Frangible Plug Perforation Gun Pressure Relief
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing perforation guns often rupture due to pressure waves generated by detonating explosive charges, leading to debris accumulation and potential stuck tools in wellbores, which complicates recovery operations and may require well abandonment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a through hole in the tool body plugged with a frangible material that opens upon detonation, increasing the venting area and reducing pressure waves, while positioning deep-penetrating explosive charges coaxially with the through hole to focus energy and improve penetration without tool rupture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a perforation gun uses explosive charges to perforate casing and formation, then deep penetration into the formation is achieved, but pressure waves cause tool rupture and debris accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful pressure wave from the system by providing an alternative path for pressure relief. A relief hole is created in the tool body, allowing the pressure wave generated by explosive detonation to escape through the relief hole rather than building up inside the tool body, thus preventing tool rupture while maintaining deep penetration capability
Solution Approach 2:
The relief hole acts as an intermediary element between the explosive charge and the external environment. It provides a controlled pathway for the pressure wave to interact with the surrounding formation material rather than causing uncontrolled tool failure, mediating between the explosive energy and the tool structure
2Strength
If the tool body is made stronger to resist pressure waves, then tool rupture resistance improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing tool body strength to resist pressure waves, the patent extracts the pressure wave from the tool body interior through the relief hole. This approach avoids the need for stronger, more complex tool body construction while still achieving pressure wave resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter inside the tool body by providing a pressure relief pathway. Rather than changing the mechanical strength parameter of the tool body, the pressure inside is reduced by allowing it to escape through the relief hole, achieving the same protective effect with simpler manufacturing
3Reliability
If a relief hole is provided in the tool body, then pressure wave venting improves and tool rupture is reduced, but debris may be generated from the relief hole
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of the relief hole generating debris into a beneficial outcome. The relief hole is intentionally designed to allow controlled interaction between the pressure wave and formation material, creating beneficial perforations or channels while the amount of debris generated is acceptable compared to the alternative of tool rupture
Solution Approach 2:
The relief hole provides a dynamic response to the pressure wave, allowing the system to adapt to the explosive energy release. Rather than a static strong structure that might fail catastrophically, the dynamic relief hole opens up a controlled pathway that manages the pressure wave energy progressively
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
This configuration reduces the likelihood of tool rupture, minimizes debris, and enhances deep penetration of the formation by effectively venting pressure waves and focusing explosive energy, thereby improving perforation efficiency and reducing recovery costs.
Implementation Method 1
a frangible plug 76 may be provided in the shouldered hole 56. When explosive energy is focused upon the frangible material or a pressure wave within the interior of the perforation gun 50 is incident on the frangible material, the frangible material may break, thereby opening the through hole 62
Implementation Method 2
Perforation tools may comprise explosive charges that are detonated to fire the perforation tool, perforate a casing if present, and create perforations and/or tunnels into a subterranean formation proximate to the wellbore
Implementation Method 3
a pressure wave created by the detonation of the explosive charge
Implementation Method 4
positioning deep-penetrating explosive charges coaxially with the through hole to focus energy and improve penetration
Data Source
AI summary
A perforation gun. The perforation gun comprises a tool body, the tool body defining at least one shouldered hole wherein the shouldered hole comprises a hole through a wall of the tool body and a shoulder that is thinner than the wall of the tool body and at least one perforating explosive charge disposed within the tool body.