Shear-able Plug Actuation for Wellbore Port Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore liner systems for hydrocarbon fracturing face challenges with flow restrictions due to components within the liner, leading to pressure drops and inefficient fracture stimulation, requiring complex and time-consuming processes for opening multiple ports and transitioning to production flow.
Innovation Solution
A system with a tubular liner and cylindrical sliding sleeve members, actuated by a collet sleeve and plug member, which successively opens ports with minimal fluid pressure, eliminating the need for surface tools and reducing post-fracturing reaming, allowing for separate fracking of hydrocarbon zones with minimal bore restriction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional liner systems with components at each valve are used, then multiple ports can be opened for fracture stimulation, but flow restrictions occur causing pressure drops and reduced operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional valve components (balls, seats, sleeves) from each port location and replaces them with a simple shear-able member. This extraction of complex components eliminates flow restrictions while maintaining the ability to control multiple ports sequentially through the injection of plugs that trigger shear-able members at desired locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the activation mechanism from mechanical valve components to a parameter-based system where plugs with specific dimensions and shear-able members with specific strength parameters control port opening. The system uses plug diameter and shear strength as controllable parameters to determine which ports open at each stage, replacing complex mechanical valve operation with parameter-driven behavior.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems with multiple valve components are used, then fracture stimulation can be performed at multiple locations, but complex milling operations are required to remove components before production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable shear-able members that are intentionally designed to be weak and easily removed. These members serve their temporary purpose of controlling port opening during fracture stimulation, then are easily removed by simple milling or dissolved, leaving no complex valve components to obstruct production flow. This replaces the need to mill out durable valve components with removing simple sacrificial elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts all complex valve components (balls, seats, sliding sleeves, actuation mechanisms) from the system and replaces them with simple shear-able members positioned at port locations. This extraction eliminates the need for complex milling operations, as only simple shear-able members remain to be removed before production, dramatically reducing the milling burden.
3Productivity
If conventional liner systems are used, then fracture stimulation can be conducted, but time-consuming operations and surface equipment are required for port opening and production transition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-positioning shear-able members at each port location before the well is put into production. The plugs are also prepared in advance with specific dimensions and properties. During operation, simply injecting these pre-prepared plugs triggers the predetermined sequence of port openings, eliminating the need for complex real-time valve operations and reducing transition time between fracture stages and production.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses self-service mechanisms where injected plugs automatically travel down the liner, engage shear-able members through pressure differential, and trigger port openings without requiring external actuation or complex control systems. The plugs self-propel and self-activate the shear-able members, eliminating the need for surface equipment intervention during the port opening sequence and reducing operational time.
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 system enables efficient and simultaneous opening of multiple ports along a wellbore with reduced pressure loss, minimizing the need for reaming and surface equipment, thereby enhancing hydrocarbon production and reducing operational complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
fluid pressure applied to an uphole end of the actuation member causes the actuation member to move downhole
Implementation Method 2
a shear pin, releasably securing the plug member to an uphole end of the collet sleeve, shearable when a force is applied to the plug member
Data Source
AI summary
A system for successively uncovering a plurality of contiguous ports in a tubing liner within a wellbore, or for successively uncovering individual groups of ports arranged at different but adjacent locations along the liner, to allow successive fracking of the wellbore at such locations. Sliding sleeves in the tubing liner are provided, having a circumferential groove therein, which are successively moved from a closed position covering a respective port to an open position uncovering such port by an actuation member placed in the bore of the tubing liner. Each actuation member comprises a dissolvable plug which in one embodiment is retained by shear pins at an uphole end of a collet sleeve, the latter having radially-outwardly biased protuberances (fingers) which matingly engage sliding sleeves having cylindrical grooves therein, based on the width of the protuberance. In one embodiment, when actuating the most downhole sleeve, the shear pin shears allowing the plug to move in the collet sleeve and prevent the protuberance (fingers) from disengaging.