Wellbore Debris Deflector and Collection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing deposits from wellbore walls and equipment are inefficient, as they either fail to dissolve or dislodge hard deposits effectively, leading to reduced fluid or gas flow and often require costly and time-consuming well rework.
Innovation Solution
A collecting device with a deflector and debris storing module that attaches to a cleaning device, deflecting and storing debris to prevent it from falling into the wellbore, combined with an unloading mechanism to efficiently remove collected deposits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If chemical treatments (acids, surface active agents) are used to clean wellbore wall or equipment, then the cost is reduced compared to complete workover, but the effectiveness is substantially reduced as they are incapable of dissolving significant amounts of plugging materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical cleaning methods with a mechanical cleaning system consisting of a rotating brush assembly that physically scrapes deposits from wellbore equipment surfaces. This mechanical approach overcomes the limitation of chemical treatments being incapable of dissolving significant amounts of hard plugging materials like scale and asphalts, while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to complete workover operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cleaning mechanism from chemical dissolution to mechanical abrasion through the rotating brush. The brush rotates at controlled speeds and applies mechanical force to dislodge encrusted deposits, fundamentally changing the cleaning parameter from chemical reactivity to mechanical shear force, thereby achieving effectiveness against hard deposits that chemicals cannot remove
2Productivity
If brushes, scrapers or pigs are used to clean wellbore equipment, then most encrusted deposits in easily accessible areas can be removed, but they are quite inefficient removing encrusted deposits in areas accessible with difficulty or inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal cleaning device that can clean multiple types of wellbore equipment (tubing, casing, Christmas tree components) with a single brush assembly design. The brush accommodates different diameters and equipment geometries, providing adaptability to inaccessible areas that previous specialized tools could not reach, thereby improving both productivity and versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamically adjustable brush assembly that can rotate and adapt to different equipment geometries. The rotating mechanism allows the brush to conform to various surfaces and reach into crevices and hard-to-access areas, overcoming the static limitation of traditional scrapers and pigs that could only clean easily accessible surfaces
3Reliability
If electrical discharge generating device is used to remove deposits, then shock waves can be generated for creating an electrohydraulic effect, but the debris may block the wellbore or equipment, therefore reducing or preventing the efficiency of oil recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrical discharge cleaning mechanism with a physical brush scraping system and debris collection apparatus. The combined system not only generates shock waves to loosen deposits but also mechanically scrapes and collects debris, preventing blockage while maintaining the effectiveness of the electrohydraulic effect for removing stubborn deposits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes debris from the cleaning zone using a collection apparatus that captures and evacuates loosened deposits. This extraction function prevents debris from falling back into the wellbore and causing blockages, thereby eliminating the harmful side effect of the electrical discharge method while preserving its effective deposit removal capability
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 allows for quick and effective removal of deposits from wellbore walls and equipment, preventing blockages and enhancing the recovery of formation fluids and gases by efficiently collecting and unloading debris, thus reducing operational costs and downtime.
Implementation Method 1
collecting device with a deflector and debris storing module that attaches to a cleaning device, deflecting and storing debris to prevent it from falling into the wellbore
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a collecting device (20) for collecting debris of deposits while said deposits are being removed from a wellbore wall or an equipment arranged in a wellbore of a subterranean formation in order to improve the recovery of formation fluids and/or gases, said collecting device being configured for being attached to a cleaning device, said cleaning device being configured for removing deposits from a wellbore wall or an equipment arranged in a wellbore. The collecting device comprises a deflector (210), configured for deflecting falling debris of deposits while said deposits are being removed from said wellbore wall or said equipment, and a debris storing module (220), connected to said deflector (210) for collecting and storing debris deflected by said deflector (210).