# US 10,309,206 B2 · Well stimulation tool comprising an articulated link

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- Number: US 10,309,206 B2
- Document ID: US10309206B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/546,376
- Filed: 2016-01-26
- Published: 2017-12-28
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-27
- Assignees: Ene29 S.Ar.L.
- Applicants: Ene29 S.àR.L.
- Inventors: Michael Delchambre; Laurent Feriol; Guillaume Onquiert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309206B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/2401: {by means of electricity}
- E21B 17/003: {with electrically conducting or insulating means (E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence)}
- E21B 17/05: Swivel joints
- E21B 28/00: Vibration generating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for stimulating production ({for fishing for or freeing objects E21B31/005;} for transmitting measuring-signals E21B47/14; for geophysical measurements G01V1/02)
- E21B 36/04: using electrical heaters
- E21B 43/003: {Vibrating earth formations}
- E21B 49/00: Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
- G01V 1/157: using spark discharges; using exploding wires
- E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)

## Abstract

An electrical tool for well stimulation includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode being at the level of a first segment and a second segment of the tool. A peripheral electrode insulated electrically from the first electrode. The first segment and the second segment are linked by an articulated link inside which is arranged a coaxial cable running from the first segment to the second segment. The coaxial cable includes an electrically conducting outer envelope insulated electrically from an electrically conducting central core. The tool includes a first electrical contact between the central core of the coaxial cable and the first electrode, and a second electrical contact between the outer envelope of the coaxial cable and the second electrode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electric well stimulation tool, comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode forming a stimulation head in a geometric space defined by one end of the electric well stimulation tool;
at least a first segment and a second segment, the first segment and the second segment being joined by an articulated link, the second electrode in a geometric space defined by the first segment and the second segment is a peripheral electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode;
a coaxial cable disposed inside the articulated link, the coaxial cable extending from the first segment to the second segment, the coaxial cable comprising an electrically conductive outer envelope, electrically insulated from an electrically conductive central core;
in the geometric space defined by the first segment, an electrical contact between the central core of the coaxial cable and the first electrode and an electrical contact between the outer envelope of the coaxial cable and the second electrode; and
in a geometric space defined by the second segment, an electrical contact between the central core of the coaxial cable and the first electrode and an electrical contact between the outer envelope of the coaxial cable and the second electrode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electric well stimulation tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central core of the coaxial cable is separated from the outer envelope by a layer of electrically insulating material, the central core and the layer of electrically insulating material forming, in the geometric space defined by at least one of the first segment and the second segment, portions of the coaxial cable not covered by the outer envelope.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electric well stimulation tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in the geometric space defined by at least one of the first segment and the second segment, the electrical contact between the central core of the coaxial cable and the first electrode is realized in an area of one end of the coaxial cable electrically connected to the central core, and the electrical contact between the outer envelope of the coaxial cable and the second electrode is realized in a geometric space defined by a peripheral surface of the outer envelope.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electric well stimulation tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein each peripheral surface of the outer envelope is disposed at a peripheral enlargement of the outer envelope.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The electric well stimulation tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the geometric space defined by at least one of the first segment and the second segment, an electrically insulating material separating the first electrode from the second electrode covers at least partly each portion of the coaxial cable not covered by the outer envelope.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the coaxial cable is movable in translation inside the first segment and is configured to slide inside the first segment for a predetermined length of travel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the geometric space defined by the first segment, the electrical contact between the central core of the coaxial cable and the first electrode comprise a spring configured to hold the first electrode and the central core of the coaxial cable in contact for the entire predetermined length of travel, and the electrical contact between the outer envelope of the coaxial cable and the second electrode is a sliding translatory contact.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one end of the coaxial cable comprises an abutment which cooperates with a wall of an internal cavity of the first segment so as to bound a travel of the one end of the coaxial cable on a side with the articulated link.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The electric well stimulation tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electrical contact between the outer envelope of the coaxial cable and the second electrode in the geometric space defined by the first segment comprises an annular part surrounding the outer envelope and rotationally fixed to the coaxial cable, the annular part is in sliding contact with the second electrode in the geometric space defined by the first segment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein the annular part comprises a plurality of contact fingers distributed about the annular part, the plurality of contact fingers bearing against an inner surface of the second electrode in the geometric space defined by the first segment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable is movable in rotation inside the first segment and the electrical contacts in the geometric space defined by the first segment are sliding rotational contacts.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a damper configured to hold the coaxial cable immobile in rotation and in translation inside the second segment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the articulated link is a link of ball joint type.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 1 is formed by a plurality of segments assembled end to end in a reversible manner.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A well stimulation device, comprising the electric well simulation tool as claimed in claim 1 and an electrical source connected to the electric well stimulation tool.