Valved Wiper Plug Assembly for Lateral Liner Cementing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the process of cementing casing or liners in wellbores, cement and debris tend to fall back into the lateral liner after the lateral liner running tool is pulled out, leading to contamination and requiring additional clean-up trips.
Innovation Solution
A valved wiper plug assembly is positioned within the lateral liner, featuring a flapper valve that moves from an open to a closed state when the tool is withdrawn, preventing cement and debris from falling back into the liner and ensuring cement remains around the junction for mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lateral liner running tool is pulled out after cementing, then the tool can be removed and wellbore access can be achieved, but cement and debris fall back into the lateral liner causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is positioned and configured in advance within the lateral liner assembly to automatically close and prevent cement backflow before the tool is pulled out. The valve's open state during tool insertion allows cementing operations, while its closed state is pre-configured to activate upon tool removal, preventing contamination without requiring additional intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cementing process and tool removal. It mediates the transition from the open state during cementing to the closed state during tool removal, controlling fluid flow and preventing cement backflow into the lateral liner while allowing tool extraction.
2Loss of substance
If additional clean-up trips are performed to remove cement from the lateral liner, then cement contamination can be addressed, but wellbore productivity and time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is pre-configured to prevent cement backflow during the cementing operation itself, eliminating the need for subsequent clean-up trips. By preventing contamination at the source through the valve's closed state during tool removal, the system avoids the time loss associated with remedial clean-up operations.
3Ease of operation
If the valve remains open during tool removal, then tool extraction is easy, but cement and debris fall back into the lateral liner
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with a pre-configured closed state that automatically activates upon tool removal. This preliminary configuration ensures that the valve closes before tool extraction, preventing cement backflow and maintaining bond integrity while allowing easy tool removal without requiring the valve to remain open.
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 solution effectively prevents cement and debris from falling back into the lateral liner, reducing the need for clean-up trips and ensuring a stable cement bond between the main and lateral wellbores, thereby maintaining mechanical support and facilitating full-bore access after the cementing process.
Implementation Method 1
cement and debris tend to fall back into the lateral liner after the lateral liner running tool is pulled out
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure, in at least one aspect, provides a valved wiper plug assembly, a well system, and a method for cementing a lateral liner assembly. The valved wiper plug assembly, in at least this aspect, includes a valved housing, a valve member coupled to the valved housing, the valve member configured to move between an open state to allow cementing and a closed state to catch debris falling from uphole of the valved housing, and a wiper plug assembly coupled to the valved housing proximate a downhole end of the valved housing.