System and Method for Verifying Perforating Gun Status Prior to Perforating a Wellbore

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-06-03
HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention disclosed herein provides systems and methods for bidirectional communication between a surface system and a downhole system that enables a determination of whether a perforating gun has experienced a leak prior to firing the perforating gun. The systems and methods of the present invention enabl

Problems solved by technology

It has been found, however, that perforating guns sometimes develop a leak, for example during the run in process, and become partially or completely filled with wellbore fluid.
Once such fluid infiltration has occurred, if such a perforating gun is fired, there is a high likelihood that the perforating gun may split.
Not only does such an occurrence result in a failed perforation operation, the explosive event may damage other wellbore equipment and may result in the split perforating gun becoming lodged in the wellbore.
As such, an expensive recovery effort to retrieve the damaged equipment may be required and the entire completion may have to be abandoned resulting in the need to drill a sidetrack well.

Method used

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  • System and Method for Verifying Perforating Gun Status Prior to Perforating a Wellbore

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Embodiment Construction

[0019]While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention, and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

[0020]Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system for verifying the status of perforating guns prior to perforating a wellbore is operating from an offshore oil and gas platform that is schematically illustrated and generally designated 10. A semi-submersible platform 12 is centered over a submerged oil and gas formation 14 located below sea floor 16. A subsea conduit 18 extends from deck 20 of platform 12 to wellhead installation 22 including subsea blow-out preventers 24. Platform 12 has a hoisting apparatus 26 and a derrick 28 for raising and lowering pipe strin...

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Abstract

A system for verifying perforating gun status prior to perforating a wellbore. The system includes a perforating gun (38) having a leak sensor disposed therein that is positionable at a target location within the wellbore on a tubing string (30). A communication system (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) is integrated with the tubing string (30). The communication system (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) is operable to communicate with the leak sensor. A surface controller (40) is operable to send a first telemetry signal via the communication system (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) to interrogate the leak sensor regarding a leak status of the perforating gun (38), receive a second telemetry signal from the leak sensor via the communication system (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) including the leak status of the perforating gun (38) and determine whether to operate the perforating gun (38) based upon the leak status information.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates, in general, to opening communication paths through a casing disposed in a wellbore and, in particular, to systems and methods for verifying the status of perforating guns prior to perforating the wellbore.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Without limiting the scope of the present invention, its background will be described in relation to perforating a wellbore, as an example.[0003]After drilling the various sections of a subterranean wellbore that traverses a formation, individual lengths of relatively large diameter metal tubulars are typically secured together to form a casing string that is positioned within the wellbore. This casing string increases the integrity of the wellbore and provides a path for producing fluids from the producing intervals to the surface. Conventionally, the casing string is cemented within the wellbore. To produce fluids into the casing string, hydraulic openings or perforations must be made t...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): E21B43/116E21B47/12E21B47/16E21B47/14
CPCE21B43/116E21B47/14E21B47/1025E21B43/119E21B47/117
InventorBURLESON, JOHN D.HALES, JOHN H.FINK, KEVIN D.
OwnerHALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC