Packaging system for detonating cords for X-ray examination and safe shipping

• US 8,009,801 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH (DMC Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DYNAenergetics GmbH & Co. KG (DMC Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rospek, Rolf, Riesen, Dimitri, Veehmayer, Malte
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/554,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20070170074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,694 Days
• Field of Search: 206/3, 206/303, 206/388, 206/495, 206/524.8, 206/466, 378/57, 378/58, 73/52, 533/96, 53/54
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/30 Containers for detonators or fuzes F42B39/14, F42B39/20 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging for a detonation cord (1) that is used especially for igniting shaped charge perforators in perforation guns utilized in the oil and natural gas industry. According to the invention, the detonation cord (1) is wound on one plane as a flat coil. Also disclosed is a method for examining whether a detonation cord (1) has faulty points. Said method is characterized in that the detonation cord (1) is subjected to an x-ray examination in the packaging before being delivered.

Claims

1. A method of creating and examining a packaging of a detonating cord, comprising:

winding a detonating cord in a single plane as a flat spiral, wherein a space separating at least two individual laps of the flat spiral is produced by a spacing cord extending in parallel to the detonating cord, and wherein the thickness of the spacing cord corresponds to the space;

subjecting the detonating cord to X-ray examination in its packaging prior to shipping, without unwinding the detonating cord, thereby revealing when the detonating cord contains a defect.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

shipping the packaging containing detonating cord when a result of the X-ray examination does not reveal any defect which would lead to failure of the detonating cord.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

activating the shipped detonating cord to ignite a shaped charge perforator in a perforating gun.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the shaped charge perforator is ignited in the perforating gun during the course of perforating at least one of an oil well and a gas well.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detonating cord is wound on a base plate.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the base plate comprises at least one of paperboard, wood and polystyrene.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a last lap of the flat spiral is passed perpendicularly over the rest of the flat spiral.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detonating cord is sealed in a vacuum bag;

and wherein the vacuum bag is attached to a base plate.