Wireline Tool Brake Assembly for Wellbore Freefall Arrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireline tools in wellbores often become separated from the wireline, leading to uncontrolled freefall and potential damage or loss, necessitating costly and time-consuming retrieval efforts.
Innovation Solution
A tool brake assembly with an activation ring and stop mechanism that engages with the wellbore wall upon detachment, preventing further freefall and facilitating easier recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireline tools are lowered into the wellbore using wireline or slickline, then the tools can perform operations within the wellbore, but the tools may become separated from the wireline leading to uncontrolled freefall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a brake assembly that is pre-configured to counteract the harmful effect of freefall. The brake assembly includes a brake shoe and actuator positioned to automatically engage and provide braking force if the wireline connection fails, preventing the tool from falling uncontrolled to the bottom of the wellbore.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by including a compliant element in the brake assembly that can absorb impact energy. This compliant element acts as a cushion that deploys before the tool reaches the bottom of the wellbore, reducing the severity of impact if the brake cannot completely stop the tool's descent.
2Reliability
If the wireline tool becomes separated and falls to the bottom of the wellbore, then the tool may be lost, but retrieving the tool involves expensive and time-consuming fishing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly prevents the tool from falling to the bottom of the wellbore by automatically engaging the brake mechanism upon detection of wireline separation. This stops the tool at a higher, more accessible position in the wellbore, making retrieval operations faster and less expensive.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake assembly is pre-positioned and pre-configured within the tool structure, ready to activate immediately upon wireline separation. This preliminary preparation ensures that the braking action occurs without delay, preventing the tool from traveling the full distance to the bottom and reducing retrieval time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the wireline tool falls to the bottom of the wellbore, then the tool may be damaged or lost, but implementing a brake assembly increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: an actuator mechanism, a brake shoe, and a compliant element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall design by breaking down the complex braking function into manageable parts that can be integrated into the existing tool structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake assembly is designed to activate automatically upon detection of wireline separation, without requiring external control or power. The mechanical design uses the force of the falling tool itself to engage the brake mechanism, eliminating the need for complex electronic controls or power sources and reducing overall device complexity.
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 tool brake assembly quickly stops the wireline tool in the wellbore, reducing damage and retrieval time, and enhances the chances of successful fishing operations.
Implementation Method 1
the specific weight distribution of the activation ring is configured to cause the activation ring to remain in a fixed position during normal operation of the wireline tool assembly and to move axially relative to the tool body during freefall of the wireline tool assembly
Implementation Method 2
the stop mechanism extends radially outward from the tool body and into contact with a wellbore wall of the subterranean wellbore to impede translation of the wireline tool assembly axially downward through the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A wireline tool assembly for operating in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation includes a tool brake assembly, and the tool brake assembly include having a tool body comprising a cylindrical wall section, an activation ring having a specific weight distribution and circumscribing the cylindrical wall section, a stop mechanism moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and an actuator. The activation ring is configured to remain in a fixed position during normal operation of the wireline tool assembly and to move axially relative to the tool body during freefall of the wireline tool assembly. During freefall of the wireline tool assembly, the activation ring moves axially relative to the tool body to cause the actuator to move the stop mechanism into the deployed position into contact with the wellbore wall to stop the wireline tool assembly.