Pump-out Cementing System with Split Ring Plug Seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wellbore cementing systems face challenges such as excessive cement usage, poor bonding between cement and drill string, inefficient cement placement, especially at the end of the wellbore, and difficulties in accurate placement and separation of cementing components, particularly when cementing occurs 'off bottom' in the wellbore.
Innovation Solution
A pump-down cementing system comprising a body with a collar, a closing sleeve, a split ring, a packer, a rupture disk, and a plug, which allows for precise cement placement by using a dropped ball to activate the system, inflate the packer, rupture the disk for cement flow, and facilitate the separation of components after cementing is complete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional cementing systems are used, then cementing can be performed, but excessive cement is used and placement efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The cementing system is divided into distinct functional segments: a deployable cementing assembly that can be positioned at specific depths, a packer that isolates the cementing zone, and a closing sleeve that controls cement flow. This segmentation allows precise cement placement only where needed, preventing excessive cement usage while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer is deployed and inflated before cement injection to pre-isolate the target zone. The closing sleeve is positioned ready to seal the borehole. These preliminary actions ensure that when cement is injected, it is confined to the exact location required, eliminating waste and improving placement efficiency.
2Reliability
If conventional cementing systems are used, then cementing can be performed, but bonding between cement and drill string is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The closing sleeve acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates controlled interaction between the cement and drill string components. It provides a sealing interface that ensures proper bonding while maintaining the ability to separate components after cementing by simply retracting the sleeve, thus improving both reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing sleeve transitions from an open to a closed position during cementing, dynamically adapting to provide the necessary sealing and bonding conditions. After cementing, the sleeve can be retracted, allowing easy separation. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between achieving strong bonding and maintaining ease of component separation.
3Measurement precision
If conventional cementing systems are used, then cementing can be performed, but accurate placement especially at the end of wellbore is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cementing assembly is nested within the drill string, with the closing sleeve contained within the packer system. This nested configuration allows the entire assembly to be deployed to the end of the wellbore as a single unit, achieving accurate placement without requiring complex external positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The dropped ball mechanism automatically triggers the packer inflation and closing sleeve operation at the desired location. The system self-activates upon reaching the target depth, eliminating the need for complex external control systems while maintaining high placement accuracy.
4Productivity
If conventional cementing systems are used, then cementing can be performed, but excessive work is required to successfully install cement
Solution Approach 1:
The closing sleeve and packer are extracted as separate, reusable components after cementing is complete. The closing sleeve is simply retracted from the wellbore, and the packer can be left in place or removed. This extraction approach eliminates time-consuming separation procedures while maintaining high operational efficiency during the cementing process.
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 accurate cement placement and efficient disconnection of components, reducing operational time and costs by ensuring superior disconnection capabilities and minimizing 'off bottom' placement issues, thus enhancing the overall efficiency and stability of the wellbore cementing process.
Implementation Method 1
a packer configured to extend from a first deflated position to a second inflated position
Implementation Method 2
dropping a ball within the apparatus, wherein the ball descends with gravity to an approximate elevation where cementing is to occur
Implementation Method 3
rupturing a rupture disk with the apparatus to establish a flow of cement within the apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments presented provide for an apparatus that provides a dislodgable plug seat that is used to capture a cement wiper plug for wellbore cementing operations. The apparatus further includes a collar having a ball seat and a closing sleeve configured to be shifted from an open position to a closed position. In the open position, a fluid pathway between an interior volume and a wellbore annulus is unblocked, and in the closed position the fluid pathway is blocked. A split ring is shiftable with the closing sleeve between a retained configuration when the closing sleeve is in the open position and an expanded configuration when the closing sleeve is in the closed position. The split ring holds the dislodgable plug seat in place within the body in the retained configuration and releases the dislodgable plug seat in the expanded configuration.