1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of oil and gas production. More specifically, the present invention relates to a safety vent valve. Yet more specifically, the present invention relates to a safety vent valve for a perforating gun system.
2. Description of Related Art
Perforating systems are used for the purpose, among others, of making hydraulic communication passages, called perforations, in wellbores drilled through earth formations so that predetermined zones of the earth formations can be hydraulically connected to the wellbore. Perforations are needed because wellbores are typically completed by coaxially inserting a pipe or casing into the wellbore. The casing is retained in the wellbore by pumping cement into the annular space between the wellbore and the casing. The cemented casing is provided in the wellbore for the specific purpose of hydraulically isolating from each other the various earth formations penetrated by the wellbore.
One typical example of a perforating system 4 is shown in
Included with the perforating gun 6 are shaped charges 8 that typically include a housing, a liner, and a quantity of high explosive inserted between the liner and the housing. When the high explosive is detonated, quickly expanding explosive gases are formed whose force collapses the liner and ejects it from one end of the charge 8 at very high velocity in a pattern called a “jet” 12. The jet 12 perforates the casing and the cement and creates a perforation 10 that extends into the surrounding formation 2. The resulting perforation 10 provides fluid communication between the formation 2 and the inside of the wellbore 1. In an underbalanced situation (where the formation pressure exceeds the wellbore pressure) formation fluids flow from the formation 2 into the wellbore 1, thereby increasing the pressure of the wellbore 1. Moreover, as the explosive gases cool and contract, a large pressure gradient is created between the inside of the perforating gun body 14 and the wellbore 1. This pressure differential in turn draws wellbore fluid within the perforating gun body 14 through gun apertures 16.
a and 2b illustrate a portion of a gun string 3 for providing additional detail of the connector sub 18 disposed between the two perforating guns 6. As shown, the connector sub 18 has a protruding member 19 on each of its ends formed to mate with a corresponding recess 21 provided on the end of each perforating gun 6. The guns 6 as shown are secured to the connector sub 18 by a series of threads 23 formed on the inner diameter of the recesses 21 and the outer diameter of the protruding member 19.
Also disposed within the gun string is a detonating cord 20 for providing an initiating/detonating means for the shaped charge 8. Detonation of the shaped charge 8 is accomplished by activating the detonating cord 20 that in turn produces a percussive shockwave for commencing detonation of the shaped charge explosive 8. Typically the shockwave is initiated in the detonating cord 20 at its top end (i.e. closest to the surface 9) and travels downward through the gun string 3. To ensure propagation of the shockwave to each individual gun 6 making up the gun string 3, each connecting sub 18 is also equipped with a section of detonating cord 20. The section of detonating cord 20 in the connecting sub 18 resides in a cavity 22 formed therein. Transfer charges 24 on the end of each segment of the detonating cord 20 continue travel of the shock wave from the end of one gun body 6, to the section of detonating cord 20 in the connecting sub 18, from the connecting sub 18 to the next adjacent gun body 6, and so on. The shock wave transfer function of the transfer charges 24 produces a passage 26 between the gun bodies 6 and the connecting sub 18. As shown in
An embodiment of the present invention involves a connecting sub comprising a housing, a pressure producing element within the housing, and a vent valve in operable communication with the pressure producing element, wherein the vent valve is selectively opened in response to activation of the pressure producing element. The connecting sub may further comprise a cavity formed within the housing. When the vent valve is in the opened position it provides fluid communication between the cavity and the outside of the housing. A frangible member may be included within the vent valve. The pressure producing element may comprise a detonating cord. The pressure producing element may include a shock wave producing member, such as a detonating cord, or a combustible material, such as a propellant.
One embodiment of the connecting sub may comprise a first end, a second end, a perforating gun attachable to the first end, a shock wave producing member disposed within the perforating gun, a first transfer charge combinable with the connecting sub shock wave producing member and a second transfer charge combinable with the perforating gun shock wave producing member. A second perforating gun may be included with the connecting sub attachable to the second end, a shock wave producing member disposed within the second perforating gun, a third transfer charge combinable with the connecting sub shock wave producing member and a fourth transfer charge combinable with the second perforating gun shock wave producing member. A retaining ring coupled to the housing and to the vent valve can also be included with the connecting sub.
The connecting sub can further comprise a coupling member coupled to the shock wave producing member. The coupling member can be an opening formed to receive the shockwave producing member therethrough, a hook shaped member, or opposing elements formed to receive the shockwave producing member therebetween.
A method of safely venting a downhole tool is included herein. The method includes providing a frangible element on the downhole tool, activating a pressure producing substance, wherein activating the pressure producing substance ruptures the frangible element thereby creating apertures through the wall of the downhole tool to create fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the downhole tool. The pressure producing substance can include a detonating cord, a propellant, as well as combinations thereof. Fluid communication between the inside and outside of the downhole tool.
a illustrates a partial cutaway of a portion of a perforating string.
b depicts a partial cutaway of a portion of a perforating string.
