Retrievable Plug Orienting Slips to Avoid Coil Tubing Seam
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retrievable plugs struggle to effectively seal and orient within coil tubing, especially when the tubing has a longitudinal seam, leading to incomplete sealing and inefficient retrieval due to the seam's presence.
Innovation Solution
A retrievable plug assembly with a mandrel, seal elements, setting cones, and a slip mechanism, which includes slips, a slip cage, a locking ring, and an anti-setting ring, is designed to anchor and seal within coil tubing. The assembly uses an orientation tool or mule shoe orientation guide to position the slips between the seam, and hydraulic or mechanical activation to engage the inner wall, ensuring a secure seal and easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional retrievable plugs are used in coil tubing with a longitudinal seam, then the plug can be deployed in the wellbore, but the seam prevents proper orientation and complete sealing of the annulus
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into multiple seal elements (first seal element and second seal element) that can independently engage with the coil tubing inner wall. This segmentation allows each seal element to function independently, ensuring complete sealing even when a longitudinal seam is present, as the seam cannot prevent both seal elements from engaging simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug incorporates an orientation tool with specific geometric features (such as a keyway or indexing feature) that interact with corresponding features on the coil tubing or setting cone. This local quality differentiation enables precise orientation of the plug relative to the seam, allowing the seal elements to be positioned at optimal locations for sealing.
2Reliability
If conventional retrievable plugs are used in coil tubing, then sealing can be achieved, but retrieval becomes difficult and economically inefficient due to the seam
Solution Approach 1:
The plug incorporates a setting mechanism with slips that can dynamically transition between a retracted state (allowing easy retrieval) and an extended state (providing secure anchoring). The slips can be hydraulically or mechanically activated to extend and engage the coil tubing inner wall for sealing, then retracted for efficient retrieval, overcoming the retrieval difficulties caused by the seam.
3Reliability
If the plug is designed to seal effectively, then sealing performance improves, but the complexity of the plug mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug merges multiple functions into integrated components: the setting cone serves both as a structural element and as the activation mechanism for the slips; the seal elements are integrated with the setting cone to be compressed simultaneously during setting; and the orientation tool is combined with the plug body. This merging reduces overall complexity while maintaining effective sealing performance.
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 plug assembly provides a reliable seal and efficient retrieval by orienting slips to avoid the seam, using softer rubber seal elements for a tighter seal, and an anti-setting ring to prevent re-engagement during removal, maintaining the plug's integrity and extending its service life.
Implementation Method 1
seal elements, setting cones, and a slip mechanism... softer rubber seal elements for a tighter seal
Implementation Method 2
slips... engage the inner wall of the coil tubing... securing the plug assembly in position
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method for a retrievable plug in coil tubing. A plug is disposed within a tubing and is set within the tubing by an anchoring element placed in gripping engagement with the tubing. The plug also has seal elements disposed therein that are placed in sealing engagement with the tubing. An orientation element on the plug positions the plug within the tubing with respect to the seam of the tubing.