Motor-Driven Downhole Anchor Slip for Reliable Setting and Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole anchoring devices lack reliability, efficiency, and retrievability, necessitating improvements for better anchoring performance.
Innovation Solution
An anchor system comprising a housing, a slip, and a power drive gear that drives the slip to set or unset positions using a biaser and piston mechanism, allowing for selective deployment and retrieval through controlled pressure and energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional anchoring devices are used, then anchoring function is provided, but anchoring reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical anchoring mechanisms with a motor-driven system that uses electrical power to actuate the slip. The motor converts electrical energy to mechanical rotation, which drives the slip through a gear mechanism, providing more reliable and controllable anchoring compared to traditional purely mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor device integrates multiple functions into a single system: the motor serves both as a driving mechanism for setting the anchor and as a retrieval mechanism. The same motor and gear assembly that drives the slip outward for anchoring can reverse direction to retrieve the anchor, providing multi-functionality that improves reliability while managing complexity.
2Productivity
If conventional anchoring devices are used, then anchoring function is provided, but anchoring efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven system operates in periodic cycles: the motor activates to drive the slip outward for anchoring, then stops when the anchor is set. For retrieval, the motor activates again in reverse. This periodic operation allows the system to achieve high anchoring efficiency when needed while consuming power only during active operations, not continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-driven system provides self-service capability where the same actuator that sets the anchor also retrieves it. The motor can autonomously reverse direction to retrieve the anchor without requiring separate retrieval mechanisms, improving efficiency by eliminating the need for additional power-consuming retrieval systems.
3Ease of operation
If conventional anchoring devices are used, then anchoring function is provided, but retrievability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The motor serves dual purposes: it drives the slip outward to set the anchor and reverses to retrieve it. This multi-functional design improves retrievability by providing active retrieval capability while avoiding the complexity of separate retrieval mechanisms. The same power drive gear and motor assembly handle both setting and retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static conventional anchoring devices to a dynamic motor-driven system. The motor can change rotation direction dynamically to either set or retrieve the anchor, providing ease of operation. The gear mechanism dynamically adapts to transmit torque in both directions, enabling simple retrieval operations without complex additional 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
Enhances anchoring reliability and efficiency by enabling controlled deployment and retrieval of the slip, improving operational flexibility and performance in downhole environments.
Implementation Method 1
The power drive gear includes a biaser therein
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor, including a housing, a slip in contact with the housing, and a power drive gear mounted in the housing and disposed to drive the slip. A method for operating an anchor, including supplying an input to the anchor, driving a slip of the anchor to a position other than a position occupied by the slip immediately prior to the input, wherein the driving comprises rotating a power drive gear. A wellbore system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and an anchor disposed within or as a part of the string.