Reverse Cementation Liner String Prevents Valve Fouling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional forward cementation methods for liner strings in wellbores risk fouling fracture valves, necessitating the use of open hole packers to avoid damage, which may not provide adequate sealing and stability for effective formation stimulation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for reverse cementation, involving a liner string with a mandrel, seal, setting sleeve, crossover valve, and reverse cementing valve, allowing for controlled cement slurry pumping between the liner string and wellbore to set a seal and isolate zones, enabling efficient and stable wellbore lining without fouling fracture valves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If forward cementation is used to line the wellbore, then the wellbore is isolated and stabilized, but the fracture valves become fouled with cement and cannot function properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewellbore isolation stabilityVSAvoidcement fouling of fracture valves

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional cementation approach by pumping cement slurry upward through the annulus between the liner string and wellbore, rather than downward through the liner interior. This reverse direction prevents cement from contacting the fracture valves, eliminating fouling while achieving wellbore isolation and stabilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If open hole packers are used instead of forward cementation to avoid valve fouling, then valve fouling is prevented, but adequate sealing and stability for formation stimulation are not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve fouling preventionVSAvoidzone isolation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using open hole packers that fail to provide adequate sealing, the patent inverts the cementation method to pump cement upward through the annulus. This achieves both objectives: preventing valve fouling by avoiding downward cement flow while simultaneously providing reliable zone isolation and wellbore stability through proper cement setting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the liner string is cemented in place using conventional methods, then the wellbore is stabilized, but the fracture valves are damaged and cannot be used for staged fracturing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewellbore structural stabilityVSAvoidfracture valve damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the cement pumping direction to flow upward through the annulus between the liner and wellbore. This inversion stabilizes the wellbore through proper cement placement while preventing cement from entering and damaging the fracture valves, enabling staged fracturing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the harmful interaction between cement and fracture valves by routing the cement slurry through a separate path (the annulus) that does not involve the valve interior. This separation allows the fracture valves to remain clean and functional while the wellbore still receives stabilization from the cement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10094197B2Reverse cementation of liner string for formation stimulation

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A method of lining a wellbore having a tubular string cemented therein includes: running a liner string into the wellbore using a workstring having a liner deployment assembly (LDA) latched to the liner string; hanging the liner string from the tubular string and setting a seal of the liner string against the tubular string; opening a crossover valve of the liner string located below the set seal; and pumping cement slurry through the open crossover valve and down an annulus formed between the liner string and the wellbore.