The device of the present disclosure comprises a safety vent valve useful for relieving fluid pressure within a downhole tool. With reference now to
The recess 35 provided in the connector sub 28 is formed to receive the vent valve 34. The vent valve 34 as illustrated comprises a body 38 formed into a generally annular configuration. An embodiment of the vent valve 34 is provided in a cross sectional view in
The membrane 40 of the embodiment of
The body 38 further comprises a skirt section 44 extending downward from the membrane 40; optionally included within the skirt 44 is an opening 46 that provides a passageway through the skirt 44. The opening 46 is aligned generally perpendicular to the axis of the housing 38. The opening 46 should have dimensions sufficient to accommodate the detonating cord 36 to pass therethrough. One embodiment of the vent valve 34 may include a shoulder stop 45 formed on the outer circumference of the body 38 in an orientation generally coaxial to the body 38. In the embodiment including the shoulder stop 45, the recess 35 will have an increased diameter proximate to its opening to receive the shoulder stop 45 therein. A ridge 47 formed by a reduction in the recess diameter should be included in cooperation with the shoulder stop 45, proper placement of the shoulder stop 45 in conjunction with the ridge 47 can situate the opening 46 within the cavity 48 for proper placement of the detonating cord 36 therethrough. Once spatially aligned, the vent valve 34 can be rotated (if needed) for alignment with the detonating cord 36.
The vent valve 34 can be retained within the recess 35 with a retaining ring 50. The ring 50 can be disposed within the recess in any number of ways, such as threaded, press fit, snap ring, welded, or any other suitable manner.
It should be pointed out that the vent valve 34 of the present device is not limited to those having a frangible member such as the membrane, but instead can include any device or apparatus responsive to shock waves. One additional example could be that of a sliding manifold having strategically placed ports such that the member when pushed upward in response to a shock wave, the ports could be situated to allow fluid communication from the cavity 48 of the connector sub 28 to the outer surroundings of the connector sub 28. Another alternative embodiment includes a spring-loaded relief valve that is responsive to a pressure differential between the cavity and ambient conditions, and opens when the cavity pressure exceeds ambient pressure by some set amount. The spring loading could then reseat the valve for repeated uses and or repeated pressure loadings.
A portion of a detonating system 33 is shown within the connector sub 28 and gun bodies 32. The portion of the detonating system 33 shown comprises, detonating cords 36 and transfer charges 37 and extends through the gun bodies 32 as well as into the connector sub 28. As previously discussed, initiation of detonation systems typically occurs on the section of the detonating system closest to the surface 9. Initiation of the detonating system 33 produces a shock wave within the detonating cord 36 that propagates downward through the detonating system 33 (and cord 36). Moreover, the shockwave is transferred between successive segments of the gun string (i.e. adjacent gun bodies 32 and the connector sub 28) by virtue of the transfer charges 37 provided at the terminating point of each end of the detonating cord 36 within segment. The detonating cord 36 can be of any shape (i.e. round, flat, smaller, larger diameter, and varying diameter), the chemical composition of the detonating cord is also not limited to a single composition. The detonating cord for use with the device and apparatus herein described can include any cord useful in transferring a shock wave along a string wherein the shock wave can activate a vent device. Additionally, electrical detonators may be used as a means for producing the aforementioned shock wave.
Optionally, the rupturing step may be accomplished by pressure formed by combustion of a material, such as the combustion of a propellant. The combustible material could be situated proximate to the frangible portion of the vent valve wherein the high pressure resulting from the ensuing combustion exerts a sufficient force on the frangible portion to cause it to rupture. Optionally, the region housing the combustible material could be sealed thereby allowing the pressure to build in order to cause the rupture of the frangible portion. Thus instead of an instantaneous micro-second event, the device of the present disclosure could be activated with a combusting compound acting on a millisecond time basis.
In operation, a perforating string having the segment 31 of
The membrane thickness can be reduced at strategically selected locations along the surface of the membrane 40 to ensure its rupturing in response to an applied shock wave. Optionally, the membrane 40 can include a scored portion 42 along the surface of one of its sides to facilitate bursting the membrane 40. Also alternatively, the coupling member for joining the detonating cord 36 with the vent valve is not limited to the opening 46 but may include a coupling member that is a J-shaped member for coupling the vent valve 34 with the detonating cord 36. Additionally, the coupling member may comprise multiple flexible elements for coupling with the cord 36. It should be pointed out that the generation of a shock wave is not limited to the use of a detonating cord.
The present invention described herein, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes exist in the details of procedures for accomplishing the desired results. For example, the invention described herein is applicable to any shaped charge phasing as well as any density of shaped charge. Moreover, the invention can be utilized with any size of perforating gun. These and other similar modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and are intended to be encompassed within the spirit of the present invention disclosed herein and the scope of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070277966 A1 | Dec 2007 | US |