Perforating Gun Shock Attenuation for Connector Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional perforating guns create shock waves that damage connections between components due to stress transmission, making separation post-detonation difficult.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of shock attenuation features in the gun body, such as grooves or impedance mismatch materials, to reduce stress transmission by reflecting shock waves back towards their source, thereby minimizing damage to connectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If shock attenuation features are added to the gun body, then stress transmission to connectors is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestress transmission to connectorsVSAvoidgun body structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gun body incorporates a porous material that allows shock waves to propagate through the structure while attenuating the stress transmitted to connectors. The porous structure dissipates shock energy through multiple reflection and scattering paths, reducing harmful stress transmission without requiring additional complex components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The gun body uses composite materials with varying impedance properties to attenuate shock waves. By combining materials with different acoustic impedances, the structure creates impedance mismatches that reflect and scatter shock waves, reducing stress transmission to connectors while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If robust connectors are used to withstand detonation forces, then connection strength is improved, but ease of separation post-detonation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector strengthVSAvoidseparation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shock attenuation features in the gun body serve as beforehand cushioning that reduces the detonation forces reaching the connectors. By attenuating shock waves before they reach the connector, the system maintains connection strength during detonation while preserving ease of separation afterward, as the connectors are not subjected to extreme stress that would cause permanent deformation or welding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Reduces stress on connectors, allowing for less robust designs and easier separation post-detonation, while maintaining the ability to withstand detonation forces.

Implementation Method 1

shock attenuation features in the gun body, such as grooves or impedance mismatch materials, to reduce stress transmission by reflecting shock waves back towards their source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock wave reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

shock attenuation features in the gun body, such as grooves or impedance mismatch materials, to reduce stress transmission

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpedance mismatch: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS12492617B2Perforating gun assembly with reduced shock transmission

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A method and systems for perforating a formation surrounding a borehole that include placing a perforating gun assembly into the borehole, the perforating gun assembly including a gun body comprising a connector and a shaped charge within the gun body. The shaped charges are detonated, thereby producing a shock wave in the gun body. The shock wave propagating through the gun body is attenuated using a shock attenuation feature in the gun body to decrease a stress from the shock wave communicated to the connector.