Wireless Hydrostatic Packer Module Tubing Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic triggering of packer setting mechanisms in downhole environments can cause significant stress on production tubing, leading to potential failure and costly removal and re-deployment of equipment, and relies on expensive and failure-prone hydraulic lines or barrier valves.
Innovation Solution
A wirelessly activated hydrostatic set module that uses pressure pulses or other wireless signals to actuate the setting mechanism, eliminating the need for hydraulic lines and reducing stress on the production tubing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic pressure is induced through the tubing bore to trigger the setting mechanism, then the packer can be set, but the strain on the tubing may lead to ballooning and long-term failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic triggering function from the production tubing system by introducing a separate dedicated hydraulic line that connects the surface pump directly to the setting mechanism. This separation removes the harmful hydraulic stress from the production tubing while maintaining the ability to reliably set the packer.
Solution Approach 2:
The dedicated hydraulic line acts as an intermediary between the surface pump and the downhole setting mechanism. It transfers the hydraulic pressure needed for packing element expansion without exposing the production tubing to high stresses, thereby protecting the tubing from ballooning and long-term damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a dedicated hydraulic line is run from surface to the hydrostatic set module, then exposure of production tubing to dramatic pressure increases is eliminated, but additional production equipment and potential failure modes are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into a dedicated control line separate from the production tubing. This segmentation allows the hydraulic function to be performed independently without compromising the production tubing, while the modular design keeps the added complexity manageable and localized to the setting operation.
3Ease of operation
If hydraulic pressure is induced through the annulus to trigger the setting mechanism, then the setting can be activated, but the lower completions assembly must be isolated requiring barrier valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic triggering function from the annulus and production tubing system by using a dedicated hydraulic line. This eliminates the need to isolate the lower completions assembly with barrier valves, simplifying the completion design and reducing additional failure modes while maintaining easy activation of the setting mechanism.
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 solution reduces the likelihood of tubing failure and associated costs by eliminating hydraulic stress and the need for dedicated hydraulic lines, while allowing for reliable and efficient packer setting and other downhole operations without introducing new failure modes.
Implementation Method 1
trigger mechanism configured to detect a wireless communication from a surface and actuate the hydrostatic set module in response to the detection of the wireless signal. In one embodiment, the wireless communication is in the form of pressure pulses transmitted downhole through the wellbore
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A hydrostatic set module configured with a wireless trigger mechanism to allow wireless activation thereof from an oilfield surface. The trigger mechanism includes a charge for exposing the module to wellbore pressures and allowing it to behave as an intensifier for actuation of a downhole device such as a production packer. The mechanism also includes a sensor for detection of the wireless communications along with a processor for analysis thereof and to direct spending of the charge. Pressure pulse or other wireless communication forms that are suitable for the downhole environment may be transmitted from surface in a variety of different signature patterns for responsive analysis by the trigger mechanism.