Packer Assembly Wedge Mandrel Groove Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packer assemblies face challenges in providing sufficient load-bearing performance while being retrievable from a bore, often resulting in damage to the casing or introducing debris due to shearing, and struggle with reliable disengagement mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A packer assembly design featuring a mandrel with grooves that receive a load device to facilitate a downhole force for wedge disengagement, preventing slip re-setting and enabling easy retrieval by moving the mandrel to a release position where the wedge can unsupport the slip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the slip tooth angle is modified to facilitate wedge removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the load bearing capability decreases and casing damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The packer assembly is divided into distinct functional components: a slip assembly with teeth for gripping the casing, a wedge for supporting the slip, and a mandrel with grooves for controlling wedge position. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the slip teeth maintain their load-bearing geometry while the mandrel grooves provide the release mechanism without requiring tooth angle modification.
2Ease of operation
If the wedge is made collapsible to enable release, then the ease of operation is improved, but reliability decreases due to premature collapse or debris accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The mandrel grooves act as an intermediary mechanism between the wedge and the release force. Instead of making the wedge itself collapsible, the grooves provide a controlled path for the wedge to move along during release. This intermediary structure ensures reliable support during operation while enabling predictable, debris-free release when the mandrel is pulled.
3Ease of operation
If force is applied to pull the slip from the wedge, then the ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to sheared metal debris and outward force on the slip
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pulling the slip away from the wedge through shearing action, the system inverts the release mechanism: the mandrel grooves guide the wedge to move away from the slip in a controlled manner. This reversal of the release action eliminates shearing forces and debris generation while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Packer assemblies capable of providing desired load-bearing performance and of being retrieved from a bore in a subterranean formation are described. A packer assembly can include a wedge that can respond to a force in a downhole direction by un-supporting the slip. The unsupported slip is configured to disengage from a casing string, allowing the packer assembly to be removed from the bore. The wedge can include a collet to allow the wedge to separate from the slip to prevent slip re-setting.