Wireline Release System with Staged Shear Screws
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the oil and gas industry, wireline tools often become stuck in well bores, making it difficult to retrieve them without leaving equipment behind, and existing mechanical release systems are inadequate for controlled release.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage mechanical release system with viscous fluid chambers, shear screws, and a wireline tie-off assembly that allows for controlled release of wireline tools by overcoming mechanical weak points and severing the wireline, utilizing viscous fluid dampers to regulate movement and ensure safe disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical release system is implemented to release wireline tools, then equipment retrieval capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release system is divided into multiple independent shear screws (first, second, and third shear screws) positioned at different locations around the bore. Each shear screw can be sheared independently to provide staged release capability, allowing operators to release tools in a controlled sequence rather than all at once, thus improving retrieval capability while keeping individual components simple
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static connected state to a dynamic release state through the sequential shearing of shear screws. The staged release mechanism allows the system to adapt its degree of separation dynamically, enabling controlled disconnection of wireline tools from the bore based on operational needs, thereby improving ease of operation
2Loss of substance
If staged release mechanism is used to minimize equipment left in well, then loss of substance is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release system uses multiple shear screws positioned at different angular positions around the bore to create staged release points. By shearing these screws in sequence rather than simultaneously, the system enables progressive separation of tools, allowing operators to minimize equipment left in the well through controlled staged release while keeping each individual release mechanism simple
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to enable selective discarding of lower tools that become stuck while preserving and recovering upper tools that remain accessible. The staged release mechanism allows operators to intentionally leave certain components in the well while retrieving others, optimizing the balance between minimizing loss and managing complexity
3Reliability
If viscous fluid dampers are added to control tie-off assembly movement, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Viscous fluid dampers are introduced as intermediary elements between the tie-off assembly and the bore. These dampers control the movement and separation speed of the tie-off assembly during the release process, preventing sudden or uncontrolled disconnection. The fluid dampers act as a mediator that smooths the transition from connected to disconnected state, improving reliability while adding only a simple fluid-based damping mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses viscous fluid (hydraulic principle) dampers to control the motion of the tie-off assembly during release. The fluid resistance provides controlled damping forces that regulate the separation speed and prevent abrupt disconnection, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the release process while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple shear screws are used for controlled release, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple shear screws are positioned at specific angular positions around the bore (e.g., 0 degrees, 120 degrees, 240 degrees) to create precisely defined release points. This segmented arrangement allows operators to control which tools are released by selectively shearing specific shear screws, improving manufacturing precision for controlled release positioning while using simple screw-based mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Each shear screw location provides a localized release point with specific functional characteristics. The first shear screw may control release of upper tools while the second and third shear screws control release of lower tools. This local quality approach allows precise control over which tools are released at which location, improving manufacturing precision while keeping each local release mechanism simple
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
Enables controlled and staged release of wireline tools, minimizing equipment left in the well and allowing for safe retrieval of tools above the stuck point, while maintaining electrical communication and mechanical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
one or more viscous fluid dampers configured to control a movement of the tie-off assembly through the bore
Implementation Method 2
first shear screws configured to fail when a first pullout force is applied to the tie-off assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A wireline release system may include, but is not limited to: a first housing including an internal body portion defining at least one bore; a second housing operably couplable to the first housing; a wireline tie-off assembly, operably couplable to a wireline cable, disposed at least partially within the bore; an assembly disposed at least partially within the bore; a first mechanical weak point configured to maintain the wireline tie-off assembly at a first position of the bore; and a second mechanical weak point configured to maintain the assembly at a second position of the bore.