Tapered Flotation Device for Wellbore Tubulars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buoyant running methods for wellbore tubulars face challenges in maintaining effective fluid isolation and achieving full casing or liner ID for downhole operations, often requiring specialized equipment and complicating the removal of float devices.
Innovation Solution
A flotation device with a tapered exterior profile and locking segments that expand to securely engage the inner wall of the tubular, allowing for easy installation and removal, and featuring a seal ring for enhanced pressure resistance and fluid isolation, enabling free longitudinal movement and full ID access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional float devices are used for buoyant running, then fluid isolation is maintained, but full casing ID is not achieved and specialized equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The float device is divided into a float collar and a separate float shoe that can be independently positioned and removed. This segmentation allows the float collar to be removed after buoyant running, achieving full casing ID while maintaining fluid isolation during the running operation
Solution Approach 2:
The float shoe is extracted from the casing interior after serving its buoyant running function. This extraction removes the obstruction to full ID access while the float collar remains to maintain fluid isolation, resolving the contradiction between maintaining isolation and achieving full ID
2Reliability
If float devices with complex structures are used, then fluid isolation is improved, but removal becomes difficult and full ID access is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the float device into removable float shoe and retained float collar components, the system maintains reliable fluid isolation through the float collar while enabling easy removal of the float shoe to achieve full ID access
Solution Approach 2:
The float shoe is discarded (removed) after completing its buoyant running function, while the float collar is recovered and retained to maintain fluid isolation. This selective discarding and recovering resolves the contradiction between maintaining isolation and enabling removal
3Productivity
If specialized float equipment is used, then buoyant running is achieved, but conventional downhole operations cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The specialized float shoe is extracted after buoyant running, allowing conventional downhole tools and equipment to access the full casing ID for subsequent operations such as cementing, while the float collar remains to maintain fluid isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The float collar serves multiple functions: maintaining fluid isolation during buoyant running and enabling full ID access for conventional operations after float shoe removal. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between specialized running capability and conventional operation compatibility
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
Facilitates efficient buoyant movement and fluid isolation of wellbore tubulars, allowing for conventional downhole operations and easy removal of the buoyant chamber, ensuring full ID access for tools and operations like cementing.
Implementation Method 1
buoyant movement of a wellbore tubular into the highly inclined or horizontal section of such a wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A flotation device for a wellbore tubular has a flotation disk having a tapered exterior profile. A maximum external diameter of the flotation disk is such to enable free longitudinal movement within the wellbore tubular. A plurality of locking segments each has a tapered interior profile cooperatively engageable with the tapered exterior profile. Each locking segment has gripping elements on an exterior surface thereof to engage an inner wall of the wellbore tubular. The tapered exterior profile and the tapered interior profile cooperate to expand a diameter of the locking segments as profile engagement increases.