Centralizing and Protecting Wellbore Seal with Intermediary Sabot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore sealing systems often damage sealing surfaces due to improper alignment and contact during installation or retrieval, leading to reduced seal integrity and potential sticking issues.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a sabot with a larger outer diameter than the seal, positioned to centralize and protect the seal, combined with a bridge that assists in energizing the seal by applying radial forces, preventing damage and ensuring proper alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are used to establish pressure barriers in wellbore operations, then sealing functionality is improved, but sealing surfaces may be damaged due to improper alignment and contact during installation or retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The sabot acts as an intermediary protective element between the seal and the wellbore environment. It has a larger outer diameter than the seal and contacts the wellbore wall first, preventing direct contact between the seal and potentially damaging surfaces. The bridge serves as another intermediary component that distributes loads and maintains proper spacing, ensuring the seal remains centered and protected during installation and retrieval operations.
2Reliability
If seals include various components and extensions to enhance sealing capability, then sealing functionality is improved, but sealing surfaces along the hanger or casing may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The sabot serves as a protective intermediary that prevents the seal's extensions and components from directly contacting and damaging the hanger or casing sealing surfaces. By having a larger diameter than the seal, the sabot protrudes beyond the seal components and makes contact first, creating a protective barrier that shields the seal's extensions during installation and retrieval.
3Manufacturing precision
If the sabot has a larger diameter than the seal to provide protection and centralization, then seal alignment is improved, but the sabot requires additional space and may interfere with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The sabot is designed with localized functionality - it has a larger diameter only in the regions where protection and centralization are needed, while maintaining appropriate dimensions in other areas. The bridge component provides localized support and spacing functionality, allowing the sabot to be compact where possible while still providing the necessary larger diameter for protection where required.
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 effectively prevents seal surface damage, maintains seal integrity, and ensures efficient sealing by centralizing the seal and facilitating its energization, reducing the likelihood of seal twisting or tilting within the wellbore.
Implementation Method 1
an energizing ring that drives legs of the seal radially outward, the energizing ring applying a radial force to a leg proximate the sabot to at least partially deform the sabot
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include a system for setting a seal in a wellbore including a sabot arranged proximate the seal, the sabot being supported by the seal and having a first diameter larger than a second diameter of the seal. The system also includes a bridge coupled to the sabot and in contact with the seal, the bridge extending axially away from the sabot and positioned within a slot formed by an extension of the seal. The system also includes an energizing ring that drives legs of the seal radially outward, the energizing ring applying a radial force a leg proximate the sabot to at least partially deform the sabot