Nested Pipe Assembly for Leakage-Resistant Fracture Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dual and multi-flow pipe systems for hydrocarbon recovery face challenges in manufacturing and assembly, particularly in maintaining separate fluid flows without leakage between pipe segments and ensuring proper alignment of flow channels during coupling, which complicates the fracture-flow process and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A dual-flow/multi-flow pipe assembly featuring a 'pipe-in-pipe' configuration with an outer cylindrical pipe and an inner pipe member, where tubular members are used to support and fix the inner pipe within the outer pipe, allowing for threaded or welded connections and frusto-conical threads to enhance sealing, and alignment means like dowels or notches ensure proper alignment of flow channels during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate pipe members are used within a single wellbore (dual tube configuration), then separate fluid flows can be maintained, but packer elements become more complex and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pipe-in-pipe configuration where an inner pipe is nested within an outer pipe, both contained within a single wellbore. This nesting arrangement maintains separate fluid flows through the inner and annular spaces while eliminating the need for complex dual-tube packer elements, as a single packer can seal around the outer pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The wellbore is segmented into distinct flow zones using the pipe-in-pipe structure, with the inner pipe creating an inner flow channel and the annular space between inner and outer pipes creating an outer flow channel. This segmentation allows separate fluid flows while simplifying packer design.
2Reliability
If two separate pipe members are used within a single wellbore, then separate fluid flows can be maintained, but the combined cross-sectional area of the separate flow passages is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the inner pipe within the outer pipe, the configuration maximizes the use of available wellbore cross-sectional area. The inner pipe occupies the central area while the annular space between inner and outer pipes provides additional flow area, achieving greater total flow capacity compared to two separate pipes requiring more wellbore space.
3Ease of manufacture
If individual pipe segments are coupled together to form multi-flow pipe assembly, then ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but leakage between flow channels and/or at pipe coupling joints occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sealing elements as intermediary components at the coupling joints between pipe segments. These sealing elements mediate between the mating surfaces of adjacent pipe segments, preventing leakage between flow channels and at coupling joints while allowing the pipe assembly to remain modular and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible sealing elements such as O-rings or gaskets at the coupling joints. These flexible thin films conform to the mating surfaces and create reliable seals that prevent leakage, while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly of the modular pipe segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual flow/multi-flow pipe assembly for use in hydrocarbon recovery processes, having alternately-spaced apertures along a length thereof separated by packer elements, wherein alternating apertures fluidly connect with separate flow channels within the pipe assembly. A first embodiment is of a pipe-in-pipe configuration, with tubular members respectively located in alternately-spaced apertures fluidly connecting an interior pipe member with an exterior of the pipe assembly, and remaining spaced apertures fluidly connecting said exterior with an annular region between the interior pipe and the outer pipe, A second embodiment is of the divided pipe configuration, wherein a longitudinally extending divider partition is provided in each pipe member making up the multi-flow pipe assembly thereby forming two separate flow channels within each pipe member, with alternately spaced apertures fluidly communicating with a respective of the two or more flow channels formed within each pipe member by the divider partition.