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US 10,538,993 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for perforating a wellbore casing, and method and apparatus for fracturing a formation
AssigneeSc Asset Corporation
InventorWilliam Jani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for selectively actuating sliding sleeves in sub members which are placed downhole in a wellbore, to open ports in such sub members to allow fracking of the wellbore, or to detonate explosive charges thereon for perforating a wellbore, or both. A simplified dart and sleeve is used which reduces machining operations on each. The dart is preferably provided with coupling means to permit a retrieval tool to be coupled thereto, which upon the retrieval tool being so coupled allows a bypass valve to operate to assist in withdrawing the dart from within the valve subs. Upward movement of the retrieval tool allows a wedge-shaped member to disengage the dart member from a corresponding sleeve to allow the dart to be withdrawn.
Claims15
An apparatus for perforating a wellbore casing when inserted in a wellbore surrounded by said casing, comprising:
- (i) a hollow cylindrical valve sub member for placement in said wellbore casing, having coupling means at opposite ends thereof and having an inner bore, and further having a radial frac port in a periphery thereof which when open allows egress of frac fluid from within said inner bore of said valve sub member to an exterior of said hollow cylindrical valve sub member and into a region intermediate said hollow cylindrical valve sub member and said casing of said well bore;
- (ii) a hollow cylindrical slidable sleeve within said sub member, longitudinally slidable within said bore of said sub member from a first uphole position therein covering said frac port in said valve sub member to a second downhole position therein uncovering said frac port in said valve sub member so as to establish a fluid communication from said inner bore of said valve sub member via said frac port to said exterior of said hollow cylindrical valve sub member and to said region intermediate said hollow cylindrical valve sub member and said casing of said well bore;
- (iii) a shear member which initially fixes said slidable sleeve to said bore and maintains said slidable sleeve in said first position;
- (iv) a directional shaped explosive charge within or on a portion of an exterior of said slidable sleeve or said sub member;
- and
- (v) actuation means for actuating said directional shaped explosive charge upon slidable displacement of said slidable sleeve from said first position to said second position, wherein said actuation means for actuating said directional shaped explosive charge comprises a source of electrical energy coupled to said explosive charge via an electrical circuit which is in contact with said slidable sleeve so as to close the electrical circuit upon displacement of said slidable sleeve from said first position to said second position, or a percussion pin member on and slidable with said slidable sleeve to mechanically actuate and cause detonation of said explosive charge upon displacement of said slidable sleeve from said first position to said second position.
3 more elements
A method for perforating a casing of a wellbore, comprising the steps of:
- (i) inserting a hollow cylindrical sub member in said wellbore casing, said sub member having:
- (a) coupling means at opposite ends thereof and an inner bore;
- (b) a frac port in a periphery of said sub member, having a hollow cylindrical slidable sleeve within said sub member, longitudinally slidable within said bore of said sub member from a first uphole position therein covering said frac port in said valve sub member to a second downhole position uncovering said frac port in said valve sub member;
- (c) shear means which initially fixes said slidable sleeve to said bore and maintains said slidable sleeve in said first position;
- (d) a directional shaped explosive charge within or on a portion of an exterior of said slidable sleeve or said sub member;
- and
- (e) actuation means for actuating said directional shaped explosive charge upon and at the time of said slidable sleeve being displaced from said first position to said second position, wherein said actuation means for actuating said directional shaped explosive charge comprises a source of electrical energy being coupled to said explosive charge via an electrical circuit which is in contact with said slidable sleeve so as to close the electrical circuit upon said slidable member being moved from said first position to said second position, or a percussion pin member on and slidable with said slidable sleeve mechanically acutates and causes detonation of said explosive charge upon said slidable sleeve being moved from said first position to said second position;
- (ii) inserting a dart in said bore of said cylindrical member, said dart having engaging means thereon for engaging said slidable sleeve and causing downhole movement of said slidable sleeve when fluid pressure is applied to said dart from said first position to said second position;
- and
- (iii) providing fluid pressure at an uphole end of said dart and causing said slidable sleeve to move from said first uphole position to said second position thereby uncovering said frac port in said sub member and establishing a fluid communication from said inner bore of said valve sub member via said frac port to said exterior of said hollow cylindrical valve sub member and to said region intermediate said hollow cylindrical valve sub member and said casing of said well bore, and further actuating said actuation means so as to:
- (a) coupling said source of electrical energy to said explosive charge;
- or
- (b) moving said percussion pin member via moving said slidable member from said first position to said second position to contact said explosive charge;
- and
- detonating said directional shaped explosive charge.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.