Propellant fracturing system for wells
AssigneePropellant Fracturing & Stimulation, LLC
InventorsJohn P. Tiernan, Guy B. Spear, Don Landis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fracturing system for wells has a propellant charge having a known surface area for combustion, and a combustion rate as a function of pressure with lower combustion rates at lower pressures and rapidly increasing combustion rates at higher pressures separated by a knee in the combustion rate function. The propellant charge is initially sealed within a vessel as it is inserted into a well. The system also includes means for creating openings in the vessel on ignition of the propellant charge in the well, such that the openings have a known combined flow area selected to create a condition of choked flow of combustion gases from within the vessel and maintain pressures within the vessel below the knee in the combustion rate function.
Claims13
A fracturing system for a well comprising:
- a propellant charge having a known surface area for combustion, and having a combustion rate as a function of pressure with lower combustion rates at lower pressures and rapidly increasing combustion rates at higher pressures separated by a knee in the combustion rate function;
- a vessel for insertion into a well with the propellant charge initially sealed within the vessel;
- and
- means for creating openings in the vessel on ignition of the propellant charge in the well, wherein the openings have a combined flow area selected to create a condition of choked flow of combustion gases produced by the propellant charge from within the vessel and maintain pressures within the vessel below the knee in the combustion rate function.
A fracturing system for a well comprising:
- a propellant charge having a known surface area for combustion, and having a combustion rate as a function of pressure with lower combustion rates at lower pressures and rapidly increasing combustion rates at higher pressures separated by a knee in the combustion rate function;
- a vessel for insertion into a well with the propellant charge initially sealed within the vessel;
- and
- perforating charges for creating openings in the vessel and perforating the well, wherein the openings have a combined flow area selected to create a condition of choked flow of combustion gases produced by the propellant charge from within the vessel and maintain pressures within the vessel below the knee in the combustion rate function.
A fracturing system for a well comprising:
- a propellant charge having a known surface area for combustion, and having a combustion rate as a function of pressure with lower combustion rates at lower pressures and rapidly increasing combustion rates at higher pressures separated by a knee in the combustion rate function;
- a vessel for insertion into a well with the propellant charge initially sealed within the vessel;
- and
- means for creating openings in the vessel in response to pressure created by combustion gases after ignition of the propellant charge, wherein the openings have a combined flow area selected to create a condition of choked flow of combustion gases produced by the propellant charge from within the vessel and maintain pressures within the vessel below the knee in the combustion rate function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.