Shaped power charge with integrated initiator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11761281-B2
Application number	US-202017641855-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2020
Priority date	Oct 1, 2019
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

A power charge for actuating a wellbore tool. Combustion of the power charge generates gas and corresponding gas pressure within the wellbore tool and the power charge and wellbore tool are configured for providing a path to an expansion chamber for the gas pressure. A body of the power charge may have the shape of a regular polygonal cylinder, thus defining flow-paths for the expanding gas. The power charge may include a cylinder of energetic material and an interior space formed within the energetic material and configured for receiving an igniter and/or ignition material. Ignition of the igniter or ignition material results in combustion of the power charge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power charge for actuating a tool in a wellbore, the power charge comprising:
a power charge body comprising energetic material, the power charge body defining a polygonal volume and having a proximal end and a distal end, the power charge body also having an interior space extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, and a cross-sectional shape of the power charge body along a plane perpendicular to a longest axis of the power charge body is a regular polygon;
an igniter holder positioned in the power charge body at the proximal end, the igniter holder comprising an igniter holder top including a plurality resilient tabs; and
an igniter comprising an igniter head and an igniter shell, wherein the igniter head is retained by the plurality of resilient tabs, the igniter head is configured to receive an electronic signal and the igniter shell contains a fuse head configured to receive the electronic signal from the igniter head either directly or via an electrical relay,
wherein the igniter holder occupies the interior space of the power charge body such that an igniter shell space of the power charge substantially encompasses the igniter except for a surface of the igniter head configured to receive the electronic signal.

2. The power charge of claim 1 , wherein the fuse head includes a pyrotechnic material and wherein the electronic signal is sufficient to ignite the pyrotechnic material.

3. The power charge of claim 1 , wherein the interior space includes an enlarged space configured to encompass the igniter holder top and expose the surface of the igniter head configured to receive the electronic signal.

4. The power charge of claim 1 , wherein the interior space and the igniter holder extend approximately 15% to 75% of a length of the power charge body.

5. The power charge of claim 1 , wherein the interior space and the igniter holder extend substantially the entirety of a length of the power charge body.

6. The power charge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power charge container configured to contain the power charge.

7. A wellbore tool comprising:
a power charge disposed in a power charge cavity, power charge comprising a body of energetic material defining a center axis, wherein the body has a proximal end and a distal end, and an indentation formed at the proximal end;
an igniter holder positioned in the power charge body at the proximal end, the igniter holder comprising an igniter holder top including a plurality of resilient tabs configured for retaining an igniter within the igniter holder;
an expansion chamber; and
a fluid flow path from the power charge cavity to the expansion chamber.

8. The wellbore tool of claim 7 , further comprising:
a diverter channel forming at least a portion of the fluid flow path from the power charge cavity to the expansion chamber.

9. The wellbore tool of claim 7 , wherein the igniter further comprises:
an igniter head and an igniter shell, the igniter head being retained by the plurality of resilient tabs and configured to receive an electronic signal and the igniter shell containing a fuse head, the fuse head configured to receive the electronic signal through the igniter head either directly or via an electrical relay.

10. The wellbore tool of claim 9 , wherein the igniter extends from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body, approximately 15% to 75% of a length between the proximal end of the body and the distal end of the body.

11. The wellbore tool of claim 9 , wherein the igniter extends from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body, substantially the entirety of a length between the proximal end of the body and the distal end of the body.

12. The wellbore tool of claim 9 , wherein the igniter is offset from a surface of the proximal end of the power charge.

13. The wellbore tool of claim 9 , wherein a gap extends between the igniter and the power charge.

14. A power charge for actuating a tool in a wellbore, the power charge comprising:
a power charge body comprising energetic material, the power charge body defining a volume and having a proximal end and a distal end, the power charge body also having an interior space extending from the proximal end toward the distal end;
an igniter configured to receive an electrical signal and ignite a fuse head; and
an igniter holder directly attached to the proximal end of the power charge body, wherein the igniter holder comprises an igniter holder top including a plurality of resilient tabs configured to hold the igniter inside the interior space of the power charge body; and
a booster charge positioned in the igniter holder, wherein the booster charge is adjacent a main explosive load of the igniter and spaced apart from the energetic material.

15. The power charge of claim 14 , wherein the booster charge is configured to burn as a result of the burning of the main explosive load and add energy to the fuse head ignition.

16. The power charge of claim 14 , wherein the igniter comprises an igniter shell configured such that the burning of its contents results in a deflagration reaction in the power charge.

17. The power charge of claim 14 , wherein the power charge body has a cross-sectional shape, and the cross-sectional shape is a regular polygon formed on a plane perpendicular to a longest axis of the power charge body.

18. The power charge of claim 14 , further comprising:
a power charge container configured to contain the power charge.

Assignees

• DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH

Inventors

• Loehken Joern Olaf
• Mcnelis Liam
• Will Denis

Classifications

• E21B33/134 Primary

  Bridging plugs · CPC title

• E21B23/065 Primary

  setting tool actuated by explosion or gas generating means · CPC title

• E21B23/04

  operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion (E21B23/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B23/0412

  characterised by pressure chambers, e.g. vacuum chambers · CPC title

• E21B23/0414

  using explosives · CPC title