Thermal liner top anchor packer with sliding joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal wellbores experience wear and failure of sealing elements due to temperature cycling-induced pipe movement in the liner top packer, leading to increased wear and eventual failure.
Innovation Solution
A liner top anchor packer apparatus comprising an inner tubular slick joint connected to a top sub and a cylindrical mandrel with a slip assembly and packer element, featuring shear pins and a concentrically arranged actuating assembly that allows for sliding movement and deformation of the packer element to secure the liner string and maintain isolation during thermal expansion and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liner top packer is rigidly fixed to prevent movement, then sealing reliability improves, but thermal expansion and contraction cause increased wear and failure of the sealing element
Solution Approach 1:
The packer incorporates a movable inner tubular slick joint that can slide within a cylindrical mandrel, allowing the sealing element to dynamically adjust its position in response to thermal expansion and contraction forces while maintaining continuous sealing contact with the liner wall
Solution Approach 2:
The shear pin connects the inner tubular slick joint to the mandrel with controlled shear strength, allowing the connection parameters to change from rigid to flexible under thermal stress, enabling the sealing element to accommodate dimensional changes without excessive wear
2Reliability
If the sealing element is made more durable to resist wear, then reliability improves, but the apparatus complexity increases due to additional components needed to accommodate thermal movement
Solution Approach 1:
The packer is divided into distinct functional segments including the inner tubular slick joint, cylindrical mandrel, shear pin connection, and slip assembly, allowing each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to solve the thermal movement problem
Solution Approach 2:
The shear pin acts as an intermediary element between the inner tubular slick joint and the mandrel, providing a controlled failure mode that allows thermal movement accommodation without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms
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 apparatus effectively secures the liner string and maintains isolation in thermal wellbores, reducing wear and failure of sealing elements by allowing for thermal expansion and contraction while maintaining a secure seal, thus enhancing the durability and reliability of the wellbore system.
Implementation Method 1
the inner tubular slick joint and the mandrel connected together with at least one shear pin
Implementation Method 2
an actuating assembly for deforming the packer element outwards
Implementation Method 3
a slip assembly disposed on the mandrel, and comprising a slip setting sleeve and at least one slip moveable between a running position and an actuated outward position
Data Source
AI summary
A liner top anchor packer apparatus include (a) an inner tubular slick joint connected to a top sub and slidably disposed within a cylindrical mandrel, the inner tubular slick joint and the mandrel connected together with at least one shear pin; and (b) a slip assembly disposed on the mandrel, and comprising a slip setting sleeve and at least one slip moveable between a running position and an actuated outward position.