Wear Bushing Retrieval Tool for Wellhead Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drilling and extraction systems for oil and natural gas face premature wear and degradation of wellhead assembly components due to unintended contact with tubular strings during the extraction process, necessitating a solution to protect these components and facilitate easy retrieval of wear bushings.
Innovation Solution
A wear bushing retrieval tool is designed to be installed over a tubular string and used to land against and retrieve wear bushings from the wellhead assembly, utilizing a frictional coupling mechanism with the tubular string to decouple and retrieve the bushings after the extraction process is completed, thereby protecting the wellhead components and simplifying the retrieval process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a tubular string is run through the wellhead assembly to extract resources, then resource extraction is enabled, but premature wear and degradation occur to wellhead assembly components due to unintended contact
Solution Approach 1:
A wear bushing is introduced as an intermediary component between the tubular string and the wellhead assembly. The bushing makes contact with the tubular string first, preventing direct contact between the string and wellhead components, thereby protecting the wellhead from wear and degradation while allowing the extraction operation to proceed
2Reliability
If wear bushings are installed in the wellhead assembly to protect components, then component wear is reduced, but the bushings become difficult to retrieve after the extraction process is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The wear bushing is designed with a segmented or detachable structure that allows it to be easily separated from the wellhead assembly after serving its protective function. The bushing can be removed as a discrete component, facilitating straightforward retrieval and replacement without complex disassembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The wear bushing is designed with preliminary features such as alignment pins, retention lugs, or removable fastening mechanisms that are pre-configured to enable easy retrieval. These preliminary design elements are built into the bushing structure before installation, allowing for simple removal after the extraction operation concludes
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 wear bushing retrieval tool effectively protects wellhead components from tubular string contact and enables efficient retrieval of wear bushings, reducing wear and tear on the wellhead assembly and streamlining the extraction process.
Implementation Method 1
A wear bushing retrieval tool is designed to be installed over a tubular string and used to land against and retrieve wear bushings from the wellhead assembly, utilizing a frictional coupling mechanism with the tubular string
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a wear bushing retrieval tool. The wear bushing retrieval tool includes a main body, a plurality of apertures extending from an inner diameter of the annular main body to an outer diameter of the annular main body, a plurality of fasteners, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is disposed within a respective one of the plurality of apertures, and a plurality of pins extending from the outer diameter of the annular main body, wherein the annular main body is configured to be disposed about a tubular string being run into a wellhead, and wherein the plurality of pins is configured to engage with a wear bushing disposed within the wellhead.