Spheroidized Tungsten Shaped Charge Liners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shaped charge liners made of pure metals for downhole operations often leave residues that plug perforation holes, and liners made of metal powders face issues with flow characteristics and density variability, limiting deep penetration and production fluid influx.

Innovation Solution

The use of spheroidized tungsten powders in shaped charge liners, which improve flowability and bulk density, allowing for deeper penetration and more efficient perforation by reducing friction and enhancing manufacturability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If pure metal liners are used in shaped charges, then penetration depth is improved, but residues remain that plug the perforation holes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepenetration depthVSAvoidresidue plugging

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liner is segmented into discrete metal powder particles rather than a continuous pure metal structure. This segmentation allows the liner to fragment into smaller particles during detonation, improving penetration while reducing the formation of large plugging residues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state of the liner material is changed from solid pure metal to metal powder with specific particle size distributions. This parameter change enables the liner to achieve both deep penetration and reduced residue plugging by controlling particle morphology and size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If metal powder liners are used to avoid plugging, then residue plugging is reduced, but flow characteristics and density variability limit penetration depth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidue pluggingVSAvoidpenetration depth

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The particle size distribution, shape, and density parameters of the metal powder are precisely controlled and standardized. This ensures consistent flow characteristics during liner formation while maintaining high bulk density for deep penetration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The liner uses a composite structure of metal powder particles bound together, combining the advantages of powder (reduced plugging) with controlled density and flow characteristics. The composite nature allows optimization of both penetration and anti-plugging properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If irregular metal powder is used in liners, then material availability is improved, but density variability increases and penetration is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial availabilityVSAvoiddensity variability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The metal powder undergoes spheroidization treatment that transforms irregular particles into spherical shapes with controlled size distributions. This parameter change maintains material availability while significantly reducing density variability and improving flow characteristics for consistent liner performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The metal powder particles are converted from irregular shapes to spherical shapes. This spheroidization improves flow characteristics during liner formation, ensures more uniform density distribution, and maintains manufacturing ease while achieving consistent penetration performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

Spheroidized tungsten powders result in improved penetration depths and reduced tool wear, with 13% improvement in average QC shot penetration compared to traditional liners, and enhanced control over charge performance variability.

Implementation Method 1

improve flowability and bulk density, allowing for deeper penetration and more efficient perforation by reducing friction and enhancing manufacturability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

detonating the shaped charge in the well

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDetonation: Detonation

Implementation Method 3

A perforating gun includes a shaped charge that includes a casing, a liner disposed within an opening of the casing, and an explosive disposed between the casing and the liner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShaped charge: Shaped Charge

Data Source

PatentUS20190101367A1Utilization of spheroidized tungsten in shaped charge systems

Publication Date: 2019.04.04 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to methods for perforating wells. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes positioning a perforating gun in the well and detonating the shaped charge in the well. The perforating gun includes a shaped charge that includes a casing, a liner disposed within an opening of the casing, and an explosive disposed between the casing and the liner. The liner is made of a metal powder blend having a spheroidized metal powder.