Tubular Grip Ring Locking for Casing Stop Collar Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stop collars used in subterranean well construction often lose their grip on tubular casings, leading to issues with centralizer movement and stability, particularly in long horizontal sections of wellbores.
Innovation Solution
A tubular gripping device featuring a self-locking mechanism with grip rings that move between retracted and extended positions, engaging with the casing through wickers or high-friction surfaces to secure the device radially, utilizing a bi-directional design for axial engagement and incorporating load shoulders to prevent further movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-gripping centralizer is used with a stop collar, then the centralizer can be positioned in the wellbore, but the stop collar may lose its grip on the tubular casing
Solution Approach 1:
The grip rings are designed to be movable between retracted and extended positions, allowing the device to adapt dynamically to the casing outer surface. The grip rings can extend to engage with the casing and retract to allow passage, providing both secure gripping and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-locking mechanism automatically locks the grip rings in the extended position when engaged with the casing, without requiring additional operational steps. The mechanism uses the engagement force itself to trigger the locking action, ensuring reliable gripping without complex control systems.
2Ease of operation
If the grip rings are held in the retracted position by connection members, then the device can be assembled and installed, but the connection members must be released to engage the casing
Solution Approach 1:
The grip rings are pre-positioned in the retracted state using connection members during assembly, allowing the device to be prepared and installed without premature engagement. The connection members are then released in a simple operation to allow the grip rings to extend and engage with the casing.
3Reliability
If the body moves relative to the self-locking mechanism, then axial movement is constrained, but a load shoulder is formed that prevents further movement
Solution Approach 1:
The body is designed to move axially relative to the self-locking mechanism until the load shoulder engages with the corresponding feature on the mechanism. This controlled movement allows the device to accommodate variations in casing dimensions while maintaining reliable axial constraint through the load shoulder engagement.
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 device effectively secures the tubular casing by engaging with the outer surface, preventing axial movement and maintaining stability, even with varying casing diameters, and can be easily manufactured without complex machining processes.
Implementation Method 1
engages with the casing through wickers or high-friction surfaces to secure the device radially
Data Source
AI summary
A tubular gripping device is disclosed. The tubular gripping device includes a body having an inner surface. The tubular gripping device also includes at least one grip ring having a first surface and a second surface. The at least one grip ring is movable from a retracted position to an extended position, The tubular gripping device further includes a connection member configured to hold the at least one grip ring in the retracted position, wherein the first surface of the at least one grip ring engages the inner surface of the body when the at least one grip ring is in the retracted position and the second surface of the at least one grip ring engages the casing when the at least grip ring is in the extended position.