Propellant-Driven Fluid Deployment System with Shredder Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transporting, storing, and deploying viscous drilling and completion fluids face challenges such as clumping during storage, manual handling risks, and inefficiencies in fluid deployment, leading to increased costs and potential formation damage due to 'Lost Circulation' issues.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical apparatus with a full bore opening, a removable dish head, and a plunger assembly that uses a propellant to deploy viscous fluids directly into a wellbore, incorporating a shredder screen to break gelled clumps, eliminating manual handling and auxiliary equipment needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If viscous drilling and completion fluids are transported and stored in traditional containers, then the fluids can be stored for later use, but the fluids clump together and form gelled masses during storage that are difficult to pump
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid is prepared and loaded into the dispensable container before storage, with the container designed to maintain fluid stability throughout the storage period. The container's sealed environment prevents external contamination and minimizes conditions that would cause clumping during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dispensable containers that are discarded after single use. This eliminates the need to repeatedly clean and refurbish storage containers, ensuring that each storage period occurs in a fresh, contamination-free environment that prevents fluid clumping and maintains homogeneity throughout the storage duration.
2Ease of operation
If gelled particles and viscous fluids are manually handled and transferred from containers, then the fluids can be deployed, but manual handling requires considerable time and introduces safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to deploy the fluid composition automatically without requiring manual handling. The dispensable container integrates the fluid storage and deployment functions, allowing the fluid to be pumped directly from the container into the wellbore through automated equipment, eliminating manual transfer operations entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the storage container, fluid composition, and deployment mechanism into an integrated dispensable container system. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate manual transfer steps between storage and deployment locations, reducing both time and safety risks associated with manual handling.
3Productivity
If auxiliary equipment such as special pumps and rig pits are used to deploy viscous fluids, then the fluids can be deployed into the wellbore, but the equipment complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensable container is designed to be used once and then discarded, eliminating the need for expensive, complex auxiliary equipment such as special pumps and rig pits. The container itself becomes the deployment mechanism, reducing equipment complexity while maintaining deployment efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the fluid deployment function from the complex rig infrastructure and integrates it directly into the dispensable container. This allows viscous fluids to be deployed using the container's own integrated mechanism rather than requiring external auxiliary equipment, simplifying the overall system.
4Ease of operation
If LCM pills are pumped into the wellbore without dilution, then the deployment is simplified, but the pills are difficult to pump due to their thixotropic nature and gelled clumps
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid composition is prepared in advance within the dispensable container in a pumpable state. The container design and fluid formulation ensure that the thixotropic LCM pill remains in a flowable condition during storage and deployment, eliminating the need for dilution while maintaining pumpability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the thixotropic properties of the LCM pill by controlling the fluid's rheological parameters. The fluid is formulated to maintain a pumpable consistency under the conditions present in the dispensable container and during deployment, allowing it to be pumped without dilution while still effectively treating lost circulation.
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
Facilitates efficient, safe, and cost-effective deployment of viscous fluids, reducing the risk of 'Lost Circulation' and simplifying operations by minimizing manual labor and equipment requirements, while ensuring complete fluid delivery and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
a propellant charge (not shown) is inserted into the propellant chamber 24. The propellant charge is ignited which expands and pushes plunger assembly 130
Implementation Method 2
a shredder screen 115 is provided in the discharge outlet opening 114 of the container 110. The shredder screen 115 may be a wire mesh or other suitable structure that breaks up gelled clumps
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An apparatus for building, transporting, storing, and deploying viscous fluids, comprising: a cylinder comprising a full bore opening and a discharge outlet; a plunger assembly mounted within the cylinder; and a shredder screen mounted within the discharge outlet.