MX2008008820A - Apparatus and method for selective actuation of downhole tools - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, methods and devices for selectively firing a gun train formed of a plurality of guns. Conventionally, the guns each include a detonator assembly that detonates upon receiving a firing signal transmitted by a surface source. In one embodiment of the present invention, an operator provided in the gun train selectively couples one or more of the guns to the signal transmission medium. The operator has an safe state wherein the operator isolates the gun from the firing signal and an armed state wherein the operator enable the transmission of the firing signal to the gun. A control signal is used to move operator between the safe state and the armed state. In some embodiments, two or more guns are each provided with a separate operator. In other embodiments, one operator can selectively engage two or more guns.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE SELECTIVE TOOL OPERATION IN THE DRILL FUND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices and methods for the selective operation of polling tools. More particularly, the present invention is in the field of control devices and methods for selective firing of a barrel assembly. Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, are produced from cased pipe drilling intercepting one or more hydrocarbon deposits in a formation. These hydrocarbons flow in the borehole through boreholes in the lined pipe bore. The perforations are usually made using a drilling gun loaded with formed loads. The barrel is reduced in the bore in the electric steel cable, in the drilling cable, in the coiled pipe, or in other transmission devices until it is adjacent to the formation of hydrocarbon production. Then, a surface signal triggers a firing head associated with the drill gun, which then detonates the charges formed. The projectiles or bursts formed by the explosion of the charges formed penetrate the lining to thereby allow the formation of the fluids to flow through the perforations and into a production string.

In some applications, two or more cannons or gun compartments are assembled to form a barrel train. It is a common practice to sequentially fire such drilling gun trains. Each barrel is made up of a number of charges formed, each of which is contained in a separate barrel compartment. The charges formed are usually separated sequentially, starting at the bottom of the barrel or in the barrel compartment. The first charge formed to trip is connected to ground, and the firing of that formed charge will result, unless there is a malfunction, will result in the removal of the ground connection and will ground the next charge formed in the sequence. The firing of each formed charge, unless there is a malfunction, will result in the removal of the ground connection for the formed charge and will ground the next charge formed in the sequence. Another conventional method for detonating the drill guns includes a rotary switch operated on the surface with which the various charges can be detonated. However, this method has its disadvantages, mainly in that the number of charges that can be detonated is limited in this way. Another conventional method allows the detonation of the sequential "selective firing" charges starting from the bottom of the barrel assembly, by sequentially applying the direct current voltage (c.d.) of the alternating polarity to the graphing cable from the surface. According to this method, the logging cable is electrically connected through a diode to the detonator attached to the load at the bottom of the barrel assembly, and this detonator is connected to ground. Other detonators attached to other loads above the bottom charge do not connect to ground. On the contrary, they are electrically connected to the diode and the dart. that are mounted through an insulating board on the baffle plate. The diode is also connected to the diagnostic cable. The dart is a device, well known in the trade, which seals the baffle from the portion of the lower barrel assembly, when the load immediately below the dart has been detonated. Other conventional selective tripping devices include multiple cable triggering cannons. In these devices, a plurality of separate circuits are employed to trigger a plurality of small similar groups of piercing elements. Another conventional selective firing system is the single-cable multiple firing barrel. In devices of this type, a plurality of normally spaced disarmed detonator piercing element assemblies and an assembled assembly are provided. When firing the assembled assembly, the assembly of the detonator drilling element adjacent is armed through the use of a mechanically operated switch. These conventional selective firing systems for various reasons, are inadequate such as capacity, reliability, cost and complexity. The present invention addresses these and other disadvantages of the prior art. In one aspect, the present invention provides systems, methods and devices for providing selective firing of a barrel train formed from a plurality of guns. Conventionally, the guns each include a detonator assembly that detonates upon receiving a firing signal transmitted by a surface source. In one embodiment of the present invention, an operator provided in the gun train selectively couples one or more guns to the signal transmission means. The operator has a safe state where the operator isolates the gun from the firing signal and an armed state where the operator enables the firing signal to be transmitted to the gun. A control signal is used to move the operator between the safe state and the armed state. In some