Wellhead Mixing Device with Rifled Bores for Vortex Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellheads struggle to create a circular or helical fluid flow for larger volumes of fluid, such as in fracking operations, while maintaining the capacity for fluid flow and protecting wireline equipment from reactive or corrosive fluids.
Innovation Solution
A wellhead design featuring a central bore and rifled internal bores with peripheral injection ports, which introduce centrifugal forces to create a circular or helical fluid flow, and a mixing chamber to maintain this flow pattern and blend fluids, allowing for simultaneous fluid injection and wireline operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If angled injection ports and funneled mixing chambers are used to create a drain vortex, then a circular or helical fluid flow is introduced, but the overall capacity of the wellhead for fluid flow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by using rifled internal bores with spiral grooves instead of straight bores. The rifling creates a helical path for fluid flow, generating the desired circular or helical flow pattern through centrifugal forces while maintaining adequate flow capacity. This curved geometry approach resolves the contradiction by achieving flow pattern stability without the severe capacity reduction caused by angled ports and funneled chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the internal bores by introducing rifling with specific groove depths, widths, and pitch. These parameter modifications allow the creation of circular or helical flow patterns while optimizing the bore dimensions to maintain sufficient fluid flow capacity. The rifling parameters are designed to balance flow pattern generation with flow capacity requirements.
2Productivity
If fluids are injected into a wellbore, then fluid injection operations are performed, but wireline equipment is damaged by reactive or corrosive fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mixing chamber as an intermediary component between the injection ports and the wellbore. This mixing chamber allows reactive or corrosive fluids to be diluted or mixed with other fluids before reaching the wireline equipment in the central bore, reducing the harmful effects while maintaining injection capability. The mixing chamber acts as a buffer zone that protects the wireline equipment from direct exposure to corrosive fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fluid flow paths by separating the injection ports into multiple channels that feed into a mixing chamber. This segmentation allows different fluids to be introduced separately and then combined, enabling the dilution or neutralization of corrosive fluids before they contact the wireline equipment. The segmented approach provides control over fluid mixing while maintaining injection productivity.
3Productivity
If wireline equipment is withdrawn simultaneously with fluid injection, then operations continue without interruption, but the equipment faces increased resistance from counter-directional fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wireline equipment from the direct path of the injected fluid by providing a separate central bore that is isolated from the injection ports. The wireline equipment travels through the central bore while fluid is injected through separate rifled internal bores, eliminating the counter-directional fluid flow resistance. This separation allows continuous operations without the equipment facing increased resistance from opposing fluid flow.
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 design effectively promotes a circular or helical fluid flow, enhancing the capacity for fluid flow while minimizing the impact of reactive or corrosive fluids on wireline equipment, suitable for high-volume operations like fracking.
Implementation Method 1
rifled internal bores with peripheral injection ports, which introduce centrifugal forces to create a circular or helical fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
A wellhead capable of steering fluid flow to minimize contact with equipment in the wellbore comprises a central bore and a plurality of side bores coupled to injection ports. The plurality of side bores comprise a rifled internal surface having a circular or helical configuration into which fluids can be injected. The side bores intersect with the central bore at a mixing chamber, which also comprises a rifled internal surface. By injecting fluids into the wellbore through these ports, the operator can create a vortex utilizing the full capacity of the wellhead while minimizing contact with any wireline equipment.