Dissolvable Perforating Gun Wireless Detonation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional perforating guns used in subterranean wellbores are difficult and costly to deliver and retrieve, especially in horizontal sections, due to the need for wired connections and physical conveyances.

Innovation Solution

A dissolvable perforating gun that can be wirelessly operated and deployed untethered within the wellbore, using dissolvable materials and a detection system to identify predetermined locations for firing shaped charges, which then dissolve in wellbore fluids, eliminating the need for retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional perforating guns with wired connections are used, then reliable detonation control is achieved, but delivery and retrieval become difficult and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetonation control reliabilityVSAvoiddelivery and retrieval ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the wired connection system from the perforating gun, transitioning to a wireless detonation system. The gun is designed to be deployed freely without physical tethers to the surface, eliminating the operational constraints of wired connections while maintaining detonation reliability through alternative wireless initiation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The perforating gun is designed as a disposable device that is deployed into the wellbore, performs its function, and then remains in place or dissolves. This eliminates the need for complex retrieval operations through horizontal sections, trading the high cost of retrieval for a simpler, single-use device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If perforating guns are delivered through horizontal wellbore sections using traditional conveyances, then the gun can be positioned accurately, but the operation becomes time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddelivery and retrieval time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a pumpable perforating gun system that can be delivered through the wellbore using fluid pressure (hydraulic/pneumatic principles). The gun is pumped into position through the wellbore fluid stream, eliminating the need for mechanical conveyance through horizontal sections and significantly reducing delivery time and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Extent of automation

If wired connections are used for perforating gun operation, then control and monitoring are maintained, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol and monitoring capabilityVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless control and monitoring system. Electronic communication and detonation initiation are achieved through electromagnetic fields or other wireless mechanisms, eliminating the physical cable infrastructure and reducing operational complexity while maintaining automation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables efficient and cost-effective perforation of wellbores without the need for wired connections or physical conveyances, with the perforating guns dissolving within two weeks, reducing operational complexity and costs.

Implementation Method 1

an initiator operable to transmit the initiation signal to the detonator in response to wirelessly detecting a signal indicative of the perforating gun reaching a predetermined depth in the wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Each of the elongated charge carrier, perforating charges, detonator and initiator are constructed of a material dissolvable within the wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 3

the perforating guns dissolving within two weeks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS12012835B2Dissolvable expendable guns for plug-and-perf applications

Publication Date: 2024.06.18 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A wellbore system for perforating a subterranean formation including a dissolvable perforating gun that may be wirelessly operated to fire at a predetermined wellbore location and thereafter fragmented and dissolved with wellbore fluids. The perforating gun may take the form of a strip gun with an elongated rod or other charge holder carrying a plurality of exposed perforating charges thereon. The exposed shaped charges may each be equipped with an individual charge cover or filler material disposed over a liner that forms a jet when the shaped charge is detonated. A wiper to facilitate pumping the perforating gun through the wellbore and may include an initiator for detecting a signal or condition indicative of the perforating gun having reached a predetermined location to cause the perforating gun to fire.