Telescoping Bottom Hole Assembly for Seal Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In well bore servicing, especially with coiled tubing or extended lateral well bores, achieving a positive seal and maintaining it during pressurization is challenging due to insufficient set weight, leading to potential seal failure and loss of pressure.
Innovation Solution
A bottom hole assembly comprising an upper and lower component with a telescoping assembly and force-generating elements, such as springs, shear pins, pyrotechnic actuators, or hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders, to apply forces that allow the sealing elements to compress and maintain a seal without significant resistance, even under high pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional straddle systems are used with coiled tubing or extended lateral well bores, then the well bore can be serviced, but insufficient set weight is achieved leading to seal failure and loss of pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The packer assembly incorporates a telescoping inner mandrel that can dynamically adjust its position relative to the outer housing. This dynamic structure allows the packer to adapt to well bore conditions and maintain effective sealing force without requiring excessive set weight, resolving the contradiction between seal reliability and available set weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The packer is divided into separate functional components: an outer housing, an inner mandrel, and sealing elements. This segmentation allows the sealing elements to be independently positioned and actuated, enabling them to engage with the well bore wall with optimized force distribution, thereby improving seal reliability while reducing the total set weight required.
2Reliability
If sealing elements are compressed to maintain a seal under high pressure, then pressure retention is improved, but the sealing elements experience significant resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping inner mandrel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sealing elements and the external compression force. When the packer is set, the inner mandrel telescopes within the outer housing, distributing the compression force through this intermediate structure. This mediation allows the sealing elements to be effectively compressed for pressure retention while reducing the direct resistance they experience, as the force is distributed through the telescoping mechanism rather than being applied directly to the sealing elements.
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 telescoping assembly ensures reliable sealing and pressure retention in the annulus, preventing seal failure and maintaining effective pressurization for well bore servicing operations like fracture testing.
Implementation Method 1
force-generating elements, such as springs, shear pins, pyrotechnic actuators, or hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders
Data Source
AI summary
A bottom hole assembly is provided. The bottom hole assembly comprises an upper component, a lower component and a telescoping assembly disposed between the upper component and the lower component.