Well Plug Flapper Valve Debris Removal Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accumulation of debris at the top of well plugs necessitates expensive cleanout operations, often requiring coiled tubing or workover procedures, which are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A well plug with a cylindrical body, a sealing ring, a spring-loaded flapper valve, and a receiver-actuated mechanism that allows flowback to dislodge debris, reducing the need for costly cleanout procedures by using a torsion spring to open the flapper valve upon signal receipt, facilitating debris removal through well flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plug is set in a well to isolate zones, then zone isolation is achieved, but debris accumulates on top of the plug requiring expensive cleanout operations
Solution Approach 1:
The plug incorporates a dynamic flapper valve mechanism that can transition from closed to open position. The flapper is held closed by a latch during normal operation to maintain zone isolation, but can be opened on demand to allow debris removal, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining isolation and enabling cleanout
Solution Approach 2:
The plug system enables self-service debris removal by using the well's own flowing fluid to push debris out when the flapper is opened. This eliminates the need for expensive external cleanout operations like coiled tubing or workover, as the well serves itself to remove accumulated debris
2Object-generated harmful factors
If coiled tubing or workover operations are used to remove debris, then debris removal is achieved, but operational cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful debris accumulation problem is solved by extracting the debris removal function from complex external operations (coiled tubing, workover) and incorporating it into the plug itself through the flapper valve mechanism. This simplifies the overall system by integrating the cleanout capability directly into the plug device
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive, complex, and time-consuming cleanout operations, the invention employs a simple, low-cost flapper valve mechanism that can be opened to allow debris removal. This replaces high-cost operational complexity with a simple, inexpensive mechanical solution
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 reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for coiled tubing cleanouts and workover operations, enabling efficient debris removal from well plugs using standard tools.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring to open the flapper valve when a latch on the flapper valve is disengaged
Implementation Method 2
opening the flapper valve with the torsion spring to allow flow from the well to push debris up the well
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for clearing debris from the top of plug in a well are provided. In an exemplary system a plug for a well includes a cylindrical body, a sealing ring mounted in the cylindrical body, and a flapper valve disposed against the sealing ring in the cylindrical body. The plug also includes a torsion spring to open the flapper valve when a latch on the flapper valve is disengaged, a receiver to receive control signals, and an actuator controlled by the receiver to disengage the latch.