Wellbore Plug With Expandable Sealing Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wellbore plug technologies face challenges in efficiently isolating portions of wellbores during fracturing operations, as they often require complex setups and may not provide adequate sealing or rapid drill-out capabilities, leading to increased processing times and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A plug system comprising a tubular conduit with a cap and guide shoe, a gripping assembly, and a sealing assembly, which includes a first and second sealing band, configured to expand and seal upon guide shoe activation, allowing secure isolation and rapid deployment within the wellbore, and formed from composite materials for enhanced drill-out efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plug system uses complex sealing mechanisms and multiple components to ensure reliable isolation, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into distinct functional segments: a head portion with sealing elements, a body portion with gripping features, and a tail portion with guide shoe. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the complex sealing mechanism to be modular and manageable while maintaining reliability through specialized design of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug includes intermediary elements such as the guide shoe that mediates between the plug body and the wellbore environment, and sealing elements that act as intermediaries between the plug and the wellbore wall. These intermediary components facilitate reliable sealing and isolation while distributing the complexity across multiple specialized elements rather than a single complex mechanism.
2Loss of time
If the plug is designed for rapid deployment and drill-out, then processing time is reduced, but the structural integrity and sealing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The plug incorporates pre-configured sealing elements and gripping features that are ready for immediate engagement upon deployment. The guide shoe and gripping assembly are pre-positioned to facilitate rapid setting, while the sealing elements are pre-formed to ensure immediate sealing capability, eliminating the need for complex setup procedures and reducing processing time without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug utilizes composite material construction that combines materials with different properties to achieve both rapid deployment capability and reliable sealing. The composite structure allows for integrated gripping features, sealing elements, and guide components in a single unified design that maintains structural integrity while enabling quick deployment and drill-out operations.
3Reliability
If the plug uses expandable gripping assembly and sealing bands, then isolation security is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plug incorporates dynamic elements including an expandable gripping assembly and flexible sealing bands that can adapt to the wellbore environment. The gripping assembly expands outward from the tubular conduit in response to guide shoe movement, and the sealing bands flex to conform to the wellbore wall, providing secure isolation while using relatively simple mechanical principles that facilitate manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A plug includes a tubular conduit having a first end and a second end. The plug also includes a cap disposed over the first end of the tubular conduit and coupled thereto. The cap is configured to mate with a wireline adapter kit of a perforating string. The plug additionally includes a guide shoe disposed over the second end of the tubular conduit and coupled thereto. The guide shoe is configured to move along the tubular conduit from an unset position, away from cap, to a set position, toward the cap. A gripping assembly is disposed around the tubular conduit between the cap and the guide shoe and coupled to the guide shoe. A sealing assembly is disposed between the cap and the gripping assembly. The sealing assembly includes a first sealing band and a second sealing band. The first sealing band is disposed around the tubular conduit and has an annular lip.