INTEGRATED DETONATORS FOR USE WITH EXPLOSIVE DEVICES

• US 20050178282A1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Lerche, Nolan C., Veneruso, Anthony F., Brooks, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,091,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/202.700
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/1185 Ignition systems
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/121 Initiators with incorporated integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/122 Programmable electronic delay initiators
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/055 specially adapted for firing multiple charges with a time delay
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/162 incorporating printed capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/167 incorporating printed resistors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A detonator assembly is provided for use in oilfield operations to detonate an explosive downhole including a capacitor discharge unit and initiator electrically connected together to form a single unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A detonator assembly, comprising:

a capacitor;

an initiator mechanically and electrically connected to the capacitor;

a transformer mechanically and electrically connected to the capacitor; and

an addressable chip mechanically and electrically connected to the transformer,

wherein the capacitor, initiator, transformer, and addressable chip form an integrated detonating unit.

2. The detonator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor discharge unit, the capacitor discharge unit comprising the capacitor and a resistor.

3. The detonator assembly of claim 2, wherein the capacitor discharge unit further comprises a thick-film circuit that electrically connects the capacitor and the resistor.

4. The detonator assembly of claim 3, wherein the resistor comprises a bleeder resistor formed by thick-film deposition, the bleeder resistor adapted to bleed charge form the capacitor.

5. The detonator assembly of claim 4, wherein the resistor comprises a charging resistor formed by thick-film deposition, the charging resistor adapted to receive a charging voltage for the capacitor.

6. The detonator assembly of claim 2, wherein the capacitor discharge unit further comprises an integrated micro-switch, the micro-switch adapted electrically to couple the charge from the capacitor to the initiator when activated.

7. The detonator assembly of claim 6, wherein the micro-switch comprises one of a microelectromechanical system switch, a bistable microelectromechanical switch, a spark gap switch, a switch having nanotube electron emitters, a MOSFET, and an IGFET.

8. The detonator assembly of claim 1, wherein the initiator comprises one of a semiconductor bridge, exploding bridge wire, and exploding foil initiator.

9. The detonator assembly of claim 2, wherein the initiator comprises an exploding foil initiator fused directly to the capacitor discharge unit.

10. The detonator assembly of claim 1, further comprising an explosive proximate the initiator.

11. The detonator assembly of claim 2, wherein the capacitor is fabricated from a dielectric ceramic material.

12. The detonator assembly of claim 2, wherein the resistor is selected from the group consisting of a thick-film resistor and a thin-film resistor.

13. The detonator assembly of claim 1, wherein the transformer is a piezoelectric transformer.

14. The detonator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second transformer adapted to generate a trigger pulse to fire the initiator.

15. The detonator assembly of claim 1, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to identify one or more initiators from a set of initiators.

16. The detonator assembly of claim 15, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to selectively charge one or more initiators from the set of initiators.

17. The detonator assembly of claim 15, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to selectively delay for a predetermined time the charging of one or more initiators from the set of initiators.

18. The detonator assembly of claim 15, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to selectively fire one or more initiators from the set of initiators.

19. The detonator assembly of claim 15, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to selectively delay for a predetermined time the firing of one or more initiators from the set of initiators.

20. The detonator assembly of claim 1, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to inactivate the initiator.

21. The detonator assembly of claim 1, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to activate a sensor.

22. The detonator assembly of claim 21, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

23. The detonator assembly of claim 21, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

24. The detonator assembly of claim 21, wherein the sensor is a tilt-angle sensor.

25. The detonator assembly of claim 21, wherein the sensor is a current sensor.

26. The detonator assembly of claim 21, wherein the sensor is a voltage sensor.

27. The detonator assembly of claim 21, wherein the sensor is a radio frequency sensor adapted to detect radio frequency identification tags.

28. The detonator assembly of claim 1, wherein the addressable chip is adapted to disconnect a bottom-fired initiator from a string of initiators.

29. The detonator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing adapted to hold the detonating unit.

30. The detonator assembly of claim 29, wherein the housing has an outer diameter of approximately 0.28 inches.

31. The detonator assembly of claim 29, wherein the housing is adapted to couple with a detonating cord having a predetermined diameter.

32. The detonator assembly of claim 31, wherein the housing has an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the detonating cord.

33. A method of fabricating an integrated detonator, comprising:

providing a capacitor discharge unit;

mechanically and electrically connecting a transformer to the capacitor discharge unit;

mechanically and electrically connecting an addressable chip to the transformer; and

electrically connecting a micro-switch and initiator to the capacitor discharge unit.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein providing a capacitor discharge unit comprises mechanically and electrically connecting a resistor and a capacitor.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing an explosive proximate the initiator.

36. A jet cutter, comprising:

a first explosive material formed intimately against a metallic liner; and

a detonator assembly substantially embedded in the first explosive material, the detonator assembly comprising an initiator, a capacitor, and a second explosive material proximate the initiator.

37. The jet cutter of claim 36, wherein the initiator and capacitor are fused or bonded together to form a single unit.

38. The jet cutter of claim 36, wherein the capacitor is located external to the first explosive material, and wherein the initiator and capacitor are electrically connected together by a cable.

39. A shaped charge, comprising:

a first explosive material formed intimately against a metallic liner; and

a detonator assembly comprising an initiator, a capacitor, and a second explosive material proximate the initiator,

wherein the second explosive material is in direct contact with the first explosive material.

40. The shaped charge of claim 39, wherein the initiator and capacitor are mechanically connected to form an integrated unit.

41. The shaped charge of claim 39, wherein the capacitor is located external to the first explosive material, and wherein the initiator and capacitor are electrically connected together by a cable.

42. A detonator assembly, comprising:

a capacitor discharge unit, the capacitor discharge unit comprising a charging resistor, a bleeder resistor, and a capacitor mechanically and electrically connected together;

an initiator mechanically and electrically connected to the capacitor discharge unit, the initiator selected from the group consisting of an exploding foil initiator, an exploding bridge wire, a semiconductor bridge, and a hot wire;

a micro-switch mechanically and electrically connected to the capacitor discharge unit and the initiator;

an initiating explosive proximate to the initiator; and

a housing adapted to hold the capacitor discharge unit, the initiator, the initiating explosive, and the micro-switch together to form an integrated detonating unit.

43. The detonator assembly of claim 42, further comprising:

an addressable chip;

a protection filter electrically connected to the addressable chip; and

a first transformer mechanically and mechanically and electrically connected to the addressable chip and the capacitor discharge unit,

wherein the addressable chip, protection filter, and first transformer are located within the housing.

44. The detonator assembly of claim 43, further comprising a second transformer electrically connected to the micro-switch, the second transformer adapted to generate a trigger pulse to fire the initiator.

45. A method for use in a wellbore, comprising:

providing a capacitor, an initiator, a micro-switch, an addressable chip, a transformer, and an initiating explosive mechanically and electrically connected together to form an integrated detonating unit;

connecting the integrated detonating unit to an explosive tool;

deploying the explosive tool in the wellbore; and

firing the initiator to activate the explosive tool.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the explosive tool is a jet cutter.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the explosive tool is a shaped charge.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

selecting the shaped charge to fire from a plurality of shaped charges deployed in the wellbore.