Morphable Anchor With Beam Springs for Wellbore Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for anchoring morphable tubulars in wellbores face challenges in maintaining load-bearing capacity and secure sealing, especially when the tubulars undergo morphing and subsequent relaxation, which can lead to loosening and reduced anchoring effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The use of annular beam springs and a gripper element with snap sections that expand radially during morphing, providing uniform anchoring points and maintaining engagement after morphing, while allowing for axial movement and preventing weak sections, ensures continued gripping and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tubular is morphed radially outwardly to create a seal against the inner surface of the outer tubular, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the axial load-bearing capacity decreases due to relaxation after morphing
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring system is divided into multiple discrete anchoring units, each with its own beam springs and gripper elements, distributed along the tubular. This segmentation allows localized anchoring forces to be applied at multiple points, maintaining overall load-bearing capacity while enabling morphing at specific locations for sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam springs provide dynamic anchoring force that automatically adjusts during morphing and relaxation. The springs are pre-loaded to exert radial outward force on the gripper elements, which grip the inner surface of the outer tubular. During morphing, the springs compress but maintain gripping force, and after relaxation, the springs return to their original state, maintaining continuous axial load-bearing capacity.
2Area of moving object
If the annulus between the liner hanger and previously set casing is kept narrow to maximize inside diameter, then the available space for inserting more liners is improved, but the contact area for anchoring and sealing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The beam springs act as flexible elements that can deform radially to engage the inner surface of the outer tubular while maintaining their axial load-bearing function. This flexibility allows the anchoring system to operate effectively in narrow annuli while still providing sufficient contact area through the distributed gripper elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring system combines different material properties: the beam springs provide elastic deformation capability, while the gripper elements provide friction-based gripping. This composite approach allows effective anchoring in narrow spaces by utilizing both elastic energy storage and frictional forces.
3Reliability
If the tubular metal portion is forced radially outwardly to morph onto the cylindrical structure, then the ability to seal against irregular surfaces is improved, but the axial load placed on the connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam springs are pre-loaded before morphing occurs, storing elastic energy that will be used during the morphing process. This preliminary action allows the system to withstand the axial loads generated during radial expansion without requiring additional strengthening of the connection, as the pre-compressed springs provide the necessary counterforce.
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
This solution effectively maintains anchoring and increases load-bearing capacity by ensuring uniform radial expansion and continued gripping of the tubulars, even after morphing and relaxation, thereby enhancing the stability and sealing efficiency between tubulars.
Implementation Method 1
the metal structure will undergo elastic deformation to expand by a small percentage as contact is made
Implementation Method 2
Sufficient hydraulic fluid pressure is applied to move the tubular metal portion radially outwards and cause the tubular metal portion to morph itself onto a generally cylindrical structure
Implementation Method 3
the outer surface of the liner such as by knurling to provide a larger contact area and improve the grip
Data Source
Figure 1~6
AI summary
Apparatus and method for anchoring a morphable tubular in a wellbore in which an anchoring system is arranged around the circumference of an expandable portion of the tubular member. The anchoring system has a gripper element with oppositely arranged inclined surfaces and wedge elements having inclined surfaces mutually arranged on either side of the gripper element with at least one of the wedge elements being a beam spring. Following morphing of the tubular member the anchoring system is configured to maintain the gripper element in a radially extended position by action of the at least one beam spring and thereby increase the load bearing capacity of the morphed tubular member in the wellbore.