Sealing Spoolable Wellbore Intervention Rod Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Spoolable rods or tubes used in wellbore intervention often experience leaks or breakages below the surface, leading to safety hazards due to migration of wellbore fluids or gases to the surface, which existing pressure seals and barriers are insufficient to prevent.

Innovation Solution

A method involving exposing the interior of the conduit at the surface, introducing a curable sealing compound, allowing it to cure, and using a combination of valves and a blow-out preventer system to seal the conduit, including cutting the rod or tube and injecting the sealant into the exposed area to prevent further leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pressure seals and barriers are installed in the rod or tube, then fluid migration is reduced, but leakage can still occur within or above these barriers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The method introduces a curable sealing compound into the conduit at the surface before the rod is fully deployed or while it is still accessible. This preliminary action allows the sealing compound to be injected and cured while the interior is exposed, creating a proactive seal that prevents future leakage rather than relying solely on passive barriers that may fail during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The curable sealing compound acts as an intermediary substance that fills and seals the interior conduit space. This compound serves as a mediator between the potential leak paths and the external environment, providing a flexible sealing solution that can adapt to irregularities in the conduit structure and provide reliable sealing without requiring complex mechanical barrier systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a pressure seal valve is coupled to the upper end of the rod outside the wellhead, then some fluid control is achieved, but it is not sufficient to prevent all fluid migration to surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid containmentVSAvoidoperational safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing compound is injected and cured in advance while the conduit interior is accessible at the surface. This preliminary sealing action creates a redundant barrier that works in conjunction with the pressure seal valve, ensuring that even if the valve fails or is insufficient, the cured sealing compound provides an additional layer of containment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The curable sealing compound provides a cushioning or backup sealing mechanism that is already in place before operational failures can occur. This prior cushioning ensures that if the primary pressure seal valve does not provide adequate containment, the cured sealing compound serves as a pre-positioned safety barrier against fluid migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rod stiffness enables long lateral displacement, then wellbore intervention capability is improved, but breakage or leak risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral displacement capabilityVSAvoidrod integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing compound is introduced and cured while the rod is in a controlled state with accessible conduit interior. This preliminary sealing action addresses potential integrity issues before the rod undergoes the stresses of lateral displacement and deep wellbore intervention, ensuring that sealing pathways are established while the structure is more accessible and controllable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The curable sealing compound provides a self-service sealing mechanism that can autonomously fill and seal leakage pathways within the conduit. Once injected and cured, the sealing compound independently provides structural reinforcement and leak prevention without requiring continuous external intervention, thereby maintaining rod integrity during lateral displacement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Effectively seals the conduit, preventing wellbore fluids or gases from migrating to the surface, ensuring safe wellbore operations and allowing the rod or tube to remain in place without further leakage, even after damage or breakage.

Implementation Method 1

A curable sealing compound is introduced into the exposed interior of the conduit. The compound is allowed to cure.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCuring:

Data Source

PatentUS8602688B2Method to stop wellbore fluid leakage from a spoolable wellbore intervention rod

Publication Date: 2013.12.10 ZIEBEL AS

AI summary

A method for sealing a conduit in a spoolable wellbore intervention rod includes exposing an interior of the conduit at a location proximate the earth's surface while the spoolable rod is deployed in a wellbore. A curable sealing compound is introduced into the exposed interior of the conduit and the compound is allowed to cure.