EP0396465B1 - Ignition system for shaped charge perforating gun - Google Patents

Ignition system for shaped charge perforating gun Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0396465B1
EP0396465B1 EP90401175A EP90401175A EP0396465B1 EP 0396465 B1 EP0396465 B1 EP 0396465B1 EP 90401175 A EP90401175 A EP 90401175A EP 90401175 A EP90401175 A EP 90401175A EP 0396465 B1 EP0396465 B1 EP 0396465B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
charge
response
current
state
composition
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90401175A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0396465A1 (en
Inventor
Edward Hendley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Services Petroliers Schlumberger SA
Gemalto Terminals Ltd
Schlumberger Holdings Ltd
Schlumberger Technology BV
Schlumberger NV
Schlumberger Ltd USA
Original Assignee
Societe de Prospection Electrique Schlumberger SA
Gemalto Terminals Ltd
Schlumberger Holdings Ltd
Schlumberger Technology BV
Schlumberger NV
Schlumberger Ltd USA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Societe de Prospection Electrique Schlumberger SA, Gemalto Terminals Ltd, Schlumberger Holdings Ltd, Schlumberger Technology BV, Schlumberger NV, Schlumberger Ltd USA filed Critical Societe de Prospection Electrique Schlumberger SA
Publication of EP0396465A1 publication Critical patent/EP0396465A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0396465B1 publication Critical patent/EP0396465B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/11—Perforators; Permeators
    • E21B43/116—Gun or shaped-charge perforators
    • E21B43/117—Shaped-charge perforators
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/11—Perforators; Permeators
    • E21B43/116—Gun or shaped-charge perforators
    • E21B43/1185—Ignition systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
    • F42B3/10—Initiators therefor
    • F42B3/12—Bridge initiators
    • F42B3/13—Bridge initiators with semiconductive bridge