embodiments, two or more guns are provided with a separate operator. In other embodiments, an operator can selectively couple two or more guns. In one mode of operation, a barrel train formed from a plurality of barrels is transported in a borehole. HE it provides at least one of the guns with an operator that selectively transports a trigger signal (or any other similar signal) to a detonator associated with the barrel. In one arrangement, the operator is connected to a signal transmission means that can carry the trigger signal from the surface source. The operator includes a conductive member that is initially decoupled from the detonator. Upon receiving a control signal, the conductive member couples the detonator. After the barrel train is positioned at a desired depth in the sounding, a surface source transmits a control signal to the operator. In response, the conductive member of the operator couples and establishes a signal path to the detonator. Then, a trigger signal is transmitted to detonate the detonator and the first cannon. It is to be understood that the examples of the most important features of the invention have been summarized rather than extensively explained so that the detailed description thereof can be understood in a better way, and for the contributions to the technique can be appreciated There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and that will form the subject of the appended claims thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a detailed understanding of the present invention, references should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which similar elements have been provided as numbers and where: Figure 1 schematically illustrates the implementation of a drill gun train using one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the present invention that is adapted to selectively allow the transmission of signals to a tool at the bottom of the bore; and Figure 3 illustrates schematically another embodiment of the present invention that is adapted to selectively allow the transmission of signals to a tool at the bottom of the bore. The present invention relates to devices and methods for the selective firing of one or more tools at the bottom of the borehole. The present invention is susceptible to modalities of different forms. The specific embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, and will be described in detail herein with the understanding that the present description is considered an exemplary embodiment of the principles of the invention, and not it is intended to limit the invention to what is described and illustrated herein. Referring initially to Figure 1, a well construction and / or a hydrocarbon production facility 10 placed over an underground reservoir of interest 12 is shown. The installation may be a ground or maritime drilling rig adapted to carry a tool, such as as a drill gun train, in a bore 16. The bore 16 may include sections of open holes and / or sections coated with cement or coated pipe. The installation 10 may include known equipment and structures such as a platform 18 on the land surface 20, and a derrick 22, a wellhead 24, and a liner 26. A work string 28 suspended within the bore 16 from the Derrick 22 is used to transport tools in the bore 16. The work string 28 may include a drill pipe, a rolled pipe, a steel wire, a drill wire, or any other known means of transport. In addition, the working string 28 can be pulled through the bore by means of a device such as a bore tractor (not shown), which may be of advantage in extended reach wells or 'offset wells. The work string 28 may include telemetry lines or other power / signal transmission means that establish the unidirectional or bidirectional telemetric communication from the surface for a tool connected to one end of the work string 28. A suitable telemetry system (not shown) may be of known types such as mud pulse, electrical, acoustic signals, or other suitable systems. For purposes of illustration, a telemetry system having a surface controller (e.g., a power source and / or a trigger panel) 30 adapted to transmit signals through a cable or a transmission line 31 is shown. signs located in the 28th work string. The signals can be analog or digital signals. In one embodiment of the present invention, a drill gun train 32 engages an end of the working string 28. An exemplary gun train includes a plurality of barrel or gun compartments 34, 36, 38, each of which includes drill shaped charges 40. The charges 40 formed from each individual gun, for example, a gun 34, is configured to fire as a group. Other equipment associated with the cannon train 32 includes a lower auxiliary 41, an upper auxiliary 42, and an accessory package 44 that can carry equipment such as a casing collar locator, reservoir sampling tools, evaluation tools of coatings, etc. To allow selective firing of individual drilling cannons 34, 36, 38, a The trigger control auxiliary 50 is coupled to one or more guns 34, 36, 38. By "selective" is meant any barrel 34, 36, 38 that can be fired simultaneously, sequentially, and in any order. In addition, the guns 34, 36, 38 can be fired in selected groupings such as the initial firing of a barrel 34 and the simultaneous firing of the guns 36 and 38. The selective firing devices 50 are configured to provide controllable ballistic and electrical connections and selective for the guns 34, 36, 38. In certain embodiments, the selective firing system may be carried out to operate integrally with the guns 34, 36, 38. In other embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 and 2 , the selective firing systems are located in modular auxiliaries as described hereinafter. It