be positioned and locked in the casing, but the control lines are damaged (cut or stretched) during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into separate functional components: a body for positioning, a locking mechanism with locking lugs for securing, and a separate orienting mechanism with keys for alignment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently without subjecting the control lines to damaging forces during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control lines are pre-positioned and secured within the tool body before the landing and orienting operations commence. The locking mechanism and orienting keys are designed to engage with the casing coupling without requiring rotation or movement that would stretch or cut the already-secured control lines.
2Ease of operation
If the tool is rotated during coupling to achieve proper orientation, then the tool can be correctly positioned in the casing, but the control lines are stretched or cut
Solution Approach 1:
The orienting function is extracted from the coupling process. Instead of rotating the entire tool body during coupling, separate orienting keys extend from the tool body and engage with corresponding features in the casing coupling, achieving orientation without rotation that would damage control lines.
Solution Approach 2:
Orienting keys serve as intermediary elements between the tool body and the casing coupling. These keys perform the orientation function by engaging with slot features in the casing coupling, allowing the tool to be oriented without rotating the main body and control lines.
3Device complexity
If a simple coupling mechanism is used to lock the tool in the casing, then the structure is simple, but the control lines may still be cut during the coupling process
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lugs are nested within the tool body and can be deployed outward to engage with the casing coupling. This nested arrangement allows a relatively simple structure to provide secure locking without requiring complex mechanisms that would subject control lines to damaging forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for landing and orienting a production selective landing tool (PSLT) within a well casing. The well casing is provided with one or more indexing casing coupling (ICC). The PSLT is included in a completion string. The PSLT has several landing keys and an orientation key. The PSLT is conveyed through the casing and lands in the ICC. The PSLT has integrated control lines for intelligent completion. The PSLT has lugs coupled to a mandrel and control lines. The lugs, the mandrel and the control lines are shifted relative to the body of the PSLT. The control lines are in a slot of the body. The PSLT is locked in the ICC when the mandrel is shifted. The PSLT can be removed from the ICC via pulling the completion string uphole.