Longitudinally Offset Partial Screens for Wellbore Debris Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Debris accumulation in wellbore tubulars during hydrocarbon extraction can impede operations and necessitate costly surface filling, as debris can become trapped and block auto-filling equipment, leading to inefficiencies and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of longitudinally offset screens that cover different portions of a tubular's cross-sectional area, allowing fluid to bypass blocked sections and preventing debris from passing further into the tubular, with rims to prevent particle migration and facilitate flushing of captured debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full cross-sectional screen is used to filter all fluid flow, then debris removal effectiveness is improved, but the screen becomes susceptible to complete blockage and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The screen assembly is divided into multiple partial area screens, each covering only a portion of the tubular's cross-sectional area. This segmentation allows fluid to flow through multiple paths around blocked sections, preventing complete blockage while maintaining debris filtration effectiveness across the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane full-screen approach to a multi-level longitudinal arrangement of partial screens. By distributing screens at different longitudinal positions, the system creates three-dimensional flow paths that allow fluid to bypass blocked areas while still achieving comprehensive debris removal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If screens cover the entire cross-sectional area, then debris passage is reduced, but fluid flow resistance increases and operation continuity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple partial area screens are positioned at different longitudinal locations, each filtering debris in its designated zone. This segmentation reduces debris passage effectively while maintaining open flow paths between and around the screen sections, minimizing fluid flow resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Each partial area screen is strategically positioned to cover specific portions of the cross-sectional area where debris accumulation is most problematic. This local filtering approach reduces overall debris passage without requiring complete cross-sectional coverage, preserving fluid flow continuity.
3Productivity
If auto-fill equipment is used to reduce surface filling, then time and resource efficiency is improved, but debris can block the equipment and halt operations
Solution Approach 1:
The screen assembly is installed in advance within the tubular to preemptively capture and remove debris from the fluid stream. This preliminary filtration action prevents debris from reaching and blocking the auto-fill equipment, ensuring continuous operation and maintaining high filling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen assembly acts as an intermediary component between the wellbore environment and the auto-fill equipment. It intercepts and removes harmful debris particles from the fluid, protecting the auto-fill equipment from blockage while allowing efficient operation to continue.
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 reduces debris passage and allows for continuous operation by ensuring fluid flow around blocked sections, reducing the need for surface filling and minimizing resource wastage while maintaining equipment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first screen covering a first portion of a cross-sectional area of a tubular... a second screen covering a second portion of the cross-sectional area
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole assembly can include screens along a length of a tubular member. Screens covering differing portions of a cross-sectional area of the tubular and less than an entirety of the cross-sectional area can be offset from one another along a length of the tubular. Fluid flowing through an area not covered by a first screen can encounter an area covered by an offset screen. If the offset screen is blocked with accumulated debris, fluid may pass the offset screen by passing through an area not covered by the offset screen.