Swellable Glass Material for Rapid Well Tool Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swellable materials in subterranean wells take hours or days to swell and are not easily un-swollen, leading to inefficiencies in rig time and unpredictable operation of packer assemblies and other well tools.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing a rapidly swelling and un-swelling swellable material, such as a swellable glass material, that can be actuated by an activating fluid, allowing for instantaneous or controlled swelling and subsequent un-swelling, facilitated by a flow controller and optional outer and inner layers to manage fluid contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional swellable materials are used in well tools, then the materials can provide self-actuating packer assemblies, but the swelling process takes many hours or even days and the materials are not easily un-swollen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by incorporating hydrophilic colloidal particles (1-50 micrometers) into a polymer matrix, creating a composite swellable material that responds rapidly to fluid contact. This compositional parameter change enables the material to swell within seconds to minutes rather than hours or days, directly resolving the time loss contradiction while maintaining reliable self-actuating functionality.
2Ease of operation
If conventional swellable materials are used, then packer assemblies can be actuated, but the actuation and un-actuation processes are unpredictable and take very long periods of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the material's response characteristics by using a polymer matrix with specific hydrophilic colloidal particles that respond predictably to fluid contact. The controlled pore structure and particle distribution parameters ensure consistent swelling and un-swelling behavior, making the actuation process reliable and predictable rather than unpredictable and lengthy.
3Productivity
If rapid swelling materials are used, then rig time can be reduced, but the materials must be reliably un-swollen for subsequent operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic material system where the polymer matrix with hydrophilic colloidal particles can rapidly transition between swollen and un-swollen states based on fluid contact. This dynamic responsiveness enables rapid actuation to reduce rig time while maintaining full un-swelling capability for subsequent operations, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and operational flexibility.
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 rapid actuation of well tools and reliable, quick un-actuation, reducing rig time and improving operational efficiency with multiple swelling and un-swelling cycles possible.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a swellable material of the well tool with an activating fluid in the well, thereby causing the swellable material to swell
Data Source
AI summary
Rapid swelling and un-swelling materials provide for rapid actuation of well tools. A well tool can include a swellable material, with the swellable material comprising a swellable glass material. A method of actuating a well tool in a subterranean well can include contacting a swellable material of the well tool with an activating fluid in the well, thereby causing the swellable material to swell. The well tool rapidly actuates in response to contacting the swellable material with the activating fluid.