Thick Wall Shouldered Launcher for Expandable Tubular Strings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current expandable liner systems in oil and gas well drilling are limited by the maximum weight and length of expandable tubular strings they can support due to the expansion force required, causing the strings to expand under their own weight when exceeding this limit.
Innovation Solution
An expandable tubular system with a thick wall section in the shoulder area, increasing the expansion force required to initiate expansion, includes a launcher section and a shoulder section with a greater wall thickness and smaller inner diameter than the tubular string, allowing for increased weight support by distributing the weight through a larger contact area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the expandable tubular string weight and length are increased, then the operational capacity is improved, but the expansion force required exceeds the limit causing premature expansion under own weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a shoulder section with different wall thickness properties than the rest of the tubular string. The shoulder section has increased wall thickness specifically at the transition zone between the launcher and tubular string, while the tubular string itself maintains its original wall thickness. This localized structural modification increases the expansion force required at the shoulder section, allowing the tubular string to support greater weights without premature expansion.
2Weight of moving object
If the wall thickness of the tubular string is increased to support more weight, then the weight support capacity is improved, but the outer diameter increases and adaptability to existing wellbores deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tubular structure into distinct sections: the launcher section, the shoulder section with thickened walls, and the expandable tubular string section with standard wall thickness. This segmentation allows the shoulder section to provide the necessary structural reinforcement for weight support while the tubular string section maintains its original dimensions for wellbore compatibility. The transition is achieved through the shoulder section that connects these two functional zones.
3Weight of moving object
If the expansion force is increased to support heavier strings, then the weight capacity is improved, but the risk of unintended expansion during handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameter (wall thickness) of the shoulder section to modify the expansion characteristics. By increasing the wall thickness at the shoulder section, the expansion force required to initiate expansion at this location is increased. This parameter change creates a controlled expansion scenario where expansion only occurs at the intended location and time, preventing unintended expansion during handling and deployment of heavier tubular strings.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable tubular system that includes a launcher section coupled to a tubular string and that houses an expansion device. A shoulder section that is formed at a transition point between the launcher section and the tubular string has a wall thickness greater than the wall thicknesses of the tubular string and the launcher section. The shoulder section has an inner diameter less than inner diameters of the launcher section and the tubular string. The shoulder section is arranged to increase the force required to begin expansion of the tubular string and increase the contact area between the inner surface of the shoulder section the expansion device when supporting the weight of the tubular string.