Swaged Shear Pin Assembly for Debris-Free Tubular Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shear pin tools for connecting downhole tubulars in a wellbore do not effectively retain separated parts under high axial loading, leading to potential equipment malfunction due to debris entry.
Innovation Solution
A self-retaining shear pin tool design that includes a cap and a shear pin with swage dies, which expands and locks into the tubular aperture upon axial loading, preventing the parts from falling or moving freely, using a threadless body and materials with thermal expansion properties for self-tightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shear pin tools are used to connect downhole tubulars, then the tubulars can be connected and separated under axial load, but the separated parts of the shear pin tool fall into the wellbore causing equipment malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the shear pin parts falling into the wellbore is extracted and eliminated by designing a retention mechanism that captures and holds the separated parts within the tool assembly, preventing them from becoming debris in the wellbore
Solution Approach 2:
A retention mechanism acts as an intermediary between the shear pin parts and the wellbore environment, intercepting the separated parts and preventing them from causing equipment malfunction downstream
2Reliability
If additional retention mechanisms are added to prevent shear pin parts from falling, then equipment reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is merged with the existing shear pin tool structure by integrating the retention mechanism into the cap and body assembly, allowing one component to serve multiple functions (connection, separation, and retention) without adding separate independent retention devices
Solution Approach 2:
The cap and body structure is designed to serve multiple functions: providing the structural framework for connection, enabling separation under load, and simultaneously acting as the retention mechanism to hold separated parts, reducing overall device 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
The self-retaining shear pin tool ensures the separation of downhole tubulars while retaining the shear pin components, reducing design complexity and the need for additional retention mechanisms, preventing equipment malfunction and allowing for consistent mechanical properties.
Implementation Method 1
Upon application of the force, the swage die causes the body portion of the shear pin to expand and to change dimension. The dimensional change of the body locks the shear pin into the aperture of the tubular
Implementation Method 2
the shear pin includes materials with coefficients of thermal expansion that can achieve a self-tightening assembly when heated
Data Source
AI summary
A self-retaining shear pin tool and methods for connecting downhole tubulars in a wellbore are disclosed. The self-retaining shear pin tool includes a cap having an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side, the cap defining a first recess formed in the inner side of the cap, the first recess of the cap having a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical portion extending from the cylindrical portion towards the outer side of the cap, and a shear pin disposed partially in the first recess of the cap and extending out of the first recess of the cap. The shear pin includes a body, a first recess extending inward from a first end of the body, a second recess extending inward from a second end of the body, a first swage, and a second swage die.