Wet Mate Fluid Reservoir for Debris-Free Wellbore Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
During production, completion, stimulation, and fracturing operations, debris such as frac sand can prevent energy transfer mechanisms like wet mate connections from achieving a reliable and sealed connection due to their orientation on the low side of the wellbore, leading to interference and coupling issues.
Innovation Solution
Orienting energy transfer mechanisms, such as wet mate connections, to the high side of the wellbore, ensuring no portion is below a certain angle relative to gravity, and using orientation tools like the Workstring Orientation Tool (WOT) to align them correctly, preventing debris from interfering with coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wet mate connections are oriented on the low side of the wellbore, then installation is easier, but debris interferes with coupling and prevents reliable sealed connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional orientation practice by positioning wet mate connections on the high side of the wellbore instead of the low side. This inversion prevents debris accumulation at the connection interface, ensuring reliable sealed connections while maintaining operational ease through proper gravitational positioning.
2Ease of operation
If wet mate connections are oriented on the low side of the wellbore, then installation is easier, but coupling issues occur due to debris interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional orientation practice by positioning wet mate connections on the high side of the wellbore instead of the low side. This inversion prevents debris accumulation at the connection interface, ensuring reliable sealed connections while maintaining operational ease through proper gravitational positioning.
3Reliability
If orientation tools like WOT are used to align wet mate connections to the high side, then connection reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wet mate connection system utilizes the natural gravitational field to self-position debris away from the connection interface. By orienting connections on the high side, the system leverages gravity's constant downward force to keep debris settled below, eliminating the need for active orientation tools and complex positioning equipment while maintaining high connection reliability.
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
This approach ensures reliable and sealed connections by keeping debris away from the energy transfer mechanisms, reducing the risk of interference and enhancing the efficiency of operations like frac packing and gravel packing.
Implementation Method 1
a volume of optical coupling fluid sufficient to allow the wet mate housing to undergo at least three decoupling/coupling sequences before running out
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a wet mate, a well system, and a method. The wet mate, in one aspect, includes a wet mate housing, the wet mate housing having a male wet mate connector portion or a female wet mate connector portion. The wet mate, according to this aspect, further includes a fluid reservoir located within the wet mate housing, and a volume of optical coupling fluid located within the fluid reservoir, the volume of optical coupling fluid sufficient to allow the wet mate housing to undergo at least three decoupling/coupling sequences before running out while the wet mate housing is in a substantially horizontal location.