Well Tool Anchoring Device for Subsea Locking Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well tools for cementing operations in oil/gas wells require complex anchoring mechanisms that are difficult to align and operate, particularly in subsea environments, where rotational and longitudinal alignment is crucial for effective cement flow and protection of Xmas tree valves.
Innovation Solution
A simplified anchoring device for well tools featuring a mandrel with a spring element and locking dogs, allowing for both rotational and longitudinal locking through a mechanism with movable rings and a spring element that biases locking dogs radially, ensuring secure engagement with a bore's lock groove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex anchoring mechanism is used to ensure secure locking, then reliability of locking is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring device is segmented into distinct functional components: locking dogs for engagement, rings for positioning and actuation, and a spring element for biasing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while simplifying the overall design and maintenance of the anchoring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring device incorporates dynamic elements including a movable spring element that can transition between compressed and extended states, and locking dogs that can move between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic capability enables the device to adapt to different operational states (running vs. anchored) while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If alignment features are added to ensure rotational and longitudinal alignment, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking dogs feature asymmetric geometry with inclined surfaces that facilitate automatic alignment during insertion. The asymmetric shape allows the locking dogs to self-align with the bore hole in a single orientation, ensuring both rotational and longitudinal alignment without requiring complex alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring device incorporates self-aligning features where the locking dogs automatically orient themselves during insertion into the bore hole. The spring element provides self-adjusting bias that ensures proper engagement without requiring external alignment assistance, simplifying the operation while maintaining reliability.
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 anchoring device provides stable, secure locking of well tools in subsea environments, simplifying alignment and operation by allowing simultaneous rotational and longitudinal fixation, thereby enhancing the reliability of cementing jobs and protecting Xmas tree valves.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element being substantially ring-shaped and arranged radially outside the mandrel
Implementation Method 2
a spring element being substantially ring-shaped and arranged radially outside the mandrel
Implementation Method 3
thereby wedging the locking dogs outwards in the radial direction
Implementation Method 4
The biasing force from the first ring and the second ring on the locking dogs may be increased by a reduction of the initial longitudinal distance between the first ring and the second ring
Data Source
AI summary
A well tool performs an operation in an oil/gas well. The well tool includes: a mandrel having a longitudinal direction and a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and an anchoring device for longitudinally locking the well tool to a bore including a lock groove. The anchoring device includes: a first ring arranged radially outside the mandrel; a second ring arranged radially outside the mandrel at a longitudinal distance from the first ring and movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the first ring; a spring element being substantially ring-shaped and arranged radially outside the mandrel; and a plurality of locking dogs distributed circumferentially on the spring element and located longitudinally between the first ring and the second ring. The anchoring device has a run state in which the first ring and the second ring are provided at an initial longitudinal distance from each other. The anchoring device has a set state in which the first ring and the second ring are provided at a shorter distance from each other, thereby wedging the locking dogs outwards in the radial direction. The spring element is configured to bias the locking dogs inwards in the radial direction towards the run state of the anchoring device.