Transitionable Seal Latch-in Plug for Casing Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In well completion operations, the insertion of casing into highly deviated wellbores is hindered by high friction, and existing buoyancy fluid systems often impede cementing, pressure testing, and production due to obstructive plugs that require drill-out.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a top latch-in plug with a transitionable seal and a method involving sequential engagement of lower and top latch-in plugs with a landing collar, allowing buoyant casing insertion, cementing, pressure testing, and subsequent unsealing for production without additional drilling or delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plugs are used to trap buoyancy fluid in casing, then buoyant insertion of casing is achieved, but the plugs obstruct the bore and require drill-out before production
Solution Approach 1:
The seal configuration transitions from sealed to unsealed state dynamically. The seal is initially configured to seal the bore for trapping buoyancy fluid, then transitions to an unsealed configuration to allow production flow without requiring drill-out. This dynamic reconfiguration eliminates the harmful obstruction effect while maintaining the beneficial buoyant insertion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal's operational state changes from a sealed parameter state to an unsealed parameter state. By changing the seal configuration parameter, the system transitions from a state suitable for buoyancy fluid trapping to a state suitable for production flow, resolving the contradiction between insertion assistance and production obstruction.
2Reliability
If traditional plugs are used for pressure testing, then pressure containment is achieved, but additional drilling trips are required to remove plugs
Solution Approach 1:
The seal dynamically transitions from a sealed configuration during pressure testing to an unsealed configuration for production. This dynamic behavior allows the same component to serve both pressure testing and production functions without requiring removal or drill-out operations, eliminating time loss while maintaining testing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch-in plug with transitionable seal serves multiple functions: it traps buoyancy fluid during insertion, enables pressure testing, and then transitions to allow production flow. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate plug removal operations, reducing time loss while maintaining reliable pressure testing capability.
3Force
If buoyancy fluid systems are used in highly deviated wellbores, then friction is reduced during insertion, but equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal functionality is extracted as a separate transitionable component within the latch-in plug structure. This extracted seal can independently transition between sealed and unsealed configurations, allowing the buoyancy fluid system to perform its friction-reduction function while the extracted seal handles the complexity of controlled opening/closing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch-in plug is segmented into distinct functional components: the main body for buoyancy fluid trapping, the transitionable seal for controlled opening/closing, and the latch mechanism for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective friction reduction during insertion.
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
Enables efficient buoyant insertion of casing, effective cementing, and pressure testing without obstructive plugs, facilitating smoother production operations by reducing friction and eliminating the need for additional drilling trips.
Implementation Method 1
the transitionable seal seals the bore of the housing when in a first configuration, the transitionable seal unseals the bore when in a second configuration
Implementation Method 2
filling a section of the casing with a buoyancy fluid (a liquid or a gas) that has a lower density than the liquid contained inside the wellbore. As the casing is lowered into the wellbore, this difference in fluid density provides partial or complete buoyancy of the section of casing containing the buoyancy fluid. This buoyancy may reduce the friction
Data Source
AI summary
A top latch-in plug includes a housing having a bore and a transitionable seal. The transitionable seal seals the bore of the housing when in a first configuration, and the transitionable seal unseals the bore when in a second configuration. The transitionable seal is triggerable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration. A casing floatation system includes a casing having a pre-load collar and a landing collar; and a lower bottom latch-in plug. The lower bottom latch in plug includes a catch mechanism compatible with the pre-load collar; and a landing mechanism compatible with the landing collar.