Side Pocket Mandrel for Downhole Device Replacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing subterranean wellbore devices face challenges in surviving extreme environments and becoming outdated due to prolonged exposure, leading to reliability issues and high maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a side pocket mandrel in the casing string that allows for the recharging, replacement, and upgrading of devices without removing the casing string, using downhole tools for retrieval and reinstallation of devices, power sources, and software updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If devices are installed on the casing string for long-term monitoring, then continuous data collection is achieved, but the devices become outdated and unreliable due to extreme environment exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice service lifeVSAvoiddevice reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mandrel is segmented to include a side pocket that can be independently accessed. This allows the device to be replaced or serviced without removing the entire mandrel or casing string, enabling periodic updates while maintaining the overall structure in place for continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device is extracted from the main mandrel structure and placed in a side pocket. This separation allows the device to be removed, replaced, or upgraded independently while the mandrel remains in the wellbore, solving the contradiction between long-term presence and device obsolescence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If devices are designed to withstand extreme heat and pressure, then device survival is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice survival rateVSAvoiddevice design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing extremely durable devices that can withstand extreme conditions for decades, the patent uses replaceable devices in a side pocket that can be periodically swapped out. This reduces the complexity requirements of individual devices while maintaining continuous monitoring capability through replacement rather than long-term survival

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the casing string is removed to replace devices, then device updating is achieved, but wellbore intervention time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice update capabilityVSAvoidwellbore intervention time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mandrel is divided into sections with a side pocket that can be accessed independently. This segmentation allows device replacement without removing the entire casing string, dramatically reducing intervention time while maintaining full update capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side pocket acts as an intermediary structure between the mandrel and the device. It provides access to the device through the mandrel wall, serving as a mediator that enables device replacement without requiring removal of the main mandrel or casing string

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11286767B2Accessible wellbore devices

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A wellbore assembly for use downhole in a wellbore may include a casing string comprising a mandrel. The mandrel may include a side pocket in an inner region of the mandrel. A downhole device may be positioned within the side pocket of the mandrel. The downhole device may include an electronics package, a power source, and a transmitter for transmitting data from the downhole device via a wireless communications link to a downhole tool for transmitting the data to a surface of the wellbore for monitoring a downhole environment of the wellbore.