Taper Tap Fish Retrieval Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drilling operations are frequently paused due to the need for time-consuming fish retrieval operations when equipment falls into a well, leading to undesirable well downtime, as conventional drill bits cannot drill through stuck or fallen equipment.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with engagement slips, a taper tap, and a motor is used to secure and apply torque to the stuck equipment, allowing for efficient retrieval by engaging and disengaging the slips to free the equipment without damaging other connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional drill bits are used, then drilling can continue without interruption, but they cannot drill through fish causing drilling to stop
Solution Approach 1:
The drill bit incorporates a sacrificial segment that can be dynamically replaced. When the drill bit encounters a fish, the sacrificial segment absorbs the impact and can be shed or replaced, allowing the drill bit to maintain its drilling function while adapting to the presence of obstacles that would normally stop drilling operations
2Reliability
If fishing operations are performed to remove fish, then the fish can be retrieved, but drilling operations must be paused causing well downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The drill bit design extracts the problem-solving function from separate fishing operations and integrates it directly into the drilling process. The sacrificial segment and impact absorption mechanisms are built into the drill bit itself, allowing the drill bit to handle fish encounters directly during drilling without requiring extraction of the drill string for separate fishing operations
3Reliability
If torque is applied to free stuck fish, then the fish can be freed, but there is risk of accidental breakage of drill pipe connections
Solution Approach 1:
The drill bit is segmented into a permanent body and a sacrificial segment. The sacrificial segment is designed to be replaceable and is positioned to interact with fish first. This segmentation allows torque and impact forces to be applied to the sacrificial segment rather than the entire drill string, protecting upstream drill pipe connections from damaging forces while still enabling effective fish freeing operations
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
This method enables quick and efficient fish retrieval, reducing downtime and the risk of accidental breakage of drill pipe connections by applying torque directly to the taper tap engaged with the fish, allowing drilling to resume promptly.
Implementation Method 1
The slip retraction spring can be configured to bias the pin toward the first end of the path defined by the profile of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The motor is activated to apply torque on the fish via the taper tap to free the fish
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a housing, engagement slips, a tubular, a taper tap, a pin, and a slip activation member. The housing includes a profile that defines a path including a first end and a second end. The engagement slips are attached to the housing. The tubular passes through an opening of the housing. The taper tap is rotatable and connected to the housing. The pin is connected to the tubular and received by the profile of the housing. The tubular is translatable with respect to the housing based on the pin translating along the path defined by the profile. The slip activation member is connected to the tubular. The slip activation member is configured to move each of the engagement slips radially outward with respect to the housing when the pin translates to the second end of the path.