Modular propellant assembly for fracturing wells
OwnerJohn P. Tiernan, Richard S. Passamaneck +2inventors
InventorsJohn P. Tiernan, Richard S. Passamaneck, Lynn Frazier, Dany Normand
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular propellant assembly for fracturing wells has a propellant charge with a detonating cord extending along its length to ignite the propellant. Each propellant module also has end caps with male and female connectors that enable propellant modules to be connected in an end-to-end relationship to any desired length. These connectors align the ends of the detonating cords in adjacent propellant modules and are sealed with O-rings so that the detonating cords remains dry while submerged at high pressures. This enables the detonating cords to be ignited in series.
Claims19
A modular propellant assembly for fracturing wells comprising:
- a propellant charge;
- a detonating cord extending along the propellant charge and having an upper end and a lower end;
- an upper end connector for engaging a complementary end connector on an adjacent propellant module to align and seal the upper end of the detonating cord with the lower end of the detonating cord of an adjacent propellant module;
- and
- a lower end connector for engaging a complementary end connector on an adjacent propellant module to align and seal the lower end of the detonating cord with the upper end of the detonating cord of an adjacent propellant module.
A modular propellant assembly for fracturing wells comprising:
- a propellant charge;
- a tube extending along the propellant charge and having opposing ends;
- a detonating cord within the tube;
- and
- end connectors for engaging complementary end connectors on adjacent propellant modules and for aligning and sealing the ends of the tube with the ends of the tubes of adjacent propellant modules, so that the detonating cords of each propellant module can be ignited in series.
A modular propellant assembly for fracturing wells comprising:
- a propellant charge;
- a carrier containing the propellant charge and having upper and lower ends, and perforations allowing combustion gases to escape from the propellant charge;
- a tube extending along the propellant charge inside the carrier;
- a detonating cord within the tube;
- and
- end connectors at the ends of the carrier for engaging complementary end connectors on adjacent propellant modules in an end-to-end relationship, wherein one of the end connectors is a male connector and the other end connector is a female connector, with both end connectors having openings for aligning and sealing the ends of the tube with the ends of the tubes of adjacent propellant modules, so that the detonating cords of each propellant module can be ignited in series.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.