Removable Fracturing Plug Using Granular Material in Porous Sheath
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for isolating zones in a wellbore using sand plugs are inefficient for removal and require complex processes, and alternative designs with swelling materials do not provide sufficient sealing for fracturing applications.
Innovation Solution
A removable plug featuring a solid granular material housed in a porous enclosure that changes shape to set, using a setting tool to create relative movement and alter the enclosure's shape, allowing for easy removal by fluid circulation or mandrel undermining, with optional locking features to prevent reverse flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sand plugs are used to isolate zones in a wellbore, then zonal isolation is achieved, but removal requires complex jetting processes and is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into two functional components: a porous substrate that provides the sealing surface and a granular material that forms the isolating barrier. This segmentation allows the plug to be set effectively while enabling simplified removal by targeting specifically the granular material portion through jetting or circulation, without requiring complex processes to remove the entire plug structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the removal difficulty from the plug system by designing the granular material to be loosely held on the porous substrate. This extraction allows the granular material to be easily removed through fluid circulation or jetting actions, separating the isolation function (performed by the porous substrate) from the removal function (performed by the granular material), thereby simplifying the overall removal process.
2Ease of operation
If swelling material is used in porous enclosures to create relative movement, then the packer can transition from run in to set position, but sealing is insufficient for fracturing applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the granular material through compression. When the plug is set, the granular material is compressed against the porous substrate, changing its density and flow characteristics. This parameter change enables the material to provide sufficient sealing for fracturing applications while maintaining the simple setting mechanism of using swelling material to create relative movement during installation.
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 solution provides effective zonal isolation with minimal material usage, allowing sufficient flow for fracturing while being easily removable, thus overcoming the inefficiencies of previous methods.
Implementation Method 1
a setting tool that creates relative movement and alter the enclosure's shape to set
Implementation Method 2
The porous enclosure can then be undermined in a variety of ways to allow the granular material to escape where it can be removed with fluid circulation
Data Source
AI summary
The removable plug features a solid material that is housed in a porous container that has its shape changed to transition from the run in shape to the set shape. A swage is moved through a passage in the container to enlarge the passage and move the container to a borehole wall. The passage is then closed such as with a flapper valve or by moving in a mandrel into the expanded passage and lodging the mandrel in the expanded passage. Various release techniques are described.