Temporary Wellbore Seal With Segmented Breakable Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a temporary seal within a wellbore casing that can be effectively broken to allow fluid flow without obstructing subsequent operations like cementing, as horizontal wells require efficient fluid movement and reduced drag during directional drilling.
Innovation Solution
A temporary seal comprising a breakable or dissolvable material with varying thicknesses, positioned across the casing, which separates at specific pressure thresholds to allow controlled disintegration and exposure of the full bore diameter, enabling fluid circulation and subsequent operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a temporary seal is placed across the casing to restrict fluid flow, then fluid flow is blocked, but the seal may obstruct subsequent operations like cementing
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary seal is divided into multiple segments with varying thicknesses, creating weak points that allow controlled breaking. The seal consists of a first portion and second portion separated by a breakpoint, enabling it to fragment into manageable pieces that can be removed or dissolved without obstructing subsequent cementing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The seal material's physical properties are changed by varying its thickness across different portions. The first portion has a first thickness and the second portion has a second thickness, creating predetermined weak points at specific pressure thresholds. This parameter variation allows the seal to break at controlled locations while maintaining its flow restriction function
2Reliability
If the temporary seal is made with uniform thickness, then it provides consistent sealing, but it cannot be controlled to break at specific locations
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the temporary seal are given different local qualities through varying thicknesses. The first portion has a first thickness while the second portion has a second thickness, creating localized weak points at specific locations. This allows the seal to maintain consistent sealing across most of its structure while having predetermined locations where it will break under pressure
3Reliability
If the temporary seal is made thick and strong to ensure reliable sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the seal cannot be easily broken to allow fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is segmented into portions of different thicknesses, creating inherent weak points that require less force to break. While the overall seal maintains sufficient strength for effective sealing, the varying thickness creates localized areas (first portion, second portion separated by breakpoint) that will fail at predetermined pressure thresholds
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter is varied across different portions of the seal to create a strength gradient. The first portion has a first thickness and the second portion has a second thickness, establishing different pressure thresholds for breaking at different locations. This allows the seal to be strong enough for sealing while having controlled weak points for breakability
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 temporary seal effectively restricts fluid flow until the pressure differential exceeds the breaking threshold, allowing controlled disintegration and preventing obstruction during downhole operations, thus enhancing the productivity of horizontal wells by ensuring unimpeded fluid circulation and facilitating subsequent operations.
Implementation Method 1
The temporary seal may be broken, dissolved, disengaged, or otherwise removed by increasing the pressure within the inner diameter of the casing past a pressure threshold
Implementation Method 2
The temporary seal may be broken, dissolved, disengaged, or otherwise removed by increasing the pressure within the inner diameter of the casing past a pressure threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary seal within a wellbore. More specifically, a temporary seal within casing that limits the flow of fluid through the casing until the temporary seal is released.