THROUGH TUBING PERFORATING GUN

• US 20100012312A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Ochoa, Luis
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/55.800
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/112 Perforators with extendable perforating members, e.g. actuated by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/117 Shaped-charge perforators E21B43/118 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for perforating wells having a plurality of perforating charges; means for retaining the perforating charges in a first array, the first array having a first maximum cross sectional area; and means for expanding the perforating charges into a second three dimensional array, the second array having a second maximum cross sectional area larger than the first maximum cross sectional area. Also an apparatus for perforating wells having a plurality of perforating charges; means for retaining the perforating charges in a first array, the first array having a primary axis and a first maximum cross sectional area and the perforating charges having firing directions oriented approximately perpendicular to the primary axis; and means for expanding the perforating charges into a second array, the second array having a second maximum cross sectional area larger than the first maximum cross sectional area. 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. An apparatus for perforating wells comprising

a plurality of perforating charges;

means for retaining said perforating charges in a first array, said first array having a first maximum cross sectional area; and

means for expanding the cross sectional area of said first array into a second three dimensional array, said second array having a second maximum cross sectional area larger than said first maximum cross sectional area.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first array has an associated first distance between a first perforating charge in said array and a last perforating charge in said array and wherein said means for expanding said first array reduces the distance between said first perforating charge and said last perforating charge.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for expanding comprises a movable piece and a mechanism to move said moveable piece;

and said means to retain said perforating charges comprises;

i. at least one flange securely attached in one end to a fixed adapter and in the other to said movable piece, and;

ii. said plurality of perforating charges securely attached to said at least one flange,

wherein said mechanism moves said movable piece in a direction to compress said at least one flange thereby expanding said first array into said second array.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for expanding comprises a movable piece and a mechanism to move said moveable piece;

and said means to retain said perforating charges comprises;

i. one or more flanges of a spiral design wound around a center rod securely attached at one end to a fixed adapter and at the other end to said movable piece, and;

ii. said plurality of perforating charges are securely attached to said one or more flanges,

wherein said mechanism rotates said movable piece in a direction to unwind said one or more flanges expanding said first array into said second array.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said one or more flanges are distended by said movable piece into said first array, and said mechanism allows said movable piece to release tension applied to said one or more flanges allowing said perforating charges to expand into said second array.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for retaining comprises:

i. an expandable tube securely attached at a top end of a fixed adapter, and;

ii. said plurality of shape charges are securely attached to said expandable tube,

wherein said means for expanding comprises a center rod, a wedge at a bottom of said expandable tube and a mechanism to move said wedge upwards along said center rod.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said wedge expands said expandable tube and said first array into said second array as it moves from a lower end of said expandable tube toward an upper end of said expandable tube.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means to retain perforating charges comprises:

i. an inflatable tube securely attached at a top end of a fixed adapter, and;

ii. said plurality of shape charges are securely attached to said inflatable tube,

wherein said means for expanding comprises a pump to inflate said inflatable tube.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said pump inflates said inflatable tube and expands said first array into said second array.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for retaining comprises:

i. an expandable tube securely attached at a top end of a fixed adapter,

ii. an inflatable tube concentric to said expandable tube, and;

iii. said plurality of shaped charges are securely attached to said expandable tube,

wherein said means for expanding comprises a pump to inflate said inflatable tube.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said pump inflates said inflatable tube which in turns expands said expandable tube and expands said first array into said second array.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for expanding comprises a movable piece and a mechanism to move said moveable piece;

and said means for retaining comprises;

i. a fixed flange and a movable flange parallel to each other securely attached at one end to a fixed adapter and at the other end to said movable piece, and;

ii. said plurality of perforating charges are securely attached to said flanges,

wherein said movable piece is able to move along said fixed flange while compressing said movable flange;

as said movable flange is compressed by said movable piece said first array is expanded into said second array.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for expanding comprises a movable piece and a mechanism to move said moveable piece;

and said means for retaining comprises;

i. one or more movable flanges securely attached at one end to a fixed adapter and at the other end to said movable piece,

ii. a rigid structure comprising at least two structural flanges, and;

iii. said plurality of perforating charges are securely attached to said one or more movable flanges,

wherein said movable piece is able to move along said structural flanges while compressing said one or more movable flanges;

as said one or more movable flanges are compressed by the movable piece said first array is expanded into said second array.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for expanding comprises a movable piece and a mechanism to move said moveable piece;

and said means for retaining comprises;

i. three hinged flanges securely attached at one end to a fixed adapter and at the other end to said movable piece,

ii. said hinged flanges comprising a top extending flange piece, a top hinge, a loading flange, a bottom hinge and a bottom extending flange piece,

iii. said plurality of perforating charges are securely attached to said loading flanges,

iv. a rigid structure comprising of three structural flanges,

wherein said movable piece is able to move along the rigid structure while compressing said hinged flanges as said first array is expanded into said second array.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said plurality of perforating charges are alternated and securely attached to each of said three loading flanges.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein, if viewed in cross section, each hinged and structural flange alternate.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for retaining comprises a capsule to securely attach each of said plurality of perforating charges and wherein said means for expanding comprises a mechanism for extending said capsules and expanding said first array into said second array.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said mechanism for extending said capsules includes generating internal pressure higher than hydrostatic in order to make said capsules protrude.

19. An apparatus for perforating wells comprising a plurality of perforating charges;

means for retaining said perforating charges as a first array, said first array having a primary axis and a first maximum cross sectional area and said perforating charges having firing directions oriented approximately perpendicular to said primary axis; and

means for expanding the cross sectional area of said first array into a second array, said second array having a second maximum cross sectional area larger than said first maximum cross sectional area.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein said first array has an associated first distance between a first perforating charge in said array and a last perforating charge in said array and wherein said means for expanding said first array reduces the distance between said first perforating charge and said last perforating charge.

21. An apparatus for perforating wells comprising:

i. one or more flanges securely attached at one end to a fixed adapter and at the other to a movable piece,

ii. a multitude of shaped charges securely attached to said one or more flanges,

iii. a rod, said movable piece able to move along said rod,

iv. a mechanism to move said movable piece, and

v. initiating means to detonate said shaped charges.

22. An apparatus as in claim 21, wherein:

i. said movable piece is initially located near a bottom of said rod,

ii. said fixed adapter is located near a top of said rod, and

iii. said mechanism to move said movable piece moves said movable piece up or down said rod.

23. An apparatus for perforating wells comprising:

i. two flanges securely attached at one end to a fixed adapter and at the other to a movable piece,

ii. a multitude of shaped charges securely attached to said flanges,

iii. said movable piece able to move along one of said flanges while compressing the other flange,

iv. as one flange is compressed by said movable piece said apparatus increases its external diameter,

v. a mechanism to move said movable piece, and

vi. initiating means to detonate said shaped charges.

24. An apparatus for perforating wells comprising:

i. three hinged flanges securely attached at one end to a fixed adapter and in the other to a movable piece,

ii. said hinged flanges comprising a top extending flange piece, a top hinge, a loading flange, a bottom hinge and a bottom extending flange piece,

iii. a multitude of shaped charges securely attached to said loading flanges,

iv. a rigid structure comprising three structural flanges,

v. said movable piece being able to move along said rigid structure while compressing said hinged flanges,

vi. a mechanism to move said movable piece, and

vii. initiating means to detonate said shaped charges.