Selective Well Barrier With Flow Bypass for Tool Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic and mechanical actuation tools for well operations face inefficiencies when pressure is difficult to build or a hard stop is hard to find, especially at the bottom of a well or in routes with fluid loss, leading to less efficient tool actuation.
Innovation Solution
A selective well barrier/bottom system with a housing, slip, drive bar, biaser, seal, and flow bypass arrangement that allows hydraulic or mechanical actuation, enabling tools to be set at any location by building pressure annularly or using set down weight, and includes features like a check or flapper valve to facilitate fluid flow and prevent formation damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic actuation is used to set tools at the bottom of a well, then tool actuation can be achieved, but pressure is difficult to build and fluid loss occurs making the process more costly and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the wellbore into isolated sections using a packer that can be positioned at any location, creating a contained volume for pressure building. This segmentation allows hydraulic pressure to be effectively built in a confined space rather than the entire wellbore, resolving the pressure building difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow bypass arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows controlled fluid communication between sections. The bypass enables pressure equalization and fluid movement without requiring excessive pressure buildup, facilitating efficient tool actuation while preventing fluid loss to formations.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical actuation with a hard stop is used, then tool setting can be achieved, but finding a hard stop at the bottom of a well is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The slip mechanism provides self-service mechanical anchoring by automatically engaging with the casing or tubing as the device is lowered or raised. The slip toes radially outward to contact the surrounding tubular, creating a self-actuating mechanical stop without requiring external detection or positioning systems.
3Reliability
If a seal is used to create a hydraulic stop, then pressure can be contained, but fluid flow is blocked causing formation damage
Solution Approach 1:
The flow bypass arrangement transitions from a static seal to a dynamic system that adapts to flow conditions. The bypass mechanism activates when pressure differential exceeds a threshold, dynamically opening a flow path to prevent formation damage while maintaining pressure containment under normal operating conditions.
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
Enables efficient actuation of tools at any well location, reduces tool costs and malfunctions, and prevents formation damage by allowing hydraulic or mechanical setting, providing a reliable anchor for tools in both open and cased holes.
Implementation Method 1
a seal disposed on the housing to radially seal with a tubular radially outwardly of the housing
Implementation Method 2
a biaser disposed between the housing and the drive bar
Implementation Method 3
a flow bypass arrangement disposed to facilitate flow past the seal
Data Source
AI summary
A selective well barrier/bottom, including a housing, a slip disposed in the housing, a drive bar in contact with the slip, a biaser between the housing and the drive bar, a seal on the housing to radially seal with a tubular radially outwardly of the housing, and a flow bypass arrangement to facilitate flow past the seal. A borehole configuration to convert a hydraulically settable downhole tool to a mechanically settable downhole tool, the arrangement including a seal and a flow bypass arrangement configured to allow fluid flow to bypass the seal. A method for setting a tool in a borehole including fitting the selective well barrier/bottom to the tool, and setting the tool with one of applied hydraulic pressure against the seal or set down weight against the selective well barrier/bottom. A wellbore system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a selective well barrier/bottom, disposed within the borehole.