Definitions

  • the subject invention pertains to a new shape charge for use in a perforating gun, and more particularly, to a new solid state detonator for use in each such shape charge.
  • Perforating guns of the prior art generally include a plurality of shape charges, each charge containing an explosive material.
  • a detonating cord is traditionally connected to each shape charge for detonating the explosive material in each charge when a heat source ignites the detonating cord.
  • the detonating cord could be ignited when radio-frequency (RF) energy nearby induces a current in an input circuit high enough to ignite the cord. Therefore, elaborate steps must be taken to ensure that RF energy does not inadvertently detonate the charges in the perforating gun. Such steps have thus far concentrated on utilization of sophisticated input circuits designed to create large current surges that ultimately ignite the detonating cord.
  • detonating cords creates a safety risk; thus, such detonating cords must be handled carefully to avoid accidents.
  • shape charges in the perforating gun must be detonated sequentially, since the charges cannot be detonated simultaneously. All of these considerations reflect the need for a new type of shape charge, one which is immune to RF energy, one which does not use detonating cords to reduce the safety risk, and one which allows all shape charges in the perforating gun to be detonated substantially simultaneously.
  • US-A-3,517,758 (Schuster) describes a control apparatus for detonating shape charges in a perforating gun. Electrically-responsive detonating means or initiators are arranged within detonating proximity of the rear of each shape charge. Each initiator is assembled with a shape charge into the rear portion of the shape charge.
  • GB-A-2,190,730 (Detonix) describes a detonator having an integrated circuit firing element including a miniature energy dissipation device which initiates an explosive compound and is located on a substate which forms part of the integrated circuit.
  • the device may be resistive, may be formed by a semi-conductor device or be a field effect device. This patent does not describe a shape charge for borehole applications.
  • a contactor for energizing the solid state detonator on the integrated circuit chip thereby firing the detonator and providing enough explosive potential to detonate the shape charge.
  • the solid state detonator of the present invention is immune to RF energy, especially in view of the function of the bleeder resistor.
  • a perforating gun 12 disposed in a borehole 10 is illustrated.
  • the perforating gun 12 comprises a plurality of charges 18. Each charge perforates the formation upon detonation.
  • FIG 2 a more detailed construction of a typical perforating gun, which may be used as the perforating gun of figure 1, is illustrated.
  • the perforating gun of figure 2 is illustrated for purposes of example only, since it is necessary to illustrate in this specification a general environment in which a shape charge is located. Any perforating gun, which contains shape charges, may be used for purposes of this illustration.
  • the perforating gun of figure 2 is fully described and set forth in U.S. Patent 3,659,658 to Brieger, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into this specification.
  • a plurality of charges 18 are disposed in a typical perforating gun.
  • a detonating cord 40 is connected to each charge 18.
  • each charge 18 in the gun is detonated sequentially.
  • each charge 18 of figure 2 comprises a steel case 18a, an explosive material 18b disposed in the steel case 18a, a semiconductor bridge detonating device 18c, in accordance with the present invention, in contact with the explosive material 18b, a contactor 40 including electric current conductor 18f connected to one end of the semiconductor bridge detonating device 18c, and an electrical return path 18g connected to ground potential.
  • the explosive material 18b may comprise any of the standard materials found in shape charges for perforating guns.
  • U.S. Patent 4,724,767 entitled “shape charge apparatus and method” or U.S. Patent 4,450,768 entitled “shaped charge and method of making it” disclose typical shape charges that contain standard explosive materials, the disclosures in these patents being incorporated by reference into this specification.
  • the semiconductor bridge detonating device (SCBDD) 18c of figure 3 is illustrated.
  • the SCBDD 18c is an integrated circuit housed within the shape charge illustrated in figure 3.
  • the SCBDD 18c includes a charging capacitor C connected in parallel with a bleeder resistor R.
  • This parallel combination of charging capacitor C and bleeder resistor R is connected to a semiconductor bridge (SCB) 18c1 via a switch SW, which switch SW may be a standard silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).
  • SCR standard silicon controlled rectifier
  • the SCB 18c1 is itself a portion of the Semiconductor Bridge Detonating Device (SCBDD) integrated circuit chip of figure 5.
  • FIG 6 another embodiment of the semiconductor bridge detonating device (SCBDD) 18c of figure 3 is illustrated.
  • the SCBDD 18c is an integrated circuit housed within the shape charge illustrated in figure 3.
  • contactor 40 is connected to a charging capacitor C via lines 18f and 18g from figure 3.
  • the charging capacitor C is connected to the anode of a silicon controlled rectifier SCR.
  • the gate G of the SCR is connected to a zener diode (zener), the zener being further connected to the contactor 40.
  • the cathode C of the SCR is connected to the semiconductor bridge 18c1 (as further described with reference to figures 4a and 4b below).
  • the charging capacitor C charges to a voltage level between approximately 10 to 20 VDC.
  • the zener diode breaks down at a voltage approximately equal to 25-30 VDC.
  • the SCR fires when the gate voltage lies between 20-50 VDC.
  • a doped silicon layer c1b is deposited onto a sapphire substrate c1a.
  • An aluminum land c1c is deposited onto one side of the doped silicon layer c1b and a further aluminum land c1d is deposited onto the other side of the doped silicon layer c1b so as to define a gap or bridge c1e between each land c1c/c1d.
  • an explosive/pyrotechnic composition c1f bridges the gap c1e between land c1c and land c1d.
  • the explosive/pyrotechnic composition c1f may comprise highly sensitive explosives as well as relatively insensitive ones, e.g., high energy explosives such as, but not limited to, PETN, HNAB, HMX, pyrotechnics, sensitive primaries, gun powders, etc.
  • SCB 18c1 The semiconductor bridge (SCB) 18c1 is fully described and set forth in US Patent 4,708,060 entitled “Semiconductor Bridge (SCB) Igniter", filed February 19, 1985, issued November 24, 1987, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into the specification of this application.
  • the sapphire substrate c1a is a non-electrically conducting substrate.
  • the doped silicon layer c1b is comprised of an electrical material mounted on the non-electrically conducting sapphire substrate cla and has a negative temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity at an elevated temperature, the doped silicon layer c1b covering an area of the sapphire substrate and defining a pair of spaced pads c1b1 and c1b2 connected by a bridge c1b3.
  • the area of each of the pads c1b1 and c1b2 is much larger than the area of the bridge c1b3.
  • the resistance of the bridge c1b3 is less than about three ohms.
  • a metallized layer covers each of the spaced lads c1b1 and c1b2.
  • An electrical conductor c1c and c1d is connected to each of the metallized layers.
  • the electrical resistance between the electrical conductors (aluminum lands) c1c and c1d is determined by the electrical resistance of the bridge c1b3.
  • the explosive/pyrotechnic material c1f covers the electrical conductor aluminum lands c1c and c1d so as to connect land c1c to land c1d.
  • the area of the bridge c1b3 in contact with the explosive/pyrotechnic material c1f is sufficient to ignite the explosive material c1f when the bridge c1b3 forms a plasma (vaporizes) in response to an electrical current passing therethrough.
  • a new perforating gun in accordance with the present invention, includes a plurality of new shape charges 18, each charge of the gun being the charge 18 shown in figure 3 of the drawings.
  • Item 40 attached to each new charge 18 in figure 2, is an ordinary copper wire, called a "contactor", identical to the contactor 40 shown in figure 3.
  • Detonating cords also known as primer cords, are not utilized with the new shape charges 18 of the new perforating gun of the present invention.
  • the current conducted along wire conductor 18f is a large current surge provided by, for example, any typical voltage multiplier circuit.
  • the large current conducted along wire conductor 18f is high enough to charge the charging capacitor C in figure 5, even though bleeder resistor R continues to bleed some of the charge on capacitor C to ground.
  • Switch “SW” may, for example, be a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).
  • SCR silicon controlled rectifier
  • each SCBDD 18c of each charge 18 conducts along land c1c of the SCB 18c1 to the explosive/pyrotechnic material c1f of the SCB 18c1. Since the current is a large current surge provided, for example, by a voltage multiplier circuit, the current is large enough to vaporize the explosive/pyrotechnic material c1f in each SCB of each SCBDD 18c of each charge 18 in the new perforating gun of the present invention. The vaporization of each pyrotechnic material c1f in the SCBs of each SCBDD 18c ignites the explosive material 18b in each charge 18 in the new perforating gun. The charges 18 detonate substantially simultaneously. No detonating cords or primer cords are utilized. Therefore, a safer perforating gun is the result.
  • a current is conducted down contactor wire 40 to all shape charges in the perforating gun.
  • the current is further conducted along wire conductor 18f in figure 6.
  • the charging capacitor C is charged to approximately 10-20 VDC.
  • the zener diode (Zener) breaks down, at which time, the 25-30 VDC appears on the gate G of the SCR.
  • the SCR will fire when the voltage on gate G reaches a predetermined level, typically a voltage somewhere between 20-50VDC.
  • the SCR will fire when the gate G voltage reaches 35 VDC, after the Zener diode (zener) breaks down, and when the gate G voltage of SCR reaches 35 VDC, the SCR will fire, thereby allowing the 10-20 VDC charge on the charging capacitor C to flow to the SCB 18cl.
  • This charge will flow through land clc of the SCB, as shown in figure 4b, igniting the explosive/pyrotechnic composition c1f.
  • the explosive material 18b in the shape charge ignites, thereby firing the shape charge of figure 3.
  • the shape charge was fired using ordinary current to trigger a switch in an integrated circuit in the shape charge, thereby firing a small integrated circuit semiconductor bridge, rather than using the obsolete prior art method of using detonating cords to fire the shape charge.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
  • Vessels, Lead-In Wires, Accessory Apparatuses For Cathode-Ray Tubes (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Insulators (AREA)
EP90401175A 1989-05-02 1990-04-30 Ignition system for shaped charge perforating gun Expired - Lifetime EP0396465B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US34610789A 1989-05-02 1989-05-02
US346107 1989-05-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0396465A1 EP0396465A1 (en) 1990-11-07
EP0396465B1 true EP0396465B1 (en) 1994-06-15

