Slim-Hole Float Sub With Pressure-Released Frangible Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method of removing plugs or packers from a casing string in a wellbore requires a costly drilling operation, which is inefficient and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A downhole tool with a housing and shearable balls or retention members that allow selective removal of a frangible obstruction without drilling, using hydraulic pressure to release the obstruction and create a full-bore access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plugs or packers are installed inside the casing string to isolate portions for buoyancy, then the casing string can be supported in the wellbore, but the plugs or packers must be removed by costly drilling operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the obstruction (body) from the housing as a separate removable component. The body is designed to be held by retention members during installation, then released and removed after use. This separation allows the obstruction to be taken out without costly drilling operations, while still providing the necessary support function during the casing running operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a disposable obstruction (body) that is discarded after serving its buoyancy support function. The body is intentionally designed to be removed and discarded rather than retrieved and reused, eliminating the need for complex recovery operations. The housing and retention members remain in place, but the body is discarded after isolation is no longer needed.
2Ease of manufacture
If a frangible obstruction is used to create full-bore access, then drilling operations are eliminated, but the obstruction must be reliably retained during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The retention members are pre-installed in the housing before the body is inserted. These retention members are positioned to automatically engage and secure the body upon insertion, providing preliminary retention action. The body includes features like protrusions or engagement surfaces that mate with the retention members, ensuring reliable retention during installation and operation before the body is intentionally released.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective removal of the frangible obstruction in the casing string by hydraulic means, providing a full-bore flowpath without the need for drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of shearable balls disposed between the body and the housing. The shearable balls are configured to yield to release the body to move relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
The frangible obstruction is configured to impact the shoulder of the housing and break
Implementation Method 3
The tabs are configured to slide circumferentially within the groove after being introduced via the slot
Implementation Method 4
The inner portions are configured to yield in response to a predetermined force exerted therein by the body, which allows the body to move in the downhole direction relative to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole tool includes a housing having an inner surface. And inner groove is formed in the inner surface. The downhole tool also includes a body positioned in the housing. The downhole tool also includes a plurality of retention members positioned at least partially within the inner groove. The retention members initially prevent the body from moving in a downhole direction relative to the housing. The retention members are configured to yield, which allows the body to move in the downhole direction relative to the housing.