Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Mide Technology Corporation

Team Oil Tools, LP

Starboard Innovations Inc.

John Patrick Rodgers

Marco Serra

Timothy S Glenn

John D Burleson

Edwin A Eaton

John Hudson Hales

Michael Linley Fripp

Wesley Neil Ludwig

Jack Gammill Clemens

Marthinus Van Schoor

Patrick L Walter

Roger Lynn Schultz

Brett P Masters

Adam Davis Wright

Jeff A Nelson

James Dan Vick, Jr

Kenneth L Schwendemann

Darrin N Towers

John J Goiffon

Phillip M Starr

Wesley J Burris, Ii

Wei Zhang

Eugene J Linyaev

Stephen E Tilghman

Samuel Martinez

Kevin D Fink

Stephen J Chauffe

Cam Le

Oleg Bondarenko

James Harold Wight

Dustin Robert Holden

Robert Brice Patterson

Ed A Eaton

David Swenson

James Dan Vick

Ed Eaton

The disclosed embodiments include a system and method in which a plurality of shock sensing subassemblies are arranged within the tool string to monitor the transient response of formation characteristics to various stimuli, including changes in pressure and temperature of a region of a wellbore that is nearby the formation. The systems and methods involve gathering measurements that reflect the transient response and comparing the measured data to predicted data. The results of the comparison can be used to determine formation properties and to refine and improve modeling processes used to generate the predicted data.

Fast test application for shock sensing subassemblies using shock modeling software

Certain aspects are directed to capturing data regarding physical states associated with a perforating string. In one aspect, a sensing tool is provided. The sensing tool includes at least one sensor and a processor positioned in an isolated chamber of the sensing tool. The processor samples data from the sensor at a first sampling rate associated with the deployment of a perforating string. The data is associated with at least one parameter with respect to the perforating string. The processor detects a trigger condition associated with a perforation operation of the perforating string. The processor switches to a second sampling rate in response to detecting the trigger condition. The second sampling rate is greater than the first sampling rate and is associated with the perforation operation. The processor samples data at the second sampling rate for a period of time in which the perforation operation is at least partially performed.

Method and systems for capturing data for physical states associated with perforating string

A perforating apparatus for a gun string is presented. The apparatus experiences an axial load and potentially a radial load during use. A central charge-carrier supports shaped-charges and substantially bears the axial load on the apparatus during use. The charge-carrier is positioned within an exterior sleeve and the plurality of shaped-charges, upon detonation, perforate the exterior sleeve. The exterior sleeve does not bear a substantial portion of the axial load on the apparatus and can therefore be thinner and cheaper than in prior art assemblies. An annular space can be defined between the charge-carrier and exterior sleeve. The exterior tubular can bear the radial load due to differential pressure in one embodiment. Alternately, the apparatus includes radial support members extending between the charge-carrier and sleeve for transmitting radial load to the charge-carrier. Alternately, the sleeve and charge-carrier abut one another along a substantial portion of the length of the charge-carrier.

Perforating apparatus and method having internal load path

A method for forming a perforation is disclosed. The method comprises positioning a perforating gun at a desired location in the formation. The perforating gun comprises a gun body and a charge carrier. The method further comprises disposing one or more shaped charges within the charge carrier. The one or more shaped charges comprise an outer case, an inner liner, and an explosive material retained between the outer case and the inner liner. The outer case of the shaped charge comprises one or more predefined fracture lines. The method further comprises detonating at least one shaped charge, wherein detonating the at least one shaped charge forms one or more perforations in the formation.

Charge case fragmentation control for gun survival

A perforating gun string may include a first perforating gun; a second perforating gun axially offset from the first perforating gun; a connector configured to interpose and couple the first and second perforating guns; and a detonation cord that passes axially through a central bore of the connector; and is connected to the first and second perforating guns. In some instances, the connector may have a body with an inner surface that defines the central bore, wherein the body has a ratio of an average diameter of the outer surface to an average diameter of the inner surface of about 1.2 to about 4.

