Protective Electrically Conductive Layer Covering a Reactive Layer to Protect the Reactive Layer from Electrical Discharge

Abstract

A tool for use in a wellbore has an activation assembly, which has a support structure and a reactive layer on the support structure. The reactive layer is formed of a pyrotechnic material. The activation assembly also includes an electrically conductive protective layer covering the reactive layer to protect the reactive layer from electrical discharge. The tool further includes a component to be activated by the activation assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a tool deployed in a wellbore, where the tool incorporates an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an activation assembly that has a protection mechanism that provides electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a propellant that is attached to an activation assembly in accordance with an embodiment.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate an explosive attached to an activation assembly according to another embodiment.

Claims

1. A tool for use in a wellbore, comprising: an activation assembly having: a support structure,a reactive layer on the support structure, the reactive layer formed of a pyrotechnic material, andan electrically conductive protective layer covering the reactive layer to protect the reactive layer from electrical discharge; anda component to be activated by the activation assembly.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the component comprises an explosive.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the explosive comprises a propellant.

4. The tool of claim 2, further comprising a perforating gun, the explosive being in the perforating gun.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic material comprises an intermetallic material.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the reactive layer comprises a reactive nanofoil.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein the reactive nanofoil is formed of one of the following compositions: (1) aluminum and nickel; (2) aluminum and palladium; and (3) titanium and boron.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the component comprises an explosive, wherein the activation assembly has a surface that contacts a surface of the explosive such that initiation of the reactive layer causes substantially simultaneous initiation of an entire surface of the explosive.

9. An apparatus comprises: a support structure;a reactive layer formed of a pyrotechnic material; andan electrically conductive layer to cover the reactive layer to provide protection against electrical discharge,wherein the reactive layer is provided between the support structure and the electrically conductive layer.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the explosive is generally cylindrical in shape, and wherein the activation assembly is wrapped around a curved surface of the explosive.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein the support structure, reactive layer, and protective electrically conductive layer are generally cylindrical in shape.

12. The tool of claim 10, wherein the activation assembly is generally shaped as a disk, the disk contacted to an end of the explosive.

13. The tool of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive layer is provided on a surface of the reactive layer by one of laminating the protective layer to the surface of the reactive layer, painting the surface of the reactive layer with an electrically conductive substance, and sputtering a non-reactive, conductive material onto the surface of the reactive layer.

14. The tool of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive layer provides protection against electrostatic discharge.

15. A method of activating a component, comprising: providing an activation assembly for activating the component;forming a reactive layer on a support structure of the activation assembly, wherein the reactive layer comprises a pyrotechnic material; andarranging an electrically conductive protective layer to cover the reactive layer to protect the reactive layer from electrical discharge.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein protecting the reactive layer from electrical discharge comprises protecting the reactive layer from electrostatic discharge.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising connecting electrically conductive leads to plural points of the reactive layer; and providing an activation pulse through the electrically conductive leads to cause a reaction in the reactive layer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing an electrical energy source that is coupled to electrical leads to provide the activation pulse.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising supplying electrical energy to charge the energy source over a carrier line that extends from an earth surface into the wellbore.

20. An activation assembly comprising: a support structure;a reactive layer comprising a pyrotechnic material;an electrically conductive protective layer that covers the reactive layer to protect the reactive layer from electrostatic discharge,wherein the reactive layer is positioned between the support structure and the protective layer.

21. The activation assembly of claim 20, wherein the pyrotechnic material comprises an intermetallic material.

22. The activation assembly of claim 20, wherein the intermetallic material comprises one of the following compositions: (1) aluminum and nickel; (2) aluminum and palladium; and (3) titanium and boron.

23. The activation assembly of claim 20, wherein the pyrotechnic material comprises one of (1) titanium; (2) potassium-perchlorate; and (3) zirconium.

24. The activation assembly of claim 20, further comprising electrical leads connected to points on the reactive layer to couple an electrical energy to the reactive layer from an energy storage device.