Downhole pressure wave generating device
AssigneeOptimum Petroleum Services Inc.
InventorJames G. Gettis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for generating pressure waves in a well or a wellbore is described. The device includes a housing containing an impact-generating mechanism for generating the pressure waves and a connector for connecting the housing to a conveyor for transporting the device to any desired location within the well or the wellbore. The device may be used for a number of downhole applications such as cleaning perforations, fracturing processes, vibration of a casing to prevent fluid flow in a cemented annulus, hydraulic jar operations for freeing stuck downhole objects, generating data to optimize pumping parameters and as an enhancement to percussion drilling techniques.
Claims23
A device for generating pressure waves in a well or a wellbore, the device comprising:
- a housing containing an impact-generating mechanism for generating the pressure waves, wherein the impact-generating mechanism comprises a piston contained within a cylinder, the piston configured to impact an upper surface of an anvil;
- and
- a connector for connecting the housing to a conveyor for transporting the device to any desired location within the well or the wellbore
- wherein the device is configured to prevent ingress of working fluid into spaces of the device located above the anvil.
A system for generating downhole pressure waves, the system comprising:
- A device connected to an end of a length of coiled tubing, the device comprising:
- a housing containing an impact-generating mechanism for generating the pressure waves, wherein the impact-generating mechanism comprises a piston contained within a cylinder, the piston configured to impact an upper surface of an anvil;
- and
- a connector for connecting the housing to a conveyor for transporting the device to any desired location within the well or the wellbore;
- and
- a pressure-controllable air supply unit for conveying pressurized air to the device via the coiled tubing,
- wherein the device is configured to switch between a low-pressure purge mode and a cycling operating sequence when the air supply unit is controlled to provide an air pressure in the device which is above a pre-determined threshold pressure.
A device for generating pressure waves in a well or a wellbore, the device comprising:
- a housing containing an impact-generating mechanism for generating the pressure waves, wherein the impact-generating mechanism comprises a piston contained within a cylinder, the piston configured to impact an upper surface of an anvil which comprises a constricted middle portion and a flared bottom portion, wherein the anvil comprises a constricted middle portion and a flared bottom portion;
- a connector for connecting the housing to a conveyor for transporting the device to any desired location within the well or the wellbore;
- and
- one or more seals between an outer sidewall of the anvil above the constricted middle portion and the inner sidewall of the pressure wave outlet, wherein working fluid contacts the anvil below the one or more seals.
A device for generating pressure waves in a well or a wellbore, the device comprising:
- a housing containing an impact-generating mechanism for generating the pressure waves, wherein the impact-generating mechanism comprises a piston contained within a cylinder, the piston configured to impact an upper surface of an anvil;
- and
- a connector for connecting the housing to a conveyor for transporting the device to any desired location within the well or the wellbore;
- wherein the anvil further comprises an upper radial extension below the upper surface of the anvil, wherein a lower surface of the upper radial extension is adjacent to an upper surface of the pressure wave outlet;
- wherein the pneumatic control system is further configured to provide a gas spring between the lower surface of the upper radial extension of the anvil and the upper surface of the pressure wave outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.