Vacuum Insulated Detonator for High-Temperature Wellbores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available detonators often fail in high-temperature wellbore environments due to temperatures exceeding 500°F, leading to unreliable well operations, increased completion times, and higher costs.
Innovation Solution
A heat insulating container with a vacuum structure and reflective layers is used to protect a signal-activated detonator, reducing heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation, and maintaining the detonator's reliability in high-temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If detonators are used in high-temperature wellbore environments, then well operations can be performed at deeper depths, but the detonators fail due to temperatures exceeding their operational rating
Solution Approach 1:
A heat insulating container acts as an intermediary barrier between the high-temperature wellbore environment and the detonator. The container includes a vacuum space that thermally isolates the detonator from external heat, allowing the detonator to operate reliably in temperature environments it would normally fail in.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum space within the heat insulating container creates an inert thermal environment. By removing gas molecules through vacuum, heat transfer via conduction and convection is eliminated, providing a thermally inert environment that protects the detonator from high-temperature damage.
2Duration of action of moving object
If detonators are rated for limited time operation, then they can be used in standard well operations, but they fail when operations take longer than the rated time
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating container serves as a thermal mediator that extends the detonator's operational duration. By blocking heat transfer, the container maintains the detonator within its operational temperature range for extended periods, allowing completion of longer well operations that would otherwise exceed the detonator's time rating.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum insulation provides beforehand cushioning against thermal damage. The heat insulating container is pre-configured with vacuum spaces and reflective barriers that cushion the detonator from temperature excursions before they can cause failure, enabling extended operational time.
3Reliability
If heat insulating containers with vacuum structures are used, then detonator reliability is improved in high-temperature environments, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating container employs a nested structure with multiple vacuum spaces arranged concentrically around the detonator. This nested doll configuration provides comprehensive thermal protection while maintaining a compact form factor, balancing reliability improvement with manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation system is segmented into multiple discrete vacuum spaces rather than a single large vacuum chamber. This segmentation allows for modular construction, easier assembly, and localized maintenance, reducing the practical complexity of implementing and maintaining the heat insulating container.
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 heat insulating container effectively prolongs the operational life of detonators, ensuring reliable well operations by maintaining the detonator's functionality even in extreme temperatures, thus reducing well completion times and costs.
Implementation Method 1
having a structure defining a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
heat insulating container... reducing heat transfer by conduction, convection
Implementation Method 3
A reflective layer is arranged on a surface of the heat insulating container to reflect heat
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use in a wellbore comprises a heat insulating container having an inner space and having a structure defining a hollow containing a vacuum. The apparatus further comprises a reflective layer arranged on a surface of the heat insulating container to reflect heat for reducing radiated heat originated in the wellbore from reaching the inner space. Also, a signal-activated detonator is provided in the inner space of the heat insulating container.