Magnetic Cleaning Tool With Moveable Sleeve For Wellbore Debris
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic wellbore cleaning tools face issues such as magnets remaining active during deployment, insufficient field strength due to stabilizer placement, and radial movement requirements, leading to inefficiencies and clogging.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic cleaning tool with a moveable sleeve that selectively covers and exposes magnets, allowing them to be inactive during deployment and active during retrieval, eliminating the need for stabilizers and reducing radial movement, utilizing friction means and a piston mechanism for fluid pressure-activated release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the magnets remain active at all times, then the ferrous debris is continuously collected, but the magnetic tool becomes clogged during run-in and the cleaning effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the magnetic field active or inactive based on operational phase. The sleeve moves relative to the tool body to cover or expose the magnets, transitioning the magnetic cleaning tool from an static always-active state to a dynamic controlled-state system. This resolves the contradiction by enabling continuous debris collection during POOH while preventing clogging during RIH.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by covering the magnets with the sleeve during run-in operations before debris collection is needed. This preliminary covering action prevents ferrous material from adhering to the magnets during RIH, eliminating clogging before it occurs. When POOH, the sleeve is moved to expose the magnets, allowing them to collect debris as intended.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the magnets are held between stabilisers, then the tool structure is stable, but the field strength is insufficient to reach the wellbore wall and cleaning is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the magnets from their traditional position between stabilisers and relocating them to the exterior surface of the tool body. This extraction from the constrained position between stabilisers allows the magnets to be placed closer to the wellbore wall, increasing magnetic field strength and effectiveness while maintaining tool stability through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by moving the magnets from a radial position (between stabilisers) to an axial position (on the exterior surface). This dimensional repositioning allows the magnets to extend closer to the wellbore wall in the radial direction while maintaining tool stability through the sleeve mechanism and friction means, thereby increasing magnetic field effectiveness.
3Productivity
If the magnets move radially to operate in the wellbore, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but material can stick within the operating mechanisms and string manipulation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the complex radial movement mechanism with a simpler axial movement system. Instead of moving magnets radially outward through complex mechanisms, the sleeve moves axially along the tool body to cover or expose the magnets. This substitution eliminates material sticking issues and removes the need for string manipulation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by designing the sleeve to move automatically in response to changes in wellbore conditions or operational phase. The friction means and drag blocks enable the sleeve to self-adjust its position relative to the tool body, covering magnets during RIH and exposing them during POOH without requiring external manipulation or complex control mechanisms.
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 tool effectively collects ferrous debris by maintaining magnets close to the wellbore wall, reducing clogging and operational complexity, while ensuring efficient debris removal and tool rotation.
Implementation Method 1
one or more magnets located on the tool body which attract the ferrous material
Implementation Method 2
the sleeve includes friction means adapted to engage with an interior surface of the wellbore
Implementation Method 3
movement of the tool body downwardly relative to the interior surface urges the sleeve to a first position in which the magnets are covered by the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic cleaning tool for collecting ferrous debris in a wellbore and a method of cleaning a wellbore. The magnetic cleaning tool has a tool body for attachment in a work string, one or more magnets supported on the tool body, and a sleeve located around the tool body which is arranged to be moveable along the body to provide selective coverage of the magnets. Embodiments are described providing shear pins and spring loaded balls to hold the sleeve either over the magnets or free of the magnets. An expandable piston, moveable by action of a drop ball, is described to release the sleeve. The sleeve is arranged so that the magnets can be covered and therefore effectively inactive on run-in and during downhole operations, and uncovered to be active when pulled out of the wellbore.