Shuttle Valve Plug for Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plugs used in hydrocarbon recovery operations are expensive to produce, prone to pressure-related damage, and susceptible to leak spots due to their complex design and materials.
Innovation Solution
An improved plug design featuring a shuttle valve that travels between stops in the plug's bore, equalizing pressure and reducing the risk of damage and leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional plugs are made with multiple machined sections and metallic materials, then manufacturing precision and strength are improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into multiple modular components including a body, wedge, seal assembly, and shuttle valve mechanism. Each component can be manufactured separately and assembled, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining structural integrity and strength requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug incorporates composite material construction, combining metallic and non-metallic materials in different components. This allows each component to be made from the most suitable material for its specific function, optimizing both strength and ease of manufacture while reducing overall complexity.
2Ease of operation
If non-metallic materials are used to ease drilling out, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability and pressure resistance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The plug body is segmented into components that can be easily drilled out (such as the main body) while critical pressure-containing components (like the shuttle valve and seal assembly) are made from pressure-resistant materials, ensuring both ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different components of the plug use different materials optimized for their specific functions: non-metallic materials for ease of drilling in the main body, and pressure-resistant materials for critical sealing and pressure-containing elements, achieving both ease of operation and high reliability.
3Reliability
If conventional plug designs are used, then manufacturing cost increases and leak spots occur, but the basic sealing function is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
A shuttle valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the internal and external environments. This valve controls fluid flow and pressure equalization, preventing uncontrolled leakage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is cost-effective to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug design incorporates adjustable parameters through the shuttle valve mechanism, allowing optimization of sealing pressure and flow characteristics. This enables reliable leak prevention through parameter optimization rather than requiring complex fixed-geometry sealing structures, reducing manufacturing costs.
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 improved plug design reduces the risk of pressure-related damage and leaks, making it more durable and reliable for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations.
Implementation Method 1
The traveling shuttle valve serves to reduce pressure across at least portions of the plug, thereby at least reducing the possibility of damage resulting from undue pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An improved plug with shuttle valve is disclosed. The improved plug has a bore in which a shuttle valve travels between stops in the bore. The traveling shuttle valve serves to reduce wellbore pressure across at least portions of the plug, thereby at least reducing the possibility of damage resulting from undue wellbore pressure and leak spots.