GB2617771A - Pressure-actuated safety for well perforating - Google Patents
Pressure-actuated safety for well perforating Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2617771A GB2617771A GB2311140.4A GB202311140A GB2617771A GB 2617771 A GB2617771 A GB 2617771A GB 202311140 A GB202311140 A GB 202311140A GB 2617771 A GB2617771 A GB 2617771A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- firing
- pressure
- firing pin
- slide actuator
- housing
- 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.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 claims abstract 62
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract 10
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 claims abstract 7
- 239000003999 initiator Substances 0.000 claims abstract 7
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims abstract 4
- 230000002706 hydrostatic effect Effects 0.000 claims 6
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 238000005474 detonation Methods 0.000 claims 1
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
- E21B43/1185—Ignition systems
- E21B43/11852—Ignition systems hydraulically actuated
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
- Tunnel Furnaces (AREA)
Abstract
A safety mechanism and method for downhole perforating are disclosed. In one example, a mechanical firing head includes a firing pin carried on a pin carrier within a housing. The firing pin is movable from a retracted position to a firing position for striking an explosive initiator. A retention member retains the firing pin in the retracted position with the safety member in the armed position. A safety member is biased to a safety position that additionally blocks movement of the firing pin. The safety member is moveable to an armed position that unblocks movement of the firing pin in response to an arming pressure supplied to the housing bore. The retention member releases the firing pin in response to a firing pressure supplied to the housing in excess of the firing pressure.
Claims (20)
1. A firing head for a perforating system, comprising: a housing defining a housing bore; a firing pin carried on a pin carrier disposed within the housing bore and movable with the pin carrier from a retracted position to a firing position for striking an explosive initiator with the firing pin; a safety member biased to a safety position that blocks movement of the firing pin, the safety member moveable to an armed position that unblocks movement of the firing pin in response to an arming pressure supplied to the housing bore; and a retention member that retains the firing pin in the retracted position with the safety member in the armed position and releases the firing pin in response to an applied force.
2. The firing head of claim 1, wherein the retention member comprises one or more shear members initially coupling the pin carrier to the housing with the firing pin in the retracted position, wherein the applied force comprises a firing pressure applied to the housing bore, and wherein the shear members are configured to shear in response to the firing pressure supplied to the housing bore.
3. The firing head of claim 1, wherein the safety member is moveable from the armed position back to the safety position in response to a reduction in pressure supplied to the housing bore.
4. The firing head of claim 1, further comprising: a slide actuator moveably disposed in the housing bore and biased to urge the safety member to the safety position; a piston chamber defined between the slide actuator and the housing bore; and an actuation port along the housing in fluid communication with the piston chamber, such that the arming pressure when supplied to the piston chamber moves the slide actuator for the safety member to move to the armed position.
5. The firing head of claim 4, wherein the arming pressure is set equal to or greater than a hydrostatic pressure at a depth of the well to be perforated.
6. The firing head of claim 4, further comprising: a wedge member disposed between the slide actuator and the safety member, such that axial reciprocation of the slide actuator urges the safety member radially to and from the safety position.
7. The firing head of claim 4, further comprising: a threaded member coupled to the slide actuator such that axial movement of the slide actuator in response to the arming pressure causes rotation of the slide actuator to move the safety member to the armed position.
8. The firing head of claim 4, further comprising a biasing member disposed between the slide actuator and the housing, wherein the biasing member is tuned to achieve a target value of the arming pressure.
9. A perforating system for a well, comprising: a perforating gun having a charge holder for mounting one or more shaped charges and a connector for connecting to tubing to convey the perforating gun into the well; a detonation train comprising a detonating cord coupled to the one or more shaped charges and an explosive initiator coupled to the detonating cord; a firing head comprising a housing defining a housing bore, a firing pin carried on a pin carrier disposed within the housing bore and movable from a retracted position to a firing position for striking an explosive initiator, and one or more shear members initially coupling the pin carrier to the housing with the firing pin in the retracted position, wherein the shear members are configured to shear in response to a firing pressure supplied to the housing bore; and a safety mechanism comprising a safety member reversibly moveable between a safety position that blocks movement of the firing pin and an armed position that unblocks movement of the firing pin, a slide actuator moveably disposed in the housing bore, a piston chamber defined between the slide actuator and the housing bore, and an actuation port along the housing in fluid communication with the piston chamber, such that an aiming pressure supplied to the piston chamber moves the slide actuator in one direction to move the safety member to the armed position, and reducing pressure to the piston chamber below the arming pressure moves the slide actuator in another direction to move the safety member back toward the safety position.
10. The perforating system of claim 9, wherein the arming pressure is equal to or greater than a hydrostatic pressure in the well at a target perforating depth.
