Well Access Tool Flexible Conduit Sealant Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for gaining lateral access to wells face challenges in preventing sealant from spreading into the wellhead side opening or passageway, making it difficult to re-plug the side opening after remedial sealing operations, and in reaching remote areas within the wellhead.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a flexible conduit portion and a nozzle at the front end, capable of delivering sealant to remote areas of the well annulus, using a helically wound wire with an internal passage and a fluid-containing material, and a flexible conduit guide member to navigate around obstructions, along with a self-locking rotational drive mechanism to ensure precise movement and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sealant is injected through the passageway to reach remote areas of the wellhead, then the ability to seal remote leaking regions is improved, but the sealant spreads into the side opening or passageway making it difficult to re-plug or close the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The tool divides the sealing function into separate segments: a first seal formed against the valve passageway to isolate the passageway from fluid, and a second seal formed against the side opening to isolate the side opening from fluid. This segmentation allows sealant to be delivered to remote areas through the passageway without spreading into the side opening, solving the contradiction between reaching remote areas and maintaining ease of re-plugging
Solution Approach 2:
The tool introduces an intermediary sealing mechanism that controls the flow path of sealant. The first seal against the valve passageway acts as an intermediary barrier, allowing sealant to pass through the passageway to reach remote areas while preventing it from spreading into the side opening. This intermediary seal enables both remote area access and easy re-plugging operations
2Device complexity
If a rigid injection tool is used to deliver sealant through the valve passageway, then the tool structure is simple, but the tool cannot navigate around obstructions or reach remote areas effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The injection tool incorporates a flexible conduit portion that can dynamically adapt its shape to navigate around obstructions within the wellhead. This flexible section allows the tool to bend and maneuver through complex passages while still delivering sealant effectively to remote areas, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and navigational adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The tool employs a flexible conduit portion made of flexible material that can deform and navigate around obstructions. This flexible shell structure allows the injection tool to pass through complex wellhead passages and reach remote leaking regions without requiring a complex rigid structure with multiple articulated joints, maintaining relative simplicity while achieving high adaptability
Data Source
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AI summary
A tool for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage, the tool comprising a head portion and being configured to axially forwardly advance the head portion towards or in the lateral access passage and being configured to transmit rotational drive to the head portion, and the tool comprising a fluid transmission conduit for delivering fluid to or forwardly of the head portion. The head portion may have an adapter at its front end to mount interchangeable attachments, such as a sealing device for forming a seal with the lateral access passage, a socket member for holding a plug, or a cleaning brush. The tool may comprise a flexible conduit portion extending forwardly of the head portion. A curved guide passage may be provided to guide the fluid transmission conduit as it advances forwardly. The tool may have a shaft for forwardly advancing the head portion by axial forward movement of the shaft, the shaft being coupled to a rotatable drive member configured to be rotatably driven such that rotation of the rotatable drive member causes axial forward movement of the shaft.