Shoe Track Assembly System And Method Of Use
Patent No. US12091966 (titled "Shoe Track Assembly System And Method Of Use") was filed by Citadel Casing Solutions Llc on Oct 4, 2022.
What is this patent about?
’966 is related to the field of wellbore construction, specifically to shoe track systems used in oil and gas drilling. Traditional shoe tracks, which connect the bottom of the casing to the wellbore, are long, multi-component assemblies requiring significant time and expense to install. These conventional systems also rely on cement integrity for pressure testing, which can be unreliable.
The underlying idea behind ’966 is to consolidate the functionality of a traditional shoe track into a single, shorter tool. This is achieved by integrating valves and plug landing seats within a compact housing. The key inventive insight is to create a system that can perform pressure testing and prevent fluid flow without relying on cement integrity, thereby simplifying the installation process and reducing the overall length of the shoe track.
The claims of ’966 focus on a shoe track assembly system comprising an elongated housing with integrated valves and plug landing mechanisms. The independent claims emphasize that the valves are designed to withstand pressure and prevent fluid flow independently of cement, and that the plug lands directly in the housing without intermediate stops. This allows for pressure testing and other well operations to be performed without relying on the cement seal.
In practice, the ’966 system involves securing the compact tool to the bottom of the casing string. The tool incorporates one or more high-pressure valves to prevent formation fluids from entering the wellbore. A plug is then dropped from the surface and lands on a dedicated landing seat within the tool's housing. This landing plug, in conjunction with the valves, creates a pressure-tight seal, enabling casing pressure tests to be performed without the need for cement to provide the primary seal.
The ’966 system differentiates itself from prior approaches by integrating all necessary shoe track components into a single, short tool. This eliminates the need for multiple casing joints, float collars, and landing collars, significantly reducing the overall length of the shoe track. By not relying on cement integrity for pressure testing, the system provides a more reliable and efficient method for wellbore construction, potentially increasing the pay zone exposure and reducing operational costs. The integrated valve system is key to this improvement.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’966 was filed, wellbore systems commonly relied on specific configurations of components to achieve desired functionality. At a time when X was typically implemented using Y, the industry was focused on improving efficiency and reducing costs associated with wellbore systems. Hardware or software constraints made B non-trivial, requiring innovative solutions to optimize performance and minimize the number of components used.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the prior art, specifically Budde (US 2015/0101801), failed to disclose or suggest certain key features. These features include a plug that is dropped from a surface, travels into an elongated housing, and engages with a first landing mechanism to seal the top of the housing. Additionally, the plug travels without intermittent engagement or stopping within the well casing. The prior art also failed to disclose well operations that do not establish cement integrity within the tool, ensuring the first valve is not filled with cement.
Claims
There are 12 claims in total. Claims 1 and 5 are independent. Independent claim 1 focuses on a shoe track assembly system with valves and plug landing mechanisms, emphasizing well operations without cement. Independent claim 5 focuses on a method of well construction using a tool with a valve and plug landing mechanism, also emphasizing operations without cement. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the features and functionalities described in the independent claims, such as valve types, pressure ratings, and additional tool components.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US12091966
- Application Number
- US17959719
- Filing Date
- Oct 4, 2022
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Oct 4, 2042
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents