Load Shoulder System for Drilling Bore Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In drilling and production systems, casings with preformed ledges or landings are required to support tubing hangers, which reduces the bore size, necessitating either smaller drilling equipment or more expensive larger casings, limiting the use of the casing bore during drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A load shoulder system with a shoulder setting tool that allows casings without preformed hanger landings, using a shoulder coupling system to lower and couple the load shoulder to the casing, and a shoulder energizing system to lock it in place, enabling standard drilling equipment to pass through while providing a hanger landing after drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If casings with preformed ledges or landings are used to support tubing hangers, then the hanger support function is improved, but the casing bore size is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger support function is segmented into two independent components: the casing (which maintains full bore size) and the separate load shoulder (which provides the hanger landing). The load shoulder is a distinct element that can be installed after drilling, allowing the casing to remain unchanged and maintain its full bore capacity while the load shoulder provides the necessary support surface for the tubing hanger.
Solution Approach 2:
The load shoulder acts as an intermediary element between the casing and the tubing hanger. Instead of modifying the casing itself to include a preformed ledge, the load shoulder is introduced as a mediating component that provides the hanger support function without interfering with the casing's bore size. This intermediary element can be set within the casing bore and provides the landing surface needed for hanger support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If larger casings with larger bores are used to accommodate standard drilling equipment, then the drilling equipment compatibility is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the drilling function from the hanger support function. The casing is designed solely for drilling operations with full bore size to accommodate standard drilling equipment, while the hanger support function is provided by a separate load shoulder element installed after drilling. This segmentation allows the use of standard, cost-effective casing sizes without compromising drilling equipment compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The load shoulder is designed to be set after drilling operations are complete. The drilling operations are performed first using the full-bore casing with standard equipment, and then the load shoulder is installed to provide hanger support. This preliminary action sequence allows the casing to maintain its full bore capacity during drilling without needing to include preformed ledges that would reduce the bore size.
3Reliability
If preformed ledges are included in casings to support hangers, then the hanger landing function is improved, but the casing manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger landing function is separated from the casing manufacturing process. The casing is produced as a simple, standard component without preformed ledges or complex features. The load shoulder element, which provides the hanger landing function, is manufactured separately and installed after drilling. This segmentation simplifies casing manufacturing while maintaining the necessary hanger support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger landing function is extracted from the casing structure itself and placed into a separate load shoulder element. Instead of incorporating preformed ledges into the casing during manufacturing, the landing function is taken out and provided by a distinct component that can be set within the casing after drilling operations are complete.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a load shoulder system, including a shoulder setting tool, including a shoulder coupling system configured to couple to a load shoulder, and a shoulder energizing system configured to couple the load shoulder to a tubular of a mineral extraction system.