Retractable Pump Down Ring for Downhole Tool Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pump down rings used in downhole tools for subterranean wells face issues such as excessive friction leading to sticking during deployment, fluid bypass due to flexibility, and retrieval difficulties due to vacuum creation, necessitating a solution to minimize liquid usage and enhance tool movement and retrieval efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pump-down-ring assembly comprising a sleeve with an angled shoulder and a resilient, radially-expanding pump down ring that transitions from an expanded to a radially-relaxed position upon tension mandrel activation, reducing fluid pressure resistance and facilitating easier tool movement and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pump down ring is made stiff to reduce fluid bypass, then sealing performance is improved, but friction increases and sticking risk worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The pump down ring is designed as a resilient, expandable component that dynamically adjusts its radial position. During deployment, it expands to engage the wellbore wall for effective pumping. During retrieval, it contracts to reduce contact and friction. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between maintaining sealing performance and reducing sticking risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring's physical parameters (radial dimension, contact pressure) are changed between operational states. By transitioning from an expanded state with high contact pressure for sealing to a relaxed state with reduced contact pressure for retrieval, the system optimizes performance for each phase without compromising the other.
2Ease of operation
If a pump down ring is made flimsy to reduce friction, then ease of movement is improved, but wear increases and fluid bypass worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The ring transitions from a relaxed state during movement to an expanded state during pumping operations. This dynamic expansion provides sufficient stiffness and sealing capability only when needed, while maintaining flexibility and low friction during deployment and retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters of the ring (radial stiffness, contact area) are changed based on operational requirements. The resilient material allows the ring to achieve high stiffness when expanded for pumping while remaining flexible during movement, resolving the contradiction between ease of movement and sealing performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pump down rings are installed by wireline crew to enable retrieval, then adaptability is improved, but retrieval difficulty increases due to vacuum creation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump down ring's resilient, expandable design allows it to contract during retrieval operations. This contraction reduces the vacuum effect and fluid column adhesion, enabling easier pullout while maintaining the ability to be installed by wireline crew for enhanced adaptability.
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 assembly reduces fluid pressure resistance during deployment and retrieval, minimizing the risk of sticking and fluid bypass, while allowing for efficient placement and retrieval of downhole tools in subterranean wells.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient, radially-expanding pump down ring that transitions from an expanded to a radially-relaxed position
Implementation Method 2
Pumping a liquid into the pipe string creates a dynamic pressure differential across the tool thereby propelling it along the horizontal leg
Data Source
AI summary
A pump down ring is utilized in a downhole tool for use in a subterranean well. The pump down ring is positioned around the outer surface of a sleeve and is slidably disposed thereon. The pump down ring slidably engages the sleeve so as to have a radially-relaxed position and an expanded position where the pump down ring is expanded radially outward from the radially-relaxed position. Accordingly, the pump down ring can be placed in its expanded position to facilitate placement of the downhole tool in a wellbore by use of fluid pressure and can be placed in its radially-relaxed position to facilitate removal of the downhole tool from the wellbore.