Wellbore Rupture Disc Sealing With Controlled Fragment Clearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rupture discs in wellbore sealing devices produce unpredictable and potentially problematic fragments during rupture, causing blockages and removal difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A sealing system featuring a frangible rupture disc and a plug selectively retained by a sleeve, where the plug is configured to be released and clear disc fragments, utilizing soluble or non-dissolvable materials to manage fragment size and facilitate removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rupture discs with smooth arched surfaces are used, then higher pressure rating is achieved, but large and unpredictable fragments are created that block openings and are difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The rupture disc is designed with predetermined break lines that segment the disc into multiple controlled fragments of uniform size and shape. This segmentation ensures that when the disc ruptures, it breaks into manageable pieces rather than large unpredictable fragments, while still maintaining the structural integrity needed for high pressure rating during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The break lines are pre-formed on the rupture disc during manufacturing, creating predetermined failure paths. This preliminary action ensures that when rupture occurs under pressure, the disc breaks along these pre-designed lines into controlled fragments, preventing unpredictable fragmentation and blocking of openings.
2Productivity
If rupture disc fragments are created during wellbore operations, then fluid communication is restored, but the fragments create blockages and removal difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The rupture disc is designed with predetermined break lines that segment the disc into multiple controlled fragments of uniform size and shape. This segmentation ensures that when the disc ruptures, it breaks into manageable pieces rather than large unpredictable fragments, while still maintaining the structural integrity needed for high pressure rating during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rupture disc is designed as a disposable component that is intentionally destroyed to restore fluid communication. The predetermined break lines ensure controlled fragmentation that facilitates easy removal or natural passage of fragments through the wellbore, eliminating the need for complex removal operations.
3Reliability
If the rupture disc is designed to break into unpredictable fragments, then pressure containment is achieved, but the fragments present difficulty in removing from the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The rupture disc is designed with predetermined break lines that segment the disc into multiple controlled fragments of uniform size and shape. This segmentation ensures that when the disc ruptures, it breaks into manageable pieces rather than large unpredictable fragments, while still maintaining the structural integrity needed for high pressure rating during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the rupture disc, including material properties and geometric dimensions, are optimized to ensure controlled fragmentation. The predetermined break lines are positioned and dimensioned to create uniform fragments that can be easily removed from the wellbore while maintaining pressure containment during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing system for fluidly sealing a portion of a wellbore including a housing, a rupture disc disposed within a housing inner bore, and a plug disposed within the housing inner bore. The rupture disc includes a base and a central portion, which extends across the housing inner bore to fluidly seal the housing inner bore in a sealed state. The plug fluidly seals the housing inner bore in the sealed state. The plug is disposed an axial distance from the rupture disc in the sealed state. In some embodiments, a sleeve is disposed within the housing inner bore. A central bore of the sleeve retains the plug in the sealed state. Upon a release event, the plug is released from the sleeve. The release of the plug triggers a rupture event, which fractures the rupture disc. The plug clears rupture disc fragments.