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90401175A Expired - Lifetime EP0396465B1 (en) 1989-05-02 1990-04-30 Ignition system for shaped charge perforating gun

Country Status (4)

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EP (1) EP0396465B1 (no)
AU (1) AU615614B2 (no)
DE (1) DE69009854D1 (no)
NO (1) NO180349C (no)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2682472B1 (fr) * 1991-10-11 1995-03-31 Thomson Brandt Armements Dispositif d'amorcage pour charge explosive secondaire.
US6095258A (en) * 1998-08-28 2000-08-01 Western Atlas International, Inc. Pressure actuated safety switch for oil well perforating
GB0608838D0 (en) 2006-05-04 2006-06-14 Novartis Ag Organic compounds
WO2011014892A2 (en) * 2009-07-30 2011-02-03 Detnet South Africa (Pty) Ltd Detonator firing circuit
CN111946305A (zh) * 2020-09-21 2020-11-17 成都若克菲斯科技有限公司 一种油气井射孔用多级选发射孔系统

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3327791A (en) * 1964-12-22 1967-06-27 Schlumberger Technology Corp Systems for selectively detonating perforating charges
US3517758A (en) * 1968-09-23 1970-06-30 Schlumberger Technology Corp Control apparatus for selectively operating electrical well-completion devices
US4319526A (en) * 1979-12-17 1982-03-16 Schlumberger Technology Corp. Explosive safe-arming system for perforating guns
US4450768A (en) * 1981-01-12 1984-05-29 Schlumberger Technical Corporation Shaped charge and method of making it
US4708060A (en) * 1985-02-19 1987-11-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Semiconductor bridge (SCB) igniter
US4724767A (en) * 1986-04-24 1988-02-16 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Shaped charge apparatus and method
GB2190730B (en) * 1986-05-22 1990-10-24 Detonix Close Corp Detonator firing element
US4777878A (en) * 1987-09-14 1988-10-18 Halliburton Company Exploding bridge wire detonator with shock reflector for oil well usage
US4762067A (en) * 1987-11-13 1988-08-09 Halliburton Company Downhole perforating method and apparatus using secondary explosive detonators
US4831933A (en) * 1988-04-18 1989-05-23 Honeywell Inc. Integrated silicon bridge detonator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO901930D0 (no) 1990-04-30
NO180349B (no) 1996-12-23
EP0396465A1 (en) 1990-11-07
AU615614B2 (en) 1991-10-03
AU5455490A (en) 1990-11-22
DE69009854D1 (de) 1994-07-21
NO180349C (no) 1997-04-02
NO901930L (no) 1990-11-05

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