Explosive pellet
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsGary L. Rytlewski, Jorge Lopez De Cardenas, Raymond Dickes, Philip Kneisl, Timothy A. Andrzejak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An explosive pellet for characterizing a fracture in a subterranean formation is provided. The pellet can include a casing having a detonation material and an explosive material disposed within the casing. The pellet can also include a nonexplosive material moveably disposed within the casing. Movement of the nonexplosive material can generate a predetermined amount of energy in the form of friction-generated heat sufficient to detonate the explosive material.
Claims13
An explosive pellet, comprising:
- a casing;
- a detonation material disposed within the casing;
- an explosive material disposed within the casing;
- and
- a nonexplosive material moveably disposed within the casing, wherein movement of the nonexplosive material generates a predetermined amount of energy in the form of friction-generated heat sufficient to detonate the explosive material, wherein the nonexplosive material has an internal volume and an ignition material disposed within the internal volume.
A method for characterizing a fracture in a subterranean formation, comprising:
- introducing a fluid having a plurality of pellets disposed therein into a wellbore, each pellet comprising:
- a casing having an opening disposed at an end thereof and a cap covering the opening;
- a detonation material disposed within the casing;
- an explosive material disposed within the casing;
- and
- a nonexplosive material moveably disposed within the casing, wherein movement of the nonexplosive material generates a predetermined amount of energy in the form of friction-generated heat sufficient to detonate the explosive material, wherein the nonexplosive material has an internal volume and an ignition material disposed within the internal volume;
- increasing a pressure of the fluid to form the fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of the pellets are disposed within the fracture;
- exploding at least a portion of the pellets;
- receiving one or more signals from the exploded pellets,
- degradeing at least a portion of a first end of the cap;
- moving the cap within the casing and toward the detonation material;
- and
- striking the detonation material with a protrusion disposed on a second end of the cap.
A method for characterizing a fracture in a subterranean formation, comprising:
- introducing a fluid having a plurality of pellets disposed therein into a wellbore, each pellet comprising:
- a casing having an opening disposed at an end thereof and a cap covering the opening;
- a detonation material disposed within the casing;
- an explosive material disposed within the casing;
- and
- a nonexplosive material moveably disposed within the casing, wherein movement of the nonexplosive material generates a predetermined amount of energy in the form of friction-generated heat sufficient to detonate the explosive material, wherein the nonexplosive material has an internal volume and an ignition material disposed within the internal volume;
- increasing a pressure of the fluid to form the fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of the pellets are disposed within the fracture;
- exploding at least a portion of the pellets;
- receiving one or more signals from the exploded pellets,
- degrading at least a portion of a pin disposed at least partially through the cap;
- moving the cap within the casing and toward the detonation material;
- and
- striking the detonation material with a protrusion disposed on an end of the cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.