Perforating gun connectors

At least one crack designator for a perforating gun, wherein the gun includes a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and at least one scallop, wherein each crack designator is capable of redirecting crack growth from the lateral direction to the longitudinal direction of the gun. The designator may be located in one of the scallops, extend from an expected exit hole in the gun to an edge of one of the scallops, and be capable of redirecting crack growth from a lateral direction to a longitudinal direction of the gun. In preferred embodiments, the designator in each scallop is arranged in a spider pattern or concentric circles. The designator is preferably formed by machining, etching, or laser ablation. The designator may have a lower fracture toughness or lesser stiffness than surrounding material of the gun.

Perforation crack designator

A through tubing bridge plug () for providing a gripping and sealing engagement with a casing string of a wellbore. The bridge plug () includes an actuation rod (), an anchor assembly (), a pair of compression assemblies, each including a support assembly () and an anti extrusion assembly () and a packing assembly () disposed about the actuation rod () between the compression assemblies. Responsive to longitudinal movement of the actuation rod (), the anchor assembly () establishes the gripping engagement with the casing string, the compression assemblies are radially deployed such that the anti extrusion assemblies () are supported by the support assemblies () and the packing assembly () establishes the sealing engagement with the casing string.

Through tubing bridge plug and installation method for same

In an embodiment, a sensing subassembly for use with a downhole tool comprises a housing, a cavity extending into the housing, a sensor disposed at least partially within the cavity, a shock mitigating member disposed between at least one end of the sensor and the housing, and at least one seal member disposed between the sensor and the housing. At least a portion of the sensor is in fluid communication with an exterior of the housing, and the shock mitigating member is configured to attenuate at least a portion of a shock wave between the housing and the sensor.

Protection of electronic devices used with perforating guns

A plugging device, apparatus, and method. The plugging device includes an expandable member configured to move from a first, retracted position to a second, expanded position, a counter configured to count a number of restrictions in a conduit that the plugging device passes through, and an actuator configured to move the expandable member from the first position to the second position in response to the counter counting a predetermined number of restrictions. The expandable member in the expanded position prevents the plugging device from passing through a target restriction.

Multi-actuating plugging device

A sensing subassembly for use with a downhole tool comprises a housing, a cavity disposed within the housing, an electronic board disposed within the cavity, a stiffening member engaging the electronic board and configured to limit flexing of the electronic board, and a spring member configured to provide an isolation mount for the electronic board within the cavity.

A perforation tool assembly. The perforation tool assembly comprises a tool string connector, a perforation gun coupled to the tool string connector, and a structure configured to absorb mechanical energy released by firing one or more perforation guns. The coupling is configured to provide a limited range of motion of the tool string connector relative to the perforation gun. The tool string connector and the perforation gun retain the structure configured to absorb mechanical energy.

Perforation gun string energy propagation management system and methods

A sensing subassembly for use with a downhole tool comprises a housing, a cavity disposed within the housing, at least one electronic component disposed within the cavity, and at least one isolating member disposed within the cavity. The at least one isolating member is configured to attenuate at least a portion of frequency components of a mechanical wave above a threshold and transmit at least a portion of frequency components below the threshold to the at least one electronic device.

A perforating gun can include at least one explosive component, and a shock mitigation device including a shock reflector which indirectly reflects a shock wave produced by detonation of the explosive component. Another perforating gun can include a gun housing, at least one explosive component, and a shock mitigation device in the gun housing. The shock mitigation device can include a shock attenuator which attenuates a shock wave produced by detonation of the explosive component. Yet another perforating gun can include a shock mitigation device with an explosive material which produces a shock wave that interacts with another shock wave produced by detonation of an explosive component in a gun housing.

Perforating gun with internal shock mitigation

A pressure-balanced acoustic-signal-receiving apparatus and methods therefor. The apparatus may comprise a first housing, a first actuator, a second housing, and a second actuator. The first housing may comprise a fluid chamber, a passage connecting a first and second portion of the fluid chamber, a tubular-contact assembly, an isolating member within the fluid chamber and coupled to the assembly, an acoustic-signal receiver within the isolating member and coupled to the assembly, and a communication member coupled to the receiver. A method for receiving an acoustic signal generated within a wellbore may comprise receiving the acoustic signal with a tubular-contact assembly, sensing the acoustic signal with an acoustic-signal receiver positioned within a fluid chamber and coupled to the assembly, equilibrating fluid pressures in the first and second portions of the fluid chamber, and transmitting information generated by the acoustic-signal receiver through a communication member.

Growing community of inventors

Southlake, TX, United States of America

John Patrick Rodgers