Reloadable Perforation Gun for Multi-Stage Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional perforation guns used in downhole environments are consumable items, requiring multiple trips downhole and retrieval for each fracturing stage, leading to time-consuming and expensive operations due to their single-use nature.
Innovation Solution
A semi-automatic perforation system with a reloadable chamber and caseless projectiles, allowing multiple uses and maintaining power and command access throughout the process, reducing the need for multiple guns and minimizing debris generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional single-use perforation guns are used for each fracturing stage, then the perforation function is reliable and simple, but the operation time increases and cost increases due to multiple trips downhole
Solution Approach 1:
The perforation gun is transformed from a single-use device to a multi-use device by adding a reloadable magazine system. The gun body can be reused across multiple fracturing stages after reloading projectiles, eliminating the need to retrieve and replace the entire gun assembly for each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine is nested within the gun body, and multiple projectiles are nested within the magazine. This nested structure allows compact storage of multiple projectiles and enables sequential reloading without removing the gun from the wellbore.
2Device complexity
If conventional single-use perforation guns are used for each fracturing stage, then the device structure is simple, but the operation cost increases due to multiple gun replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The gun system is segmented into a reusable gun body and replaceable magazines containing projectiles. This segmentation allows the expensive gun body to be retained and reused while only the consumable magazine needs replacement, improving productivity without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine and projectiles are designed as consumable items to be discarded after use, while the gun body is recovered and reused. This approach separates the high-value reusable component from the low-value consumable components, optimizing both productivity and cost efficiency.
3Loss of information
If conventional perforation guns are used, then electrical access is maintained during operation, but power and communication are lost after firing due to consumable nature
Solution Approach 1:
The tethered connection maintains continuous electrical and communication access between the gun and surface equipment throughout multiple firing cycles. The semi-automatic operation allows sequential reloading and firing while maintaining this continuous connection, enabling real-time monitoring and control across multiple stages.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple conventional perf guns are used per frac, then complete perforation coverage is achieved, but waste generation increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
A single gun body performs the function of multiple conventional guns by reloading projectiles in the magazine. This eliminates the waste associated with disposing of multiple single-use gun assemblies while achieving the same total perforation coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the magazine and projectiles are discarded as waste after depletion, while the gun body is recovered and reused. This dramatically reduces the volume of waste material compared to discarding entire gun assemblies, minimizing environmental impact while maintaining complete perforation coverage.
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 faster and less expensive fracturing operations by allowing multiple uses of the perforation system, reducing waste, and minimizing the need for surface equipment and fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A perforation, or 'perf,' gun may fracture the formation using shape charges
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a method is provided for controlling downhole equipment that includes a plug and slips. The controlling is based on input and includes setting and unsetting the plug and the slips, moving a toolstring, which includes the plug and slips, uphole and/or downhole, and flushing proppant off and around the plug after unsetting of the plug. The input may include pressure, temperature, differential pressure and temperature, tension, density, particle concentration, and acoustic information, and the plug, and the slips, may be set and unset independently of each other.