Wellbore Plug Anchoring with Grain-like Solids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wellbore plugs struggle to remain anchored and sealed due to high pressures and fluid flow, as they are either expensive to install or temporally effective, and often deteriorate over time.
Innovation Solution
The use of grain-like solids to translate axial forces into radial forces within an effective screening length, creating friction that anchors the plug in place, combined with a particle layer and environmental layer to enhance sealing and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cement slurry is pumped through tubing to anchor a plug, then the plug can be anchored in place, but it is expensive and the cement may deteriorate over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, brittle cement with grain-like solids that are cheaper and more reliable. The grain-like solids form a packing that resists axial forces through friction along the wellbore wall, creating a permanent anchor that does not deteriorate like cement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the anchoring material from liquid cement slurry to solid grain-like particles. This parameter change allows the material to form a stable packing structure that converts axial forces to radial forces through friction, providing long-term anchoring without deterioration.
2Reliability
If mechanical packers are used for zonal isolation, then anchoring can be achieved, but they require mechanical or hydraulic setting and are only temporally effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical packers with a simple packing of grain-like solids that require no mechanical or hydraulic setting. The packing permanently anchors the plug through friction along the wellbore wall, eliminating the temporary nature of mechanical packers.
Solution Approach 2:
The grain-like solid packing automatically anchors the plug through its own weight and friction along the wellbore wall. No external mechanical or hydraulic setting mechanism is required - the packing self-anchors when placed in the wellbore, providing permanent fixation.
3Stress or pressure
If a plug is made to resist high pressure from below, then zonal isolation can be achieved, but the plug may slip upward and fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the axial force (vertical dimension) exerted by high pressure on the plug into a radial force (horizontal dimension) through the grain-like solid packing. The packing friction along the wellbore wall resists the axial force by generating radial pressure, effectively transferring the problem from one dimension to another where it can be solved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful axial force that causes plug slippage into a beneficial radial force through friction. The grain-like solid packing uses the axial load to generate radial pressure against the wellbore wall, creating friction that actually prevents slippage. The harmful force becomes the mechanism for anchoring.
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
This method efficiently and permanently anchors the plug, resisting slippage and pressure differentials, while maintaining a tight seal and reducing the risk of plug failure due to high pressures.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing grain-like solids to translate an axial force to a radial force to dissipate the axial force within an effective screening length
Implementation Method 2
the applied first force, due to the generated shearing tendency within the plug, may rapidly diminish or dissipate over a short distance
Implementation Method 3
a particle layer that may be formed by a layer of lower permeability solids may be positioned adjacent to the packing of the grain-like solids
Data Source
AI summary
Forming an anchored plug in a wellbore utilizing grain-like solids to transfer an axial force to a radial force to dissipate the axial force within an effective screening length.