Wellhead Stop Loss Tool With Rotating Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices fail to effectively prevent equipment loss in wells by allowing equipment to fall back into the wellbore, leading to costly retrieval processes and production delays, despite efforts to mitigate this issue through devices attached to the wellhead.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable latch system is coupled to the wellhead, allowing selective uni-directional passage of equipment, with a rotational device and biasing mechanism to prevent bidirectional travel and minimize drag forces, and featuring a compact design that can be manually or automatically operated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latch system is used to prevent equipment loss, then equipment security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch system employs dynamic elements including a rotatable latch member that can pivot between locked and unlocked positions, a spring-loaded biasing mechanism that automatically returns the latch to its default position, and a movable gate that responds to equipment passage. This dynamic design enables automatic equipment retention while maintaining operational simplicity through motion-based control rather than complex mechanical linkages
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a housing that provides structural support and mounting, a latch member with specific retention geometry, a biasing mechanism for automatic reset, and a gate structure for equipment passage control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system simplicity and ease of maintenance
2Ease of operation
If bidirectional passage is allowed, then ease of operation is improved, but equipment loss risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch member features asymmetric geometry with a retention surface configured to engage equipment in one direction while allowing passive release in the opposite direction. The gate structure similarly employs asymmetric positioning and dimensions that facilitate equipment insertion while preventing unauthorized removal. This asymmetric design achieves unidirectional equipment retention without requiring complex active control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism automatically returns the latch to its locked position after equipment passage, eliminating the need for manual resetting. The system self-regulates equipment retention based on passage direction, requiring no external control or monitoring. This self-service operation maintains equipment security while simplifying user interaction to simple equipment insertion
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 system effectively prevents equipment loss by allowing controlled passage and retrieval, reducing costs, delays, and production disruptions while maintaining ease of maintenance and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned within the housing and operably connected to the latch and configured to bias the latch toward the restricted position
Implementation Method 2
rotational device coupled to the latch and configured to reduce drag forces on the latch
Data Source
AI summary
The present application includes a tool configured to prevent bidirectional passage through a pipe or wellhead. The tool includes at least a housing and a latch. The housing is coupled to the wellhead. The housing has an interior volume in communication with an interior volume of the wellhead through an aperture. The wellhead has a central axis. The latch is pivotally coupled to the interior of the housing and oriented so as to pivot within a plane parallel to the central axis. The latch is configured to selectively enter and exit the interior of the wellhead between a first orientation and a second orientation. The tool may further include a tube to be coupled in axial alignment with the wellhead or pipe.