Storm Packer Anchor With Clutch Torque Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storm packers, commonly used in offshore drilling for temporary well abandonment, are limited in use due to reliance on the suspended weight of a tailpipe for anchoring, leading to potential release under transient pressure differentials, and incur unnecessary costs when not in use.
Innovation Solution
An anchor-packer assembly with a radially expandable slips assembly and seal, coupled with an anchor that transmits torque and axial forces to set the packer, preventing release from the tubular, and a clutch mechanism for controlled torque transmission and relative rotation, allowing the packer to be set and secured without relying on the tailpipe weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If storm packer relies on tailpipe weight for anchoring, then packer can be easily deployed and retrieved, but packer may release under transient pressure differentials and is limited to temporary abandonment scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent functional components: the packer assembly that handles sealing and the anchor assembly that handles anchoring. The anchor includes separate elements (anchor body, anchor legs, setting mechanism) that can independently provide anchoring force without relying on tailpipe weight, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and anchoring stability
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor acts as an intermediary component between the packer and the wellbore wall. It transfers and distributes the anchoring load through its legs and setting mechanism to the wellbore surface, providing stable anchoring independent of the packer's operational state or tailpipe weight, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If storm packer is rented to satisfy regulatory requirements, then compliance is achieved, but unnecessary costs are incurred when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor-packer assembly is designed with multi-functionality: the anchor provides reliable anchoring for both temporary abandonment scenarios and permanent well completion, while the packer maintains its sealing function. This universal design allows the system to serve multiple purposes (regulatory compliance, operational flexibility, cost reduction) without requiring separate specialized equipment, thus eliminating unnecessary costs while maintaining adaptability
3Reliability
If anchor includes multiple locking mechanisms and torque transmission components, then anchoring reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple anchoring and locking functions are merged into integrated components: the anchor legs are combined with the setting mechanism, the torque mandrel integrates the torque transmission and locking functions, and the clutch mechanism combines torque limitation with engagement control. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining or improving anchoring reliability, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity
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 the storm packer to be effectively used beyond temporary abandonment scenarios, providing reliable anchoring and reducing costs by allowing operation without the need for continuous tailpipe weight, enhancing operational flexibility and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The slips assembly and the seal are radially expandable so as to engage a surrounding tubular
Implementation Method 2
The anchor includes a torque mandrel configured to connect to a packer mandrel of the storm packer and configured to transmit torque and axial forces thereto
Implementation Method 3
The anchor is configured to transmit a first torque and a first axial force to the packer, to set the packer
Implementation Method 4
The clutch is configured to transmit torque between the inner mandrel and the torque mandrel up to a predetermined amount of torque, and to permit relative rotation therebetween at a torque above the predetermined amount of torque
Implementation Method 5
a locking mechanism to selectively couple the torque mandrel to the inner mandrel, the locking mechanism having a first locked condition that permits the inner mandrel to rotate relative to the torque mandrel, and prevents the inner mandrel from moving in a first axial direction relative to the torque mandrel
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor-packer assembly includes a packer having a slips assembly and a seal. The slips assembly and the seal are radially expandable so as to engage a surrounding tubular. The assembly also includes an anchor coupled to the packer. The anchor includes a slips assembly and is configured to transmit a first torque and a first axial force to the packer, to set the packer. The anchor is configured to be actuated from an anchor running position in which the slips assembly thereof is retracted, to an anchor set position, in which the slips assembly thereof is expanded radially outward, in response to a second torque and a second axial force, and the anchor in the anchor set position is configured to prevent an uphole-directed force on the packer from releasing the slips assembly of the packer from engagement with the surrounding tubular.