Dissolvable Perforating Gun Debris Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The use of explosive perforating guns in hydrocarbon recovery operations results in significant debris, leading to corrosion, damage, and increased nonproductive time during well completion, as the internal components of the guns become damaged and difficult to remove without leaving residue in the wellbore.
Innovation Solution
Designing a perforating system with dissolvable internal components, such as a charge holder and shaped charges, that can break down and dissolve in wellbore fluids after detonation, allowing for the perforating gun to remain in the wellbore and reducing debris, enabling further downhole tasks without removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional explosive perforating guns are used, then perforation function is achieved, but significant debris is produced causing corrosion and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The internal components of the perforating gun are constructed from dissolvable materials that change their physical state from solid to dissolved form when exposed to wellbore fluids. This parameter change transforms the harmful solid debris into soluble substances that can be flushed away, eliminating corrosion and damage risks while maintaining wellbore integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful debris produced by traditional perforating guns is converted into a beneficial outcome by using dissolvable materials. The materials that would normally create problematic debris are instead designed to dissolve in wellbore fluids, transforming the harm into a benefit where the debris automatically disappears and even helps clean the wellbore
2Loss of substance
If spent perforating guns are pulled out of the wellbore, then debris removal is improved, but nonproductive time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The perforating gun system performs self-service by automatically dissolving its own internal components after detonation. The dissolvable materials eliminate debris without requiring external intervention to pull or retrieve the spent gun, saving nonproductive time while ensuring complete debris removal
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful internal components are extracted from the system by designing them to dissolve in wellbore fluids. This extraction eliminates the need to physically pull the spent gun out of the wellbore, as the dissolvable materials are automatically removed through chemical dissolution, reducing both debris and nonproductive time
3Loss of substance
If dissolvable materials are used for internal components, then debris is minimized, but material selection constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The material selection constraint is resolved by identifying specific dissolvable materials that meet both the debris minimization requirement and manufacturability criteria. Materials such as certain polymers, waxes, or chemically reactive metals are selected based on their dissolution characteristics in wellbore fluids, balancing performance needs with ease of manufacture
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 dissolvable perforating system effectively minimizes debris, reduces nonproductive time, and facilitates subsequent operations by allowing the perforating string to be used for additional tasks without being pulled out of the wellbore, enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrocarbon recovery operations.
Implementation Method 1
dissolvable internal components, such as a charge holder and shaped charges, that can break down and dissolve in wellbore fluids after detonation
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a perforating system for perforating a subterranean formation includes a carrier gun body having a cylindrical sleeve. The perforating system also includes a charge holder disposed in the cylindrical sleeve and a plurality of charges disposed on the charge holder. The charge holder is dissolvable in at least one wellbore fluid delivered through the carrier gun body after detonation of the charges. The charges may also be dissolvable during or after detonation. In some embodiments, the carrier gun body is dissolvable wellbore fluid delivered through the carrier gun body. By including dissolvable parts, the disclosed perforating gun yields relatively lower amounts of debris in the wellbore after detonation. In addition, the dissolving portions of the perforating gun allow the remaining portions of the gun to be used to perform wellbore operations downhole without pulling the perforating gun.