Detonating Cord With Embedded Communication Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downhole perforating technologies face challenges in resilience and control during the assembly and placement of perforating guns due to harsh downhole environments and forces, limiting the effective detonation of shape charges and communication of operational parameters.
Innovation Solution
A detonating cord with a flexible jacket surrounding both an explosive core and a communication medium, such as a metal wire or fiber-optic cable, embedded within the jacket, enhances resilience and allows for signal transmission and control of shape charge detonation in a perforating gun, enabling precise and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traditional detonating cord without integrated communication medium is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but signal transmission and control capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the communication medium (metal wire or fiber-optic cable) with the detonating cord structure by embedding it within the flexible jacket that surrounds the explosive core. This merging allows the cord to simultaneously serve as both a detonation transmission medium and a communication channel, eliminating the need for separate communication systems while maintaining signal transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The detonating cord is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the explosive charge transmission medium, the structural support element, and the communication medium for signal transmission and control. The flexible jacket encapsulates both the explosive core and the communication medium, allowing a single component to fulfill multiple roles in the perforating system.
2Strength
If the detonating cord is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but resilience during assembly and placement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible jacket made of elastomeric or polymeric material that surrounds and protects both the explosive core and the communication medium. This flexible outer layer allows the cord to bend, flex, and resiliently withstand the mechanical stresses of assembly and placement operations while maintaining the structural integrity and functional capability of the internal components.
3Loss of information
If the communication medium is exposed to the external environment, then signal transmission is straightforward, but protection from downhole environmental forces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The communication medium (metal wire or fiber-optic cable) is nested within the flexible jacket that also encapsulates the explosive core. This nested configuration provides dual protection: the flexible jacket shields the communication medium from harsh downhole environmental forces such as pressure, temperature, and mechanical stress, while still allowing signal transmission through the embedded communication pathway.
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 solution provides increased resilience and control over the detonation process, allowing for efficient perforation of hydrocarbon wells by ensuring reliable signal transmission and precise timing of shape charge detonation, even in challenging downhole conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible jacket surrounding an explosive; and a communication medium extending within or attached onto the flexible jacket layer
Data Source
AI summary
A downhole perforating device includes: a perforating gun having incorporated therein at least two shape charges; an elongated detonating cord incorporated with the perforating gun and extending along a length of the perforating gun, the detonating cord including: a flexible jacket surrounding an explosive; and a communication medium extending within or attached onto the flexible jacket layer.