Bending Shock De-coupler for Perforating Strings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers used in subterranean wells during perforating events are ineffective due to their inability to quickly react to angular displacement, resulting in the reflection rather than coupling of shock, which limits their ability to mitigate shock effectively.
Innovation Solution
A bending shock de-coupler is introduced, which initially allows high compliance for angular deflection but decreases compliance when a predetermined limit is reached, effectively mitigating bending shock between components of a perforating string by using connectors with varying bending properties and energy absorbers to manage kinetic energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior shock absorbers are used, then shock mitigation is attempted, but they cannot react quickly enough to allow angular displacement, resulting in shock reflection rather than coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The shock de-coupler employs a dynamic compliance mechanism that adapts its bending stiffness in real-time. During normal operations, the de-coupler maintains a first compliance level that allows restricted bending. Upon detecting a shock event through angular displacement, it transitions to a second compliance level with greater bending flexibility, enabling rapid response to mitigate shock effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of bending compliance dynamically. The de-coupler structure transitions between different compliance states based on operational conditions. This parameter change allows the system to optimize its shock mitigation performance by being compliant when needed and restrictive when not under shock load.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high bending compliance is maintained continuously, then angular displacement is allowed during shock events, but compliance should not be excessive under normal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The shock de-coupler employs a dynamic compliance mechanism that adapts its bending stiffness in real-time. During normal operations, the de-coupler maintains a first compliance level that allows restricted bending. Upon detecting a shock event through angular displacement, it transitions to a second compliance level with greater bending flexibility, enabling rapid response to mitigate shock effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The de-coupler automatically adjusts its compliance characteristics in response to detected shock events without external intervention. The angular displacement itself triggers the compliance change mechanism, allowing the system to self-regulate its shock mitigation behavior based on real-time operational conditions.
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 bending shock de-coupler effectively reduces the transmission of bending shock between components, preventing damage and ensuring the stability of equipment during perforating events by reflecting rather than transmitting shock, thus enhancing the efficiency of shock mitigation in subterranean wells.
Implementation Method 1
A bending compliance of the de-coupler substantially increases between the connectors
Data Source
AI summary
A bending shock de-coupler for use with a perforating string can include perforating string connectors at opposite ends of the de-coupler. A bending compliance of the de-coupler may substantially increase between the connectors. A well system can include a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple bending shock de-couplers, each of the de-couplers having a bending compliance, and at least two of the bending compliances being different from each other. A perforating string can include a bending shock de-coupler interconnected longitudinally between two components of the perforating string. A bending compliance of the bending shock de-coupler may substantially decrease in response to angular displacement of one of the components a predetermined amount relative to the other component.