11. The perforating system of claim 9, further comprising: an interior port disposed along the slide actuator; a hammer disposed in the housing and poised to strike the pin carrier; and wherein moving the slide actuator to release the safety member places the actuation port in fluid communication with the interior port, so that the firing pressure if supplied from the wellbore to the actuation port is applied to the pin carrier to shear the shear members.
12. A method of safely perforating a well, comprising: lowering a perforating gun into the well on tubing, with a detonating cord coupled to one or more shaped charges and an explosive initiator coupled to the detonating cord; initially retaining a firing pin in a retracted position within a housing; additionally blocking movement of the firing pin; supplying a hydrostatic pressure to the housing as the perforating gun is lowered in the well; using the hydrostatic pressure, at least in part, to provide an arming pressure to unblock movement of the firing pin; and supplying a firing pressure in excess of the arming pressure to release the firing pin such that the firing pin strikes the explosive initiator.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein retaining the firing pin in the retracted position comprises securing the pin carrier with one or more shear members, and wherein releasing the firing pin comprises using the firing pressure to shear the shear members.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising re-blocking the firing pin in response to a reduction in the hydrostatic pressure.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein provide an arming pressure to unblock movement of the firing pin comprises supplying the arming pressure to a piston chamber defined between the housing and a slide actuator in the housing bore to move the slide actuator, and wherein supplying a firing pressure in excess of the arming pressure to release the firing pin comprises using the movement of the slide actuator to move a safety member to unblock the firing pin.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein blocking the firing pin comprises urging the slide actuator in a first direction to radially urge a safety member to a safety position blocking the firing pin, and unblocking the firing pin comprises urging the slide actuator in a second direction to urge the safety mechanism radially to an armed position.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein blocking the firing pin comprises rotating the slide actuator in a first direction and unblocking the firing pin comprises rotating the slide actuator in another direction.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising a biasing member disposed between the slide actuator and the housing, wherein the biasing member is tuned to achieve a target value of the arming pressure.
19. The method of claim 12, further comprising supplying the firing pressure to the piston chamber after unblocking the firing pin; using the firing pressure to release the firing pin; and striking the explosive initiator with the firing pin after unblocking the firing pin and releasing the firing pin.
20. The method of claim 12, further comprising setting the arming pressure equal to or greater than a hydrostatic pressure at a depth of the well to be perforated.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2021/038713 WO2022271168A1 (en) | 2021-06-23 | 2021-06-23 | Pressure-actuated safety for well perforating |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB202311140D0 GB202311140D0 (en) | 2023-09-06 |
| GB2617771A true GB2617771A (en) | 2023-10-18 |
Family
ID=84545855
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2311140.4A Pending GB2617771A (en) | 2021-06-23 | 2021-06-23 | Pressure-actuated safety for well perforating |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2617771A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2022271168A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN1158382A (en) * | 1995-10-11 | 1997-09-03 | 西亚国际阿特拉斯公司 | Universal perforating gun firing head |
| US20180038209A1 (en) * | 2009-07-24 | 2018-02-08 | Nine Energy Canada, Inc. | Firing Mechanism for a Perforating Gun or Other Downhole Tool |
| WO2019027950A1 (en) * | 2017-08-02 | 2019-02-07 | Expro Americas, Llc | Tubing conveyed perforating system with safety feature |
| US20190234189A1 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-01 | Dynaenergetics Gmbh & Co. Kg | Firing head assembly, well completion device with a firing head assembly and method of use |
| US20210079769A1 (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2021-03-18 | DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH | Hydraulic underbalance initiated safety firing head, well completion apparatus incorporating same, and method of use |
-
2021
- 2021-06-23 WO PCT/US2021/038713 patent/WO2022271168A1/en unknown
- 2021-06-23 GB GB2311140.4A patent/GB2617771A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN1158382A (en) * | 1995-10-11 | 1997-09-03 | 西亚国际阿特拉斯公司 | Universal perforating gun firing head |
| US20180038209A1 (en) * | 2009-07-24 | 2018-02-08 | Nine Energy Canada, Inc. | Firing Mechanism for a Perforating Gun or Other Downhole Tool |
| WO2019027950A1 (en) * | 2017-08-02 | 2019-02-07 | Expro Americas, Llc | Tubing conveyed perforating system with safety feature |
| US20210079769A1 (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2021-03-18 | DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH | Hydraulic underbalance initiated safety firing head, well completion apparatus incorporating same, and method of use |
| US20190234189A1 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2019-08-01 | Dynaenergetics Gmbh & Co. Kg | Firing head assembly, well completion device with a firing head assembly and method of use |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2022271168A1 (en) | 2022-12-29 |
| GB202311140D0 (en) | 2023-09-06 |
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