Control module for a detonation sub and a detonation sub
AssigneeChris Brace
InventorsChris Brace, Dave Rusnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control module for a detonation sub includes a control circuit having a switch, a power supply input, a timer circuit, and a detonation signal output electrically connected to a detonator. A power supply is selectively connected in electrical communication to the power supply input. A timer circuit is initialized by activating the switch prior to connecting the power supply and deactivating the switch within an activation time. Once initialized, the timer circuit generates a detonation signal after a detonation time.
Claims23
A control module for a detonation sub, comprising:
- a control circuit having a switch, a power supply input, a timer circuit, and a detonation signal output electrically connected to a detonator;
- and
- a power supply that is selectively connected in electrical communication to the power supply input;
- wherein the timer circuit is initialized by activating the switch prior to connecting the power supply and deactivating the switch within an activation time, wherein, once initialized, the timer circuit generates a detonation signal after a detonation time.
A detonation sub, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a control module, comprising:
- a control circuit having a switch, a power supply input, a timer circuit, and a detonation signal output;
- wherein the timer circuit is initialized by activating the switch prior to connecting the power supply and deactivating the switch within an activation time, wherein, once initialized, the timer circuit generates a detonation signal after a detonation time;
- a detonator electrically connected to receive a detonation signal from the detonation signal output;
- and
- an explosive charge that is detonated by the detonator.
A slickline tool, comprising:
- a slickline having a connection point;
- a detonation sub connected to the connection point such that the detonation sub is carried by to the slickline, the detonation sub comprising:
- a power supply;
- a control module, comprising:
- a control circuit having a switch, a power supply input selectively connected to the power supply, a timer circuit, and a detonation signal output;
- wherein the timer circuit is initialized by activating the switch prior to connecting the power supply and deactivating the switch within an activation time, wherein, once initialized, the timer circuit generates a detonation signal after a detonation time;
- a detonator electrically connected to receive a detonation signal from the detonation signal output;
- and
- an explosive charge that is detonated by the detonator.
A method of operating a detonation sub, the detonation sub comprising a control circuit having a switch, a power supply input, a timer circuit, and a detonation signal output, the method comprising the steps of:
- initiating the timer circuit by:
- with the switch activated, connecting a power supply to the power supply input;
- with the power supply connected to the power supply input, deactivating the switch within an activation time, such that the timer circuit begins timing a detonation time period, the control circuit being adapted to conduct periodic diagnostic checks during the activation time and the detonation time period to detect faults, and to deactivate if a fault is detected;
- lowering the detonation sub downhole to a desired location;
- once the detonation time period ends, permitting the control circuit to generate a detonation signal at the detonation signal output if no faults have been detected;
- and
- deactivating the control circuit after the detonation signal has been generated whether detonation has occurred or not.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.