Wave-Inducing Device for Cement Bonding in Boreholes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for cementing casings in hydrocarbon wells often result in poor bonding between cement and the casing or formation due to contamination from drilling fluids, leading to inadequate isolation and the need for costly and time-consuming rework.

Innovation Solution

A wave-inducing device is integrated into the casing, utilizing energy from the cement or fluid flow to create vibrations, which enhances the bonding of cement to the casing and formation through a rotating wheel or beater mechanism, eliminating the need for external energy sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cement slurry is pumped down inside the casing to cement the casing to the formation, then the casing is isolated from overlying formations, but the cement is contaminated by drilling fluids which reduces the quality of the set cement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecement bonding qualityVSAvoiddrilling fluid contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a wave-inducing device with an impeller that rotates to generate mechanical vibrations and waves in the cement slurry during pumping. This vibration prevents the cement from becoming stagnant and reduces contamination by drilling fluids, ensuring better bonding quality between the casing and formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Productivity

If the cement is pumped with limited volume, then the pumping process is efficient, but the cement is subjected to contamination by liquids pumped ahead and after the cement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping efficiencyVSAvoidliquid contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wave-inducing device generates continuous mechanical vibrations in the cement slurry during the pumping process. This vibration maintains cement quality by preventing mixing with drilling fluids, allowing efficient pumping with limited volume while maintaining bonding effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Reliability

If a wave-inducing device with impeller is used to generate vibrations in the cement, then the cement bonding quality is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecement bonding qualityVSAvoidwave-inducing device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wave-inducing device is designed to be self-powered, with the impeller rotating automatically due to the flow of cement slurry passing through it. The device uses the kinetic energy of the pumped cement itself to generate vibrations, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The wave-inducing device combines the cement pumping function with the vibration generation function into a single integrated system. The impeller serves both to move the cement forward and to generate the necessary vibrations, simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Device complexity

If the wave-inducing device is powered by the cement flow itself, then external energy sources are eliminated, but the device requires sufficient flow energy to operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy supply systemVSAvoidflow energy requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 wave-inducing device ensures a satisfactory cementing process by improving the bonding of cement to the casing and formation, reducing contamination effects and eliminating the need for surface control post-cementing.

Implementation Method 1

The wave-inducing device is supplied with energy from the cement or the medium that is pumped down through the casing, for example, in that the wave-inducing device is provided with an impeller. The energy that is taken from the cement or the fluid flowing through the casing causes the impeller to rotate.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow energy conversion: Impeller

Implementation Method 2

The movable element may comprise a rotating wheel with a mass that is eccentrically or asymmetrically distributed about the rotational axis of the rotating wheel so that the rotating wheel is unstable when it rotates and provides wave motions and/or vibrations in the casing which propagate to the cement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric rotation: Eccentric

Implementation Method 3

The wave-inducing device comprises at least one beater device that is movably arranged on the rotating wheel or alternatively on the casing and is adapted such that the beater device beats, preferably against the casing, as the rotating wheel rotates. The at least one beater device is preferably spring-loaded.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring-loaded impact: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS9157294B2Wave-inducing device, casing system and method for cementing a casing in a borehole

Publication Date: 2015.10.13 PERIGON HANDEL

AI summary

A wave-inducing device for cementing a casing in a borehole. The wave-inducing device is designed for arrangement in the casing and includes a movable element which, when the wave-inducing device is arranged in the casing, is designed to be moved by cement and/or another fluid flowing through the casing so that wave motions and/or vibrations are provided in the cement during the cementing of the casing.