Rotatable Reamer Shoe for Liner String Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In deviated, horizontal, and multilateral wellbores, the torque capacity of drilling rigs and liner threads limits the ability to rotate liner strings, making it difficult to install liner strings to the desired depth due to debris buildup, which conventional reamer shoes cannot effectively address.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a rotatable sleeve to rotate a reamer shoe without requiring rotation of the tubular string, using a mandrel with grooves and a coupling device to translate longitudinal movement into sleeve rotation, allowing the reamer shoe to clear debris without applying torque from the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional reamer shoe is used at the lower end of the liner string, then the cutting structure can penetrate through debris, but the torque capacity of the drilling rig or liner threads limits the ability to rotate the liner string
Solution Approach 1:
The reaming function is segmented from the liner string rotation. Instead of rotating the entire liner string, only the reamer shoe needs to rotate, which is achieved through a separate rotating mechanism at the bottom of the liner string that converts axial movement into rotational movement of the reamer shoe only.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying torque from the surface to rotate the liner string and reamer shoe, the invention inverts the approach by using axial compression force applied from the surface, which is then converted into rotational movement at the reamer shoe through a mechanical conversion mechanism, eliminating the need for high torque capacity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the liner string is rotated to allow the reamer shoe to clear debris, then debris can be removed, but it is difficult to work the liner string to the bottom of the wellbore in deviated, horizontal, and multilateral wellbores
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by not rotating the liner string at all during installation. Instead, a rotating mechanism at the bottom of the liner string converts axial compression into rotational movement of only the reamer shoe, allowing debris removal without the operational difficulties of rotating and handling the entire liner string in challenging wellbore orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
A mechanical conversion mechanism acts as an intermediary between the axial compression force applied from the surface and the rotational movement needed at the reamer shoe. This intermediary mechanism (comprising converting elements and rotation elements) translates linear motion into rotational motion locally at the reamer shoe without requiring rotation of the liner string itself.
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 the installation of liner strings to the desired depth in challenging wellbore orientations by effectively clearing debris without the need for surface rotation, improving wellbore access and stability.
Implementation Method 1
A coupling device that is operably associated with the sleeve and extendable into the at least one groove translates the longitudinal travel of the mandrel relative to the sleeve into rotation of the sleeve and the reamer shoe relative to the mandrel
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for reaming a wellbore without rotating a tubular string that is extendable to a surface. A mandrel (102) is coupled to a downhole end of the tubular string. The mandrel (102) has at least one groove (110) in a sidewall portion thereof. A sleeve (112) is operably associated with the mandrel (102) such that longitudinal travel of the mandrel (102) relative to the sleeve (112) shifts the sleeve (112) between extended and contracted positions relative to the mandrel (102). A reamer shoe (122) is coupled to a downhole end of the sleeve (112). At least one coupling device (116) is operably associated with the sleeve (112) and extendable into the at least one groove (110) such that longitudinal travel of the mandrel (102) relative to the sleeve (112) caused the sleeve (112) to rotate relative to the mandrel (102), thereby rotating the reamer shoe (122).