Swellable Shock Attenuator for Perforation Gun String
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Solution Overview
Problem
Perforation guns used in wellbore operations often cause damage due to the sudden release of explosive energy, leading to misalignment and potential breakage of the perforation gun string when impacting the wellbore or casing walls.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a swellable shock attenuator material into the perforation gun string that absorbs and attenuates shock impacts, maintaining alignment and preventing damage by swelling in response to downhole conditions to absorb mechanical energy during perforation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a perforation gun is used to perforate the wellbore, then the perforation operation is completed, but the sudden release of explosive energy causes misalignment and potential breakage of the perforation gun string
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating shock attenuator material into the perforation gun string design before the perforation operation. This material is positioned to absorb and attenuate the shock impacts generated when the explosive energy is released, preventing misalignment and breakage of the gun string while maintaining operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful shock impacts and explosive energy into beneficial effects by using the shock attenuator material to absorb and dissipate the shock waves. The material transforms the potentially damaging mechanical energy into harmless deformation or heat, protecting the perforation gun string integrity while allowing the perforation operation to proceed
2Reliability
If shock attenuator material is added to the perforation gun string, then damage is reduced and alignment is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by integrating the shock attenuator material within the existing perforation gun string structure. The attenuator material is nested inside or along the gun string components, allowing the shock protection function to be added without significantly increasing external dimensions or overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible shock attenuator material that can be applied as thin layers or films along the perforation gun string. This approach provides effective shock attenuation while minimizing the added volume and structural complexity, as the flexible material conforms to the existing gun string geometry
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
The swellable shock attenuator material effectively reduces damage to the perforation gun string and maintains its alignment within the wellbore, ensuring efficient perforation without causing unnecessary harm to the equipment or wellbore structure.
Implementation Method 1
The swellable material is configured to be exposed to a downhole wellbore environment; the swellable material is configured to swell in response to exposure to the downhole wellbore environment
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating a swellable shock attenuator material into the perforation gun string that absorbs and attenuates shock impacts, maintaining alignment and preventing damage by swelling in response to downhole conditions to absorb mechanical energy during perforation
Data Source
AI summary
A perforation gun string includes a perforation gun that forms at least part of the perforation gun string and a swellable material coupled to the perforation gun string. The swellable material is configured to be exposed to a downhole wellbore environment and to swell in response to exposure to the downhole wellbore environment. Further, the swellable material is configured to protrude beyond an outer surface of the perforation gun string when the swellable material swells.