should be understood that the teachings of the present invention can be adapted for use with a single barrel or a plurality of barrels. An exemplary selective trigger auxiliary 50 controls the transmission of a trigger signal from a signal source, which may be on the surface or bottom of the bore, to an associated barrel 34, 36, 38. For example, selective firing aid 50 may selectively produce a gap 51 in the transmission medium carrying the firing signal. This hole or opening in the transmission medium prevents a signal from shot, whatever the form, for example, electrical (analogue or digital), ballistic, explosive, chemical, acoustic, etc., from the beginning of the donation of cannons 34, 36, 38. In this way, each cannon 34, 36, 38 can be placed in a "safe" mode where a gap or opening in the transmission means substantially isolates the barrel from a trigger signal and an "armed" mode where the gap or opening is combined to allow the signal shot to start the detonation of a cannon. Referring now to Figure 2, in one embodiment, the trip control auxiliary 50 is formed as a modular unit that can be selectively inserted into a barrel train 32. Simply for illustrative purposes, the fire control aid 50 is shown interposed between the guns 34 and 36. Conventionally, the gun 36 includes a detonator 60 for firing a wick 62 of the detonator. In this arrangement, the transmission means used to transmit trigger signals is an electrical conductor pack 64. The pack 64 includes signal transmitting carriers coupled to one end in a surface controller such as the trigger panel 30 and coupled to each of the guns 34, 36, 38 at the other end. The trigger signal travels through the driver pack 64 and, if the control aid 50 allows it, finally activates the detonator 60 associated with each barrel 34, 36, 38. As shown, the pack 64 is placed inside the guns 34, 36 and in the auxiliary 50, however, in other embodiments, the pack 64 can be placed on the outside of the guns 34 , 36. In addition, pack 64 can be formed of multiple lengths 64 a, b, c that are coupled through suitable connectors 66. The trigger control aid 50 includes a mandrel or a modular body 52 defining an interior space 54. Located in the interior space 54, there is an operator 56 that is connected to the conductor pack 64 and selectively engages or connects to the detonator 60. In the "safe" mode, a defined gap 51 is maintained between the operator 56 and detonator 60. In the "armed" mode, the operator 56 closes the gap and forms a bridge through which the trigger signal can pass from the driver pack 64 to the detonator 60. In this arrangement, the bridge is an electrical path, however , in other arrangements, the bridge may be a ballistic trajectory, a hydraulic circuit, or other suitable means of transmission. An exemplary operator 56 includes a motor 68, a longitudinally movable shaft 70, and a contact head 72. The activation of a motor 68 directs the shaft 70 longitudinally towards the detonator 60 until the contact head 72 correlates with the detonator 60. The shaft and the contact head in the contact and extended position they are shown in hidden lines and labeled with the number 71. In some arrangements, the selected elements of the motor 68 and the shaft 70 are made of conductive material in such a way that the electrical circuit between the conductive pack 64 and the detonator 60 is made of conductive portions of the shaft 70, the motor 68 and the contact head 72. It is to be understood that some embodiments of the shaft 70 may be formed to correlate with the detonator 60 without a contact head 72. In addition, the motor 68 can be formed as a reversible motor to allow closure and subsequent opening of the electrical circuit. In one arrangement, the operator 56 is configured to operate when supplied with electric power of a first polarity (the control signal) and the detonator 60 is configured so that the electric current of an opposite polarity (trip signal) activates it. Although the void 51 has been described as a void or space, it should be understood that the term "void" simply represents the discontinuity in the transmission medium. The discontinuity can also be formed by inserting a non-conductive material or insulator along the transmission path of the control signal. Although operator 56 is shown while using an electromechanical transmission unit, the present invention is not limited to such devices. For him otherwise, other transmission units that use energy in the form of hydraulic, pneumatic, magnetic, and explosive can be used. For example, operator 56 may include a pneumatic or hydraulic pump that provides power to a piston-cylinder arrangement. Other suitable arrangements may use fragile elements which, when broken, release a conductor that forms a bridge between the pack 64 and the detonator 60. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in an exemplary mode of operation, the train 62 of FIG. The gun is transported in a hole with the fire control auxiliaries 50 in the "safe" mode. After the train 62 is placed in a section of the drill to be drilled, a control signal from a surface controller 30 is transmitted to one or more auxiliaries 50 selected to place the associated guns 34, 36, 38 in the "armed" mode " This can be a sequential or simultaneous transmission of control signals. Then, the continuity check can be carried out to verify that the selected auxiliary or auxiliaries 50 have established the appropriate circuit (s). At this point, the signal or trigger signals can be transmitted to detonate the selected gun (s). In some application, the cannon train 32 can be moved to another location and to another gun and barrel compartment armed and fired, and so on.

