US 4,391,337 A · High-velocity jet and propellant fracture device for gas and oil well production

Abstract

An integrated jet perforation and controlled propellant fracture device and method for enhancing production in oil or gas wells, wherein the device is inserted in a well bore to the level of a geological production structure; the fracturing device being constructed with a cylindrical housing of variable cross-section and wall-thickness with the housing filled with combustible propellant gas generating materials surrounding specially oriented and spaced shaped charges, having an abrasive material distributed within the propellant filled volume along the device length to produce enhanced perforations with attendant pressure-controlled gas and fluid injection into the perforations to produce controlled frac entry at point or points desired in the producing zones of the well bore, wherein a high velocity jet penetrates the production zone of the well bore initiating fractures, and is simultaneously followed by a high pressure propellant material which amplifies and propagates the jet initiated fractures.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An integrated jet perforation and controlled propellant fracture device for use in combination with a conventional tamping means to enhance gas and liquid wells by perforating and fracturing well formation materials comprising:

a housing having suspension means for locating said housing at a predetermined location in a well;
at least one jet perforation unit contained in said housing having a launchable projectile jet and an explosive charge means for launching said projectile jet;
a controlled-burn, gas propellant material contained in said housing proximate said jet perforation unit;
and
firing means for igniting said propellant material and detonating said charge means in a substantially simultaneous manner, said propellant material having the characteristic on ignition of generating gases which instantaneously follow said jet, said gases having a pressure pulse to augment and enhance fractures in a geological structure around the well which are initiated by said jet, wherein in use in a well having tamping means said device is constructed and arranged to produce gases having a pressure pulse peak below the plastic flow limit of the well formation materials.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High-velocity jet and propellant fracture device for gas and oil well production

Life of this patent

High-velocity jet and propellant fracture device for gas and oil well production

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9