Pressure Cycle Operated Perforating Firing Head
First Claim
1. A method of actuating a firing head in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
- reciprocably displacing an actuator piston of the firing head in the well, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and
igniting a combustible material in response to the piston displacing step.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Pressure cycle operated apparatus and methods. A method of actuating a firing head includes the steps of: reciprocably displacing an actuator piston of the firing head, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and igniting a combustible material in response to the piston displacing step. A method of generating electricity includes: reciprocably displacing a piston, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and generating electricity in response to the piston displacing step. A firing head includes an actuator piston separating at least two chambers; a check valve which permits one-way flow between the chambers; a flow restrictor which restricts flow between the chambers; a biasing device which biases the piston toward one of the chambers; and a firing pin releasing device which releases a firing pin in response to displacement of the piston.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of actuating a firing head in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
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reciprocably displacing an actuator piston of the firing head in the well, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and igniting a combustible material in response to the piston displacing step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of generating electricity in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of:
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reciprocably displacing a piston in the well, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and generating electricity in response to the piston displacing step. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A firing head for detonating explosives in a subterranean well, the firing head comprising:
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an actuator piston separating first and second chambers; a check valve which permits flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, but prevents flow from the second chamber to the first chamber; a flow restrictor which restricts flow between the first and second chambers; a biasing device which biases the piston toward the second chamber; and a firing pin releasing device which releases a firing pin in response to displacement of the piston. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification