Electrohydraulic movement of downhole components and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10822929-B2
Application number	US-201615368377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2016
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A downhole electrohydraulic movement arrangement including a spark gap device positioned and configured to move a separate component, and an energy source electrically connected to the spark gap device. A method for moving a component in a downhole environment including disposing an electrohydraulic arrangement having a spark gap device and an energy source electrically connected to the spark gap device operably proximate a component, actuating the spark gap device, generating a pressure wave with the spark gap device, and moving the component with the pressure wave. A downhole system including a borehole, a component moved within the borehole by an electrohydraulic arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole electrohydraulic movement arrangement comprising:
a spark gap device positioned and configured to vaporize a fluid to generate a pressure wave that impacts a separate structural component, the pressure wave alone directly causing plastic deformation without rupturing of that separate component from a first position to a second position; and
an energy source electrically connected to the spark gap device.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spark gap device is a plurality of devices.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spark gap device is encapsulated.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein a selected liquid is disposed within the encapsulation.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the liquid is dielectric.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of spark gap devices is individually actuable.

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein each spark gap device is actuatable at different times to produce a sequence of pressure waves.

8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of devices are arranged perimetrically.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of devices are arranged circumferentially.

10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of devices are arranged axially.

11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of devices are arranged in an array.

12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the energy source is a capacitor.

13. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the component is a liner hanger.

14. A method for moving a component in a downhole environment comprising:
disposing an electrohydraulic arrangement having a spark gap device
and an energy source electrically connected to the spark gap device operably proximate a component;
actuating the spark gap device;
vaporizing a fluid to generate a pressure wave with the spark gap device, the pressure wave impacting the component; and
plastically deforming without rupturing the component from a first position to a second position with the pressure wave alone.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the spark gap device is a plurality of devices simultaneously actuated.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the spark gap device is a plurality of devices sequentially actuated.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the sequential actuation is from longitudinal end points of the spark gap devices inwardly.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the sequential actuation is from one longitudinal end of the spark gap devices to the opposite longitudinal end of the spark gap devices.

19. A downhole system comprising:
a borehole;
a structural component moved within the borehole by an electrohydraulic arrangement, the arrangement comprising:
a spark gap device positioned and configured to vaporize a fluid to generate a pressure wave that impacts the structural component, the pressure wave alone directly causing plastic deformation without rupturing of that structural component from a first position to a second position; and
an energy source electrically connected to the spark gap device.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the component is a liner hanger.

Assignees

• Ewing Daniel
• Prieto Carlos
• Hern Christopher Ryan
• Baker Hughes A Ge Co Llc

Inventors

• Ewing Daniel
• Prieto Carlos
• Hern Christopher Ryan

Classifications

• E21B23/0417

  Down-hole non-explosive gas generating means, e.g. by chemical reaction · CPC title

• E21B43/105 Primary

  Expanding tools specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• E21B23/0415 Primary

  using particular fluids, e.g. electro-active liquids · CPC title

• H01T14/00

  Spark gaps not provided for in groups H01T2/00 - H01T13/00 (devices providing for corona discharge H01T19/00) · CPC title

• E21B43/106

  Couplings or joints therefor · CPC title