Detonator for Material-Dispensing Wellbore Tools

• US 20100175889A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Owen Oil Tools LP (Core Laboratories NV)
• Original Assignee: Owen Oil Tools LP (Core Laboratories NV)
• Inventors: Lesiuk, Robert Michael Frederick, Gartz, Jeffrey David, Hansen, Garret William
• Granted Patent: US 8,141,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/376
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/02 by explosives or by thermal or chemical means freeing stuck objects by explosives E21B31/002
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/1185 Ignition systems

Abstract

An apparatus for use in dispensing fluid into a wellbore includes a piston element releasably coupled to a housing and a detonator in the housing that applies a force sufficient to release the piston element from the housing when activated. The apparatus also has an intermediate section that mates with the upper section, an elongated member coupled to the piston and that is positioned in a bore of the intermediate section; and a lower section having a housing that mates with the intermediate section. The housing includes at least one opening providing communication between a bore of the housing and an exterior of the housing; and a movable barrier in the lower section. The movable barrier has a first position, wherein the barrier substantially blocks communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening, and a second position, wherein the barrier does not substantially block communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening.

Claims

1. An apparatus for activating a wellbore tool, comprising:

an upper section having a housing;

a piston element releasably coupled to the housing;

a detonator in the housing that applies a force sufficient to release the piston element from the housing when activated;

an intermediate section having a first end matable with the upper section and having a bore;

an elongated member having a first end coupled to the piston and a second end, the elongated member being at least partially positioned in the bore of the intermediate section;

a lower section having a housing matable with a second end of the intermediate section, the housing including at least one opening providing communication between a bore of the housing and an exterior of the housing; and

a movable barrier in the lower section that has a first position, wherein the barrier substantially blocks communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening, and a second position, wherein the movable barrier does not substantially block communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member is substantially rigid.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member includes at least two segments.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate section is formed of at least two modules.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detonator is configured to detonate in response to an electrical signal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a frangible member connecting the piston member to the upper section housing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detonator block configured to receive the detonator, wherein the piston member sealingly mates with the detonator block.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a conveyance device coupled to the upper section.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the conveyance device is a wireline.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a controller configured to transmit a firing signal to the detonator via the wireline.

11. A method for activating a wellbore tool, comprising:

conveying the wellbore tool into a wellbore, the tool having;

an upper section having a housing;

a piston element releasably coupled to the housing;

a detonator in the housing that applies a force sufficient to release the piston element from the housing when activated;

an intermediate section having a first end matable with the upper section and having a bore;

an elongated member having a first end coupled to the piston and a second end, the elongated member being at least partially positioned in the bore of the intermediate section;

a lower section having a housing matable with a second end of the intermediate section, the housing including at least one opening providing communication between a bore of the housing and an exterior of the housing; and

a movable barrier in the lower section that has a first position, wherein the barrier substantially blocks communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening, and a second position, wherein the barrier does not substantially block communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening; and

activating the detonator.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting an electrical signal to detonate the detonator.

13. The method according to claim 11, further de-coupling the piston member from the upper section housing after detonation of the detonator.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein a detonator block receives the detonator, further comprising sealingly mating the piston member with the detonator block.