Self-orienting Mule Shoe for Deviated Borehole Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the resource recovery and fluid sequestration industries, entering tubular structures into highly deviated boreholes is challenging due to sagging issues, where conventional mule shoes often fail to assist in aligning with the preexisting casing, leading to increased rig time.

Innovation Solution

A self-orienting casing entry tool with a mule shoe body featuring a denser shorter portion and a less dense longer portion, achieved by hollowing out the latter, allowing it to float into the correct orientation within the borehole, combined with a bearing for free rotation, facilitating easier entry into the casing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional mule shoe is used in a deviated borehole, then the tubular entry operation can be performed, but the mule shoe cannot properly align with the preexisting casing due to sagging, leading to failed entry attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemule shoe alignment reliabilityVSAvoidtubular entry operation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the density parameter of the mule shoe body by incorporating a hollow cavity, transforming it from a uniform solid structure to a structure with non-uniform density distribution. This parameter change enables the mule shoe to respond to buoyant forces and self-orient in deviated boreholes, resolving the alignment reliability issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow cavity acts as a counterweight mechanism by creating a density difference within the mule shoe body. This internal counterweight system allows the mule shoe to counteract the sagging effect in deviated boreholes and achieve proper alignment with the preexisting casing through buoyant forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Reliability

If mechanical means are used to address mule shoe alignment issues, then entry can be achieved, but more rig time is required than desirable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentry success rateVSAvoidrig time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mule shoe with the hollow cavity is designed to self-orient automatically in deviated boreholes by responding to buoyant forces acting on the non-uniform density distribution. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external mechanical intervention or complex alignment procedures, thereby reducing rig time while maintaining high entry success rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with a simpler buoyancy-based self-orienting mechanism. The hollow cavity creates density differences that enable automatic alignment through fluid forces, substituting elaborate mechanical means with a more efficient passive system that reduces operational time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the mule shoe contacts the tubular to be entered at an incorrect position, then entry assistance is lost, but conventional designs offer no means to correct this

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentry operation successVSAvoidmule shoe adaptability to contact position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mule shoe is designed with dynamic self-orienting capability through the hollow cavity, allowing it to automatically adjust its orientation in response to buoyant forces. This dynamic adaptation enables the mule shoe to maintain proper alignment regardless of initial contact position or borehole deviation, significantly improving ease of operation and entry success.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 tool reduces rig time by automatically aligning with the preexisting casing, enhancing the efficiency of tubular entry operations in deviated boreholes by utilizing buoyant forces to orient the mule shoe correctly.

Implementation Method 1

the second portion of the body is made of the same material, the second portion configured to exhibit a lesser density... floating the tool into an orientation where the mule shoe body will enter the predisposed casing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS12123270B2Self-orienting casing entry tool, and system

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A self-orienting casing entry tool, including a mule shoe body having an angled nose terminating the body creating a first relatively longitudinally shorter portion of the body and a second relatively longitudinally longer portion of the body, wherein the first portion of the body is made of a material, the first portion having a density, and the second portion of the body is made of the same material, the second portion configured to exhibit a lesser density. A method for entering a predisposed casing in a deviated borehole including running a tool at the front of a string being run in the borehole, floating the tool into an orientation where the mule shoe body will enter the predisposed casing. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a self-orienting casing entry tool disposed as a part of the string.