Sand Control Liner Torque Resistance and Pressure Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for drilling with liners that have openings with sand control devices face challenges in withstanding applied torque and delivering pressurized fluid without a drill string, while also avoiding perforation damage and stuck perforating guns in low bottom hole pressure wells.

Innovation Solution

A robust liner structure with torque-resistant inserts and sand control media passages that can be sealed and later opened to allow production, allowing the liner to rotate the bit and convey pressure during drilling, and then open for production without the need for additional perforation or trips.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a liner with screens is used to drill without a drill string, then trips are reduced and time is saved, but the liner structure cannot withstand the applied torque from drilling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrips into the wellVSAvoidtorque resistance of liner

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The liner structure is segmented into multiple components: the liner body, separate torque-resistant inserts placed in openings, and sand control media. This segmentation allows the liner to maintain its primary function of reducing trips while torque resistance is provided by the reinforced insert structure, resolving the contradiction between time efficiency and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite construction by combining the liner material with torque-resistant inserts and sand control media. The inserts act as reinforcement elements within the liner structure, creating a composite system that provides both the flexibility needed for drilling operations and the structural strength to withstand applied torque without requiring a drill string.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the liner has openings with sand control devices, then production can be enabled, but the liner cannot hold pressure for proper circulation through the bit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capabilityVSAvoidpressure holding capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The sand control media in the inserts is configured to be dynamically controllable - it can resist pressure during drilling operations to maintain circulation, and then be opened or removed after drilling to enable production. This dynamic behavior allows the same structure to serve dual purposes: maintaining pressure integrity during drilling and enabling production flow afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The liner is pre-configured with openings and sand control devices during installation, but these are initially sealed or blocked. The sand control media is positioned in advance within the inserts, and the openings are sealed during drilling to maintain pressure. After drilling is complete, the seals are removed to enable production, combining preparation with conditional activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If perforation is used to enable production, then the formation can be accessed, but damage is caused to sensitive formations and perforating guns can become stuck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction accessVSAvoidformation damage and stuck equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the perforation step from the production enablement process. Instead of using explosive perforating guns that cause formation damage and can become stuck, the liner's openings are simply opened or removed after drilling. This takes out the harmful perforation operation while still achieving the goal of enabling production access through the liner's pre-configured openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of having openings in the liner (which would normally compromise pressure integrity) into a benefit by using sand control media to seal these openings during drilling. After drilling is complete, the same openings become the production pathway, eliminating the need for harmful perforation while enabling production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS7708076B2Method of using a drill in sand control liner

Publication Date: 2010.05.04 BAKER HUGHES CO

AI summary

A liner rotates a bit to make more hole. The liner has openings with inserts in them to lend torque resistance to the liner. The inserts have a passage with a send control media in the passage and a seal so that the liner can hold pressure for run in to get proper circulation through the bit. When sufficient hole is made, the liner is hung off an existing cemented tubular and the seal for the passages with the sand control media is removed by a variety of techniques so that the formation can be produced in a single trip.