Oxygen-Fed Conduits for Efficient Well Casing Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well abandonment methods are inefficient in terms of time, energy consumption, equipment usage, and safety, particularly when removing parts of the liner or casing of a well, which can lead to environmental hazards and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising oxidizable material-filled conduits that generate high temperatures through oxygen reaction to melt and remove well linings, combined with a feeding mechanism to maintain contact with the casing and a seal plug system for secure abandonment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional methods are used to remove well liner or casing, then the process is simple in terms of equipment, but it is inefficient in time and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs oxygen as a strong oxidant delivered through hollow conduits to enable rapid oxidation and removal of the liner or casing material. This accelerated oxidation process significantly improves removal efficiency compared to conventional mechanical methods while managing energy consumption through controlled oxygen delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the oxygen delivery system into separate hollow conduits that can be fed through the liner or casing wall. This extraction allows the oxidizing action to occur internally within the material being removed, improving efficiency by concentrating the chemical reaction at the target location.
2Reliability
If conventional removal methods are used, then equipment complexity is low, but safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The removal device is segmented into multiple hollow conduits arranged in a array, each delivering oxygen to different locations. This segmentation allows controlled removal of the liner or casing in discrete sections, improving safety by preventing uncontrolled reactions while managing equipment complexity through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow conduits act as intermediaries between the oxygen supply system and the liner or casing material. This intermediary structure enables controlled delivery of oxygen to the target material, improving safety by containing and directing the chemical reaction rather than allowing uncontrolled exposure.
3Productivity
If the distal end of hollow conduits remains stationary, then equipment complexity is reduced, but removal completeness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow conduits are made dynamic through the feeding mechanism that moves them forward as the liner or casing is removed. This dynamic positioning ensures the distal ends of the conduits continuously engage with fresh material, improving removal completeness while the feeding mechanism manages the added complexity through automated advancement.
4Productivity
If high temperature oxidation is used to remove liner material, then removal efficiency improves, but risk of uncontrolled reaction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback control through the feeding mechanism that advances the hollow conduits based on the removal progress. This feedback allows the oxidation rate to be matched with the consumption rate of the liner material, maintaining high removal efficiency while preventing uncontrolled reactions by ensuring oxygen is delivered only where material is actively being removed.
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 solution enables efficient and safe removal of well components, reducing environmental risk and facilitating safe reclamation of the site by ensuring complete sealing and removal of well materials.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more hollow conduits comprise at least at a distal end oxidizable material. Oxidizable materials may be defined by that they react with oxygen to generate high temperature material, which may exceed 1000 degrees Celsius, or even 2000 degrees Celsius.
Implementation Method 2
Removing part of a liner or casing may comprise melting, burning, combusting, decomposing, sublimating or otherwisely chemical reacting of the part of the liner or casing.
Implementation Method 3
These high temperatures may be used to melt and thus remove liner or casing material.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for removing part of a liner or casing of a well or pile. The device includes a device body, which is arranged around a centreline of the device body and one or more hollow conduits including oxidizable material at least at a distal end. The hollow conduits are arranged for having oxygen transported therethrough from a proximal end to the distal end. The device further including a supply of oxygen arranged to supply oxygen to proximal ends of the one or more hollow conduits and a feeding module connected to the device body and the one or more hollow conduits. The feeding module arranged for feeding the one or more hollow conduits with their distal end in a direction at least partially away from the centreline of the device body.