Perforating string with bending shock de-coupler

• US 8,397,814 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Rodgers, John P., Glenn, Timothy S., Serra, Marco, Eaton, Edwin A., Burleson, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Kenneth L
• Application Number:
  US13/325,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20120152616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 166/297, 166/299, 166/55, 166/63, 166/242.6, 102/301, 102/313, 175/2, 175/4.52, 175/4.6, 89/11.51, 89/11.5
• US Class Current: 166/297
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/07 Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/1195 Replacement of drilling mud; decrease of undesirable shock waves

Abstract

A bending shock de-coupler for use with a perforating string can include perforating string connectors at opposite ends of the de-coupler. A bending compliance of the de-coupler may substantially increase between the connectors. A well system can include a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple bending shock de-couplers, each of the de-couplers having a bending compliance, and at least two of the bending compliances being different from each other. A perforating string can include a bending shock de-coupler interconnected longitudinally between two components of the perforating string. A bending compliance of the bending shock de-coupler may substantially decrease in response to angular displacement of one of the components a predetermined amount relative to the other component.

Claims

1. A system for use with a well, the system comprising:

a perforating string including at least one perforating gun which perforates a wall of the well when the perforating gun detonates and multiple bending shock de-couplers, each of the de-couplers having a bending compliance, and at least two of the bending compliances being different from each other.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the de-couplers includes perforating string connectors at opposite ends of the de-coupler.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the corresponding bending compliance of at least one of the de-couplers substantially decreases in response to angular displacement of one of the connectors a predetermined amount relative to the other connector.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a bending compliance of each de-coupler substantially increases between the connectors.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of cross-sectional area between the connectors.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of a diameter of a mandrel extending longitudinally between the connectors.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of wall thickness between the connectors.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of material stiffness between the connectors.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein torque is transmitted between the connectors.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein an axial compliance of each de-coupler substantially increases between the connectors.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the de-couplers is interconnected between perforating guns.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the de-couplers is interconnected between a perforating gun and a firing head.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the de-couplers mitigate transmission of bending shock through the perforating string.

14. A system for use with a well, the system comprising:

a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple bending shock de-couplers, each of the de-couplers having a bending compliance, and at least two of the bending compliances being different from each other, wherein at least one of the de-couplers is interconnected between the at least one perforating gun and a packer.

15. A system for use with a well, the system comprising:

a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple bending shock de-couplers, each of the de-couplers having a bending compliance, and at least two of the bending compliances being different from each other, wherein at least one of the de-couplers is interconnected between a firing head and a packer.

16. A system for use with a well, the system comprising:

a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple bending shock de-couplers, each of the de-couplers having a bending compliance, and at least two of the bending compliances being different from each other, wherein a packer is interconnected between at least one of the de-couplers and the at least one perforating gun.

17. A perforating string, comprising:

multiple bending shock de-couplers interconnected in the perforating string,

wherein bending compliances of at least two of the de-couplers are different from each other, and

wherein the perforating string includes at least one perforating gun which perforates a wall of the well when the perforating gun detonates.

18. The perforating string of claim 17, wherein the bending compliance of each de-coupler increases between connectors which connect the de-coupler to components of the perforating string.

19. The perforating string of claim 18, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of cross-sectional area between the connectors.

20. The perforating string of claim 18, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of a diameter of a mandrel extending longitudinally between the connectors.

21. The perforating string of claim 18, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of wall thickness between the connectors.

22. The perforating string of claim 18, wherein the bending compliance is increased by reduction of material stiffness between the connectors.

23. The perforating string of claim 18, wherein an axial compliance of the de-coupler increases between the connectors.

24. The perforating string of claim 17, wherein torque is transmitted through the de-couplers.