In certain applications, a second control signal may be sent to the auxiliaries 50 to return to "safe" mode. This can have an advantage, for example, if a malfunction prevents a drill gun from firing and the malfunctioning barrel is removed from the borehole. Referring now to Figure 3, another embodiment of the trigger control unit 80 made in accordance with the present invention is shown. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the selective firing mechanism for a plurality of barrels is consolidated into a single auxiliary (not shown) that is inserted into the drill gun train 32 (Figure 1). The trigger control unit 80 includes an operator 82 and a wire harness 84. The operator 82 is coupled to the transmission means such as an electrical conductor package 86 and the wire harness 84 includes conductors 88, 90, 92, each of which is coupled to the detonator gun assemblies 34, 36, 38. . In one embodiment, the operator includes a motor 94 that longitudinally drives a member such as a shaft 96 and an associated contact head 98. The wire harness 84 includes a plurality of contact plates 100 which are adapted to electrically couple with the contact head 98. In one arrangement, the contact head 98 initially does not contact any of the plates 100, which can be considered as a "safe" mode. The activation of the operator 82 causes the contact head 98 to move in engagement with each contact plate 100 in a series mode, which puts a barrel associated with the contact plate 100 in the "armed" mode. In an exemplary implementation of the embodiment of Figure 3, the drill gun train 32 can be transported in the bore with the guns 34, 36, 38 in a "safe" mode. If, for example, it is desired to fire a barrel 34, a control signal is transmitted to activate the operator 82. In response to the control signal, the operator 82 moves the contact head 98 to the coupling with the plate 100 appropriate for the controls. conductors 88 leading to the barrel 34. Then, a trigger signal may be sent to detonate the barrel 34. Although the arrangements using longitudinal movement have been described, it should be understood that other arrangements may be used. For example, members such as complementary rotary disks can be used to selectively establish the transmission paths between a signal source and one or more drill guns. Furthermore, simply for brevity, the use of shot control aids 50 with reference to drill guns has been discussed. However, it should be understood that the trigger control aid 50 can be used with other tools in the background of drilling such as pipe cutters. The foregoing description is directed to particular embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration and explanation. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the modality set forth above are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the following claims be construed to encompass such modifications and changes.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for providing a selective firing of a barrel train formed of a plurality of guns, each barrel detonating upon receiving a firing signal carried by a signal transmission means, the apparatus characterized in that: a coupling operator of Selectively selecting at least one barrel of a barrel train to a signal transmission means, the operator has a safe state wherein the operator isolates at least one barrel from the trigger signal carried by the signal transmission means and an armed state where the operator forms a signal path between at least one barrel and the signal transmission means in order to transport the firing signal to the barrel, the operator moves from the safe state to the armed state upon receiving a control signal from a surface source.
2. 2. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that the operator includes a conductive member that selectively couples the detonator.
3. 3. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 2, further characterized in that the operator includes a motor for moving a conductive member in the coupling with at least one barrel to thereby form a signal path to transmit the trigger signal at least to a canyon.
4. The apparatus according to any of claims 1-3, further characterized in that the trigger signal is an electrical signal of one polarity and the control signal is an electrical signal of a polarity opposite to the trigger signal.
5. The apparatus according to any of claims 1-4, further characterized in that the signal transmission means is an electrical cable package adapted to carry the trigger signal and the control signal and the operator includes an electric motor in response to the control signal.
6. 6. The apparatus according to any of claims 1-5, further characterized in that it comprises at least two operators, each operator is associated with at least one barrel.
7. The apparatus according to any of claims 1-5, further characterized in that the operator is associated with at least two guns.
8. 8. A method for drilling a sounding, comprising the formation of a gun train by coupling a plurality of guns in series, each gun being coupled to a detonator assembly, the method characterized by: - providing a signal transmission means for transport a firing signal to each assembly detonator, each detonator assembly detonates an associated barrel in response to the firing signal; - connecting a first barrel of the plurality of barrels to the signal transmission means with an operator, the operator is configured to selectively couple a first detonator assembly coupled to the first barrel, the operator is initially decoupled from the first detonator assembly; - transport the cannon train to the sounding; - placing the cannon train in the borehole at a depth corresponding to a section of the borehole to be drilled; - transmitting a control signal to the operator from the surface, the operator engages the first detonator assembly in response to the control signal; and - transmitting a firing signal to detonate the first detonator assembly and, consequently, firing the first gun.
9. The method according to claim 8, further characterized in that the operator connects at least two guns to the signal transmission means.
10. The method according to claim 8, further characterized in that it comprises: connecting a second barrel to the signal transport means using a second operator; transmit a second control signal to the second operator from the surface, the second operator couples a second detonator assembly in response to the second control signal; and transmitting a second trigger signal to detonate the second detonator assembly for, therefore, shoot the second cannon.
11. The method according to claim 10, further characterized by the transmission of the first and second trigger signals in one of: (i) sequentially, and (ii) concurrently.
12. The method according to any of claims 8-11, further characterized by the relocation of the barrel train after transmitting the first trigger signal.
13. 13. The method according to any of claims 8-12, further characterized by the transmission of a third control signal to the first operator, the first operator uncouples from the first detonator upon receiving the third control signal.
14. The method according to any of claims 8-13, further characterized in that the first trigger signal is one of: (i) an electrical signal, (ii) an acoustic signal, (iii) a pressure signal, ( iv) a thermal signal, and (v) a ballistic signal.
15. 15. The method of compliance with any of the claims 8-14, further characterized in that the first control signal is one of: (i) an electrical signal, (ii) an acoustic signal, (iii) a pressure signal, (iv) a thermal signal, and (v) a ballistic signal.