Slip Design with Segmented Arc Length for Well Packer Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slips used in the resource recovery industry for anchoring tools within tubular structures have drawbacks that limit their effectiveness in certain situations, such as stress concentration and retrieval difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A slip design featuring a head section, a tail section, an intermediate section with a shorter arc length, and lateral wings that connect the head and tail sections, allowing for improved engagement with a slip ring and reduced stress concentration, along with optional features like wickers and resilient members for enhanced stability and timed disengagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional slip designs with uniform arc lengths are used, then the structure is simple, but stress concentration occurs and retrieval becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring effectivenessVSAvoidslip structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The slip is divided into three distinct sections along its arc length: a head section, an intermediate section with shorter arc length, and a tail section. This segmentation allows each section to serve different functions - the head and tail sections provide engagement surfaces while the intermediate section reduces stress concentration, thereby improving anchoring effectiveness without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the slip are given different arc lengths to optimize local performance. The head and tail sections have longer arc lengths for engagement, while the intermediate section has a shorter arc length specifically to reduce stress concentration. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by improving reliability through targeted design rather than uniform structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If slips are designed for strong engagement, then anchoring is improved, but retrieval becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement strengthVSAvoidretrieval ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slip design incorporates a dynamic engagement mechanism where the body can rotate relative to the slip ring. During setting, rotation engages the slips firmly for strong anchoring. During retrieval, reverse rotation or controlled movement allows disengagement. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between strong engagement and ease of retrieval

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement and disengagement mechanisms are designed to work in opposite directions or modes. The same structural features that provide strong engagement when rotated one way facilitate retrieval when rotated the other way, allowing the slip to be firmly anchored during operation but easily retrieved when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11480024B2Packer assembly with slip system

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A slip engagable with a slip ring including a head section having an arc length, a tail section having the same arc length, an intermediate section having an arc length shorter than either the head section and the tail section connecting the head section to the tail section, and a lateral wing depending from the intermediate section.