Phase Transformation Material Deployment Chassis for Openhole Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Creating a reliable seal in open-hole intervals of wells is challenging due to the rough, non-uniform environment, which complicates zonal isolation and fluid control, especially in deepwater and sour gas applications where high-pressure equipment is typically required.
Innovation Solution
A system that deploys a phase transformation material in a liquid state, which hardens over specific conditions to create a seal, allowing for high expansion ratios without sacrificing differential pressure, using a combination of a reactive material and fluid to initiate heating and expand an expandable slip jacket for reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional packing elements are used in open-hole intervals, then zonal isolation can be achieved, but the rough and non-uniform environment of open-hole intervals makes it difficult to create a reliable pack-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transformation material that changes from solid to liquid state during deployment, fundamentally altering its physical parameters to adapt to the open-hole environment. The material is injected as a liquid that can flow into irregularities and then transforms to a solid seal, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation in rough open-hole intervals
Solution Approach 2:
The core invention employs phase transition of the sealing material from liquid to solid state. The material is deployed as a liquid through injection ports, allowing it to conform to the irregular open-hole geometry, then undergoes phase transformation to form a reliable solid seal. This phase transition mechanism directly addresses the difficulty of creating reliable seals in non-uniform open-hole environments
2Adaptability or versatility
If high expansion ratios are used to adapt to borehole geometry variations, then adaptability improves, but differential pressure may be sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The phase transformation material undergoes parameter changes during deployment, transforming from liquid to solid state while maintaining pressure integrity. This parameter change allows the material to expand and adapt to borehole geometry variations without sacrificing differential pressure, as the phase transformation process itself generates the necessary expansion force
3Reliability
If high-pressure equipment is used to ensure reliable sealing in open-hole intervals, then seal reliability improves, but equipment cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex high-pressure mechanical sealing systems with a chemically-driven phase transformation mechanism. Instead of relying on high-pressure mechanical packers and complex deployment equipment, the invention uses materials that self-seal through phase transformation from liquid to solid, substituting mechanical complexity with chemical/physical process simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The phase transition mechanism eliminates the need for high-pressure mechanical equipment by using material property changes to achieve sealing. The material transforms from liquid to solid under controlled conditions, creating reliable seals without requiring complex high-pressure deployment systems, thus reducing equipment complexity while maintaining seal reliability
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
Enables rapid and reliable zonal isolation with lower setting pressures, reducing the need for expensive equipment and minimizing the risk of compromising the borehole integrity, while allowing for efficient deployment and adhesion in diverse well conditions.
Implementation Method 1
deploy a phase transformation material into the open hole interval in liquid state and allow the phase transformation material to harden over specific conditions
Implementation Method 2
A delivery chassis has a solid phase transformation material and a reactive material disposed along an annular chamber, one or more nozzles at one end of the annular chamber, a fluid inlet for introducing fluid into the chamber to exothermically combine with the reactive material to liquify the phase transformation material
Data Source
AI summary
An openhole interval of a well may be sealed by deploying a liquified phase transformation material to the openhole interval and allowing it to harden. In at least one example, this may be performed in a single step of building and maintaining pressure. The pressure may rupture a membrane, to introduce a fluid into a chamber with a reactive material (e.g. powder) in a delivery chassis, whereupon the fluid may exothermically combine with the reactive material to liquify the solid phase transformation material. The same applied pressure may also deliver the liquified phase transformation material to a deployment chassis, which then distributes the liquified phase transformation material under pressure to the openhole interval of the well. Various delivery chassis, deployment chassis, and related compositions and methods are disclosed as well.