Quick-Closing Annular Packer for Rapid Wellbore Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blowout preventers (BOPs) take too long to seal off a drill string, allowing excessive formation influx into the wellbore, which can exceed the kick tolerance and pose safety and operational risks during drilling operations.
Innovation Solution
A quick closing annular packer element within a housing, integrated with a hydraulic system, accumulator, and pressure relief system, capable of sealing off a drill string in 5 seconds or less, using a torus-shaped packing element and fluid pressure-operated actuator to rapidly constrict and seal around the drill pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional blowout preventers are used to seal off the drill string, then the sealing function is achieved, but the closure time is too long (45-60 seconds) allowing excessive formation influx into the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system and accumulator are pre-charged and positioned before a blowout event occurs. When a kick is detected, the system can immediately act to close the annular packer without delay, as all necessary components are already in place and pre-configured for rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a hydraulic actuator system that uses fluid pressure to rapidly close the annular packer. The hydraulic accumulator stores pressurized fluid that can be quickly released to actuate the packer closure, enabling sealing in 5 seconds or less compared to conventional mechanical systems.
2Reliability
If conventional BOPs are used, then the well control function is provided, but the influx volume increases significantly during the slow closure process
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potential harm of formation influx into a beneficial controlled situation by rapidly sealing the annulus. The quick-closing mechanism transforms the uncontrolled inflow event into a controlled closure event, minimizing the volume of influx that can enter the wellbore while maintaining well control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic actuator system enables the annular packer to close rapidly through the annulus in 5 seconds or less, skipping the lengthy closure process of conventional BOPs. This rapid closure minimizes the time the wellbore is exposed to formation influx, thereby reducing the total influx volume.
3Loss of time
If the annular packer closes rapidly in 5 seconds or less, then the influx volume is minimized, but the system complexity increases due to hydraulic components and accumulator
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system and accumulator serve multiple functions: they provide rapid packer closure, control the closure speed, and can be integrated with existing BOP systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated rapid-closure mechanisms, thereby managing system complexity while achieving fast closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic actuator serves as an intermediary between the control system and the annular packer. It translates control signals into rapid mechanical closure action, mediating between the simplicity of the control interface and the complexity of the mechanical sealing system, thereby managing overall system complexity.
4Ease of operation
If conventional drilling operations are performed without rapid closure capability, then the operational simplicity is maintained, but the kick tolerance is exceeded when formation influx occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The rapid-closure system is designed to automatically respond when a kick is detected, minimizing the need for complex manual intervention. The hydraulic system can be triggered by standard kick detection procedures, providing self-service protection that maintains operational simplicity while enhancing kick tolerance through rapid automatic closure.
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
This solution significantly reduces the influx volume into the wellbore by achieving rapid closure of the annulus, minimizing the risk of exceeding kick tolerance and enhancing safety and operational efficiency during drilling.
Implementation Method 1
fluid pressure-operated actuator to rapidly constrict and seal around the drill pipe
Implementation Method 2
integrated with a hydraulic system, accumulator, and pressure relief system
Data Source
AI summary
A method of drilling a subterranean well bore comprising, monitoring the well bore for influx of formation fluid into the well bore, and, on detection of an influx, a) stopping any pump pumping fluid into the well bore, b) operating a first blow out preventer so that it closes within a first period of time, c) operating a second blow out preventer so that it closes within a second period of time, the second blow out preventer being located below the first blow out preventer, the second period of time being longer than the first period of time, d) circulating the influx out of the well bore via a flow line extending from below the second blow out preventer.