Ring Assembly Vibrational Centralizer for Stuck Pipe Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
During hydrocarbon development operations, tubular strings often become misaligned with the bore of a subterranean well, leading to wear, damage, and the risk of getting stuck due to contact with the well's inner surface and accumulated cuttings, which reduces fluid flow and can cause operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A ring assembly is used to apply vibrational forces against the well's inner surface through inflatable members, maintaining the tubular string's concentricity and dispersing cuttings, while also allowing for zonal isolation and temporary sealing, equipped with wheels for navigating obstructions and a self-orientation drive for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tubular string is moved into the subterranean well without a ring assembly, then the operation is simpler, but the tubular string becomes misaligned and contacts the inner surface of the bore causing wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ring assembly acts as an intermediary device between the tubular string and the bore wall. It includes a centralizer mechanism with radial arms that can be extended to contact the bore inner surface, thereby maintaining the tubular string's concentric position and preventing direct contact between the tubular string and bore wall, which would cause wear and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring assembly incorporates inflatable members that can be inflated or deflated to adjust the radial position of the centralizer arms. By changing the inflation parameter, the system can adapt to different bore conditions and maintain optimal concentricity of the tubular string during insertion operations.
2Productivity
If the tubular string is lowered without vibration, then energy consumption is lower, but cuttings accumulate and cause the tubular string to stick
Solution Approach 1:
The ring assembly incorporates a vibration mechanism that generates mechanical vibrations along the tubular string. These vibrations prevent cuttings from accumulating and causing the tubular string to stick in the bore, thereby maintaining insertion efficiency. The vibration is transmitted through the ring assembly to the tubular string without requiring high energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration mechanism operates periodically rather than continuously, providing vibrational impulses at intervals during the tubular string insertion process. This periodic action is sufficient to prevent cutting accumulation and sticking while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous vibration.
3Manufacturing precision
If the ring assembly includes inflatable members for vibration, then concentricity is maintained and cuttings are dispersed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable members serve multiple functions: they act as vibration generators when inflated and deflated, they provide structural support for the centralizer arms, and they can be used for sealing or anchoring the ring assembly in place. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable members are constructed from flexible membranes that can be inflated to generate vibration and maintain structural integrity. This flexible shell approach allows the system to achieve precise concentricity control without requiring rigid, complex mechanical structures, thereby managing device complexity.
4Ease of operation
If wheels are added to the ring assembly, then the assembly can navigate obstructions and joint connections, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring assembly is divided into modular segments that can be assembled and disassembled. The wheels are attached as separate modules to the ring structure, allowing for simplified manufacturing of individual components and easier assembly of the complete system. This segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity compared to integrating wheels into a monolithic structure.
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 effectively prevents tubular string misalignment and sticking, reduces wear, and ensures continuous fluid flow by maintaining concentricity and clearing cuttings, while also providing zonal isolation capabilities without the need for costly interventions.
Implementation Method 1
The ring assembly can use a continuous inflation and deflation technique to cause a vibration force against the inner surface of a bore of the subterranean well
Implementation Method 2
In alternate embodiments the structural ring can include a piezoelectric material
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for moving a tubular string within a subterranean well include a structural ring sized with a ring inner diameter to circumscribe the tubular string and a ring outer diameter to fit within a bore of the subterranean well. A plurality of individual openings are spaced around an outer diameter surface of the structural ring, each individual opening associated with an inflatable member. The inflatable member is operable to vibrationally impact an internal surface of the subterranean well with repeated inflating and deflating the inflatable member. Wheels are spaced around an inner diameter surface of the structural ring.