Metal Patch Sealing via Electrohydraulic Shock Wave
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sealing openings in wellbore equipment, such as mechanical expansion and hydraulic pressure, are complex, time-consuming, costly, and unreliable, often failing to solidly fix metal patches in subterranean formations, which hampers the efficient recovery of formation fluids and gases.
Innovation Solution
The method employs an electrohydraulic forming process using a shock wave generation device to deform and fix a metal patch onto wellbore equipment by generating electrical discharges through a transmitting liquid, creating shock waves that penetrate the patch into the opening, ensuring a strong seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical expansion or hydraulic pressure tools are used to apply metal patches, then the casing can be repaired, but the process becomes complex, time-consuming, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical expansion tools and hydraulic pressure systems with a focused explosive charge system. The explosive charge directly propels the metal patch into the opening without requiring complex delivery mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the intermediate mechanical or hydraulic transmission components from the patch application system. By using direct explosive propulsion, the complex tooling required for mechanical expansion or hydraulic pressure delivery is removed, simplifying the overall process.
2Reliability
If mechanical expansion or hydraulic pressure tools are used to apply metal patches, then the casing can be repaired, but the operation becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive propulsion system eliminates the time-consuming mechanical expansion or hydraulic pressure application processes. The instantaneous detonation propels the patch into position immediately, dramatically reducing operation time while achieving reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses explosive force to rapidly propel the metal patch through the transmitting liquid and into the opening in a single instantaneous action, skipping the gradual mechanical or hydraulic application processes that consume significant time.
3Reliability
If mechanical expansion or hydraulic pressure tools are used to apply metal patches, then the casing can be repaired, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive charge system replaces expensive mechanical expansion tools and hydraulic pressure equipment. The simplicity of the explosive propulsion mechanism, combined with the elimination of complex tooling requirements, significantly reduces operational costs while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a disposable explosive charge that is consumed in the process of propelling the patch. This eliminates the need for expensive, reusable mechanical or hydraulic tools, reducing overall costs despite the single-use nature of the explosive initiator.
4Ease of manufacture
If explosive charge is used without focusing, then the patch can be fixed, but the metal does not penetrate enough to strongly fix the patch
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive charge is strategically positioned and shaped to focus its energy precisely on the metal patch and the target opening. This localized energy concentration ensures maximum penetration strength at the critical interface between patch and opening, rather than dispersing energy in all directions.
Solution Approach 2:
A transmitting liquid is introduced as an intermediary medium between the explosive charge and the metal patch. This liquid transmits the explosive shock wave efficiently to the patch, enhancing penetration into the opening while containing the explosive force to prevent uncontrolled propagation in other directions.
5Ease of manufacture
If the explosive charge propagates in all directions, then the patch can be fixed, but the pressure is not sufficient to solidly fix the patch
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive charge geometry and positioning are designed to concentrate force locally at the patch-opening interface. By shaping the charge to face the target directly and using the transmitting liquid to focus the shock wave, the system achieves high fixation force in the critical direction while minimizing wasted energy in other directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitting liquid acts as a force transmission medium that channels the explosive pressure directly onto the metal patch and into the opening. This intermediary ensures that the fixation force is maximized at the target location rather than being dissipated uniformly in all directions.
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 approach allows for efficient, rapid, and effective sealing of openings in wellbore equipment, significantly improving the recovery of oil and gas by solidly fixing the metal patch, reducing operational complexity and costs while enhancing sealing reliability.
Implementation Method 1
generating, in a transmitting liquid at least partially delimited by an elastic membrane, using said shock wave generation device, at least one electrical discharge propagating at least one shock wave
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrical discharge propagating at least one shock wave through said membrane into所述 wellbore toward所述 metal patch in order to deform and fix the metal patch
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a method for sealing at least one opening (16, 16A, 16B) of a wellbore equipment (14) arranged in a wellbore (10) of a subterranean formation (1) in order to improve the recovery of formation fluids and/or gases, said method comprising the steps of positioning a metal patch (80) between said wellbore equipment (14) and a shock wave generation device (20), said metal patch (80) facing the at least one opening (16A, 16B) to be sealed, and generating, using a shock wave generation device (20), at least one electrical discharge into said wellbore (10) in order to propagate toward said metal patch (80) at least one shock wave (90) adapted to deform and fix the metal patch (80) onto the wellbore equipment (14), sealing therefore the at least one opening (16A, 16B).