System and method for reduction of an effect of a tube wave

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10024146-B2
Application number	US-201414230399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	Aug 12, 2011
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A tube wave reduction system for a borehole includes a tubular member; one or more openings in the tubular member, the one or more openings having a through-passage and a deformation region surrounding the through-passage; and an absorber in fluid communication with the one or more openings. Also included is a method for reducing an effect of a tube wave.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tube wave reduction system for a borehole comprising:
a tubular member comprising a wall and an open inside diameter that offers no restriction to axial flow therethrough and has a structure conducive to propagation of a tube wave;
one or more openings in the wall of the tubular member, the one or more openings being configured to maintain a relatively smaller through-passage at ambient pressures and change to a relatively larger through passage responsive to a pressure higher within the tubular member than without the tubular member when a tube wave arrives at the one or more openings during use; and
a deformation region of the wall of the tubular member adjacent one or more through-passages of the one or more openings, the deformation region being configured to deform in response to the arrival of the tube wave to facilitate the relatively larger through-passage and resiliently return to the relatively smaller through-passage after dissipation of the tube wave.

2. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformation region tapers to a thin walled section of the tubular member adjacent an opening of the one or more openings.

3. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformation region is a material difference of the tubular member.

4. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformation region is an elastomer.

5. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformation region includes a lead in configuration.

6. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system passes fluid axially during ambient pressure operation and passes at least fluid pressure radially during pressure events exceeding ambient pressure for the system.

7. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system further includes an absorber.

8. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the absorber is an elastic material.

9. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the absorber is an inelastic material.

10. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the absorber is loosely disposed about the one or more openings.

11. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the absorber defines with the tubular member a chamber.

12. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the absorber is a metal bellows.

13. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the absorber comprises a high-friction flow-through material.

14. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the high-friction flow-through material is foam.

15. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the absorber further comprises a material radially outwardly of the high-friction flow through-material.

16. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more openings are radially oriented.

17. A tube wave reduction system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system includes a microannulus in fluid communication with the one or more openings.

18. A method for protecting equipment comprising:
containing fluid within the system claimed in claim 1 ;
burping at least pressure from a tube wave occurring within the system through the one or more openings in the tubular member by deforming the deformation region adjacent the one or more through-passages of the one or more openings to change the through-passages from the relatively small through-passage to the larger through-passage in response to the arrival of the tube wave wherein a pressure spike attendant the tube wave facilitates deformation of the deformation region to the relatively larger through-passage;
absorbing energy from the tube wave by conveying pressure from the tube wave through the one or more openings thereby reducing a magnitude of the tube wave, and
resiliently returning the deformation region to the relatively smaller through-passage after the absorbing of the tube wave; and
reducing an effect of the tube wave propagating along the tubular member.

19. A method for reducing an effect of a tube wave as claimed in claim 18 wherein the absorbing includes expanding a material in fluid communication with the one or more openings, the material defining a chamber with the tubular member.

20. A method for reducing an effect of a tube wave as claimed in claim 18 wherein the absorbing includes flowing fluid through a high-friction flow-through material in fluid communication with the one or more openings.

Assignees

• Duphorne Darin H
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Duphorne Darin H

Classifications

• F16L55/054 Primary

  the reservoir being placed in or around the pipe from which it is separated by a sleeve-shaped membrane · CPC title

• E21B41/00

  Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00 · CPC title

• E21B43/12 Primary

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title

• F16L55/043

  specially adapted for protecting instruments from water hammer or vibrations · CPC title

• F16L55/0337

  by means of a flexible connection · CPC title