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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
DIGITAL PERFORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/163863
Kind Code:
A4
Abstract:
A completion system for perforating a tubular string positioned in a wellbore includes a tool string positionable in the wellbore, wherein the tool string includes a first perforating gun and a plurality of digital switches, a control system connectable to the tool string, wherein the control system is configured to generate a plurality of unique identifiers for each switch of the plurality of switches, assign each of the plurality of unique identifiers to one of the plurality of switches, and transmit a signal to a first switch of the plurality of switches including a first unique identifier of the plurality of unique identifiers to actuate the first perforating gun and perforate the tubular string, wherein the first unique identifier is assigned to the first switch.

Inventors:
KNIGHT BENJAMIN VASCAL (US)
EDWARDS SCOTT (US)
MOSKAL JAMES EDWARD (US)
HANSEN CHRISTOPHER P (US)
SOBOTKA JEFF M (US)
LEWIS RACHEL DANIELLE (US)
RUDNAI ALAN S (US)
HILL JARVIS WARD (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2020/017508
Publication Date:
September 10, 2020
Filing Date:
February 10, 2020
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
G&H DIVERSIFIED MFG LP (US)
International Classes:
E21B43/119; E21B41/00; E21B43/116
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
HOOPER, James A. et al. (US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
AMENDED CLAIMS

received by the International Bureau on 10 August 2020 (10.08.2020)

In the Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A completion system for perforating a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, comprising:

a tool string positionable in the wellbore, wherein the tool string comprises a first perforating gun and a plurality of digital switches;

a control system connectable to the tool string, wherein the control system is configured to:

generate a plurality of unique identifiers for each switch of the plurality of switches;

assign each of the plurality of unique identifiers to the plurality of switches; and transmit a signal to a first switch of the plurality of switches comprising a first unique identifier of the plurality of unique identifiers to actuate the first perforating gun and perforate the tubular string, wherein the first unique identifier is assigned to the first switch.

2. The completion system of claim 1 , wherein:

a plurality of unique seed values are stored in a memory of the control system, and wherein the plurality of identifiers comprise a plurality of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values; and

the control system is configured to generate the plurality of CRC values using the plurality of unique seed values.

3. The completion of claim 2, wherein each CRC value comprises at least one of 8- bits and 16-bits.

4. The completion system of claim 2, wherein the control system is configured to: assign a first CRC value of the plurality of CRC values to the first switch; and generate the first CRC value by dividing a data block by a generator polynomial.

5. The completion system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of switches comprises a second switch and a third switch, wherein the second switch is positioned between a wireline connected to the tool string and the

50 first switch, and wherein the third switch is positioned between the first switch and a downhole plug of the tool string; and

the second switch comprises an open configuration configured to restrict the communication of signals between the control system and both the first switch and the third switch, and a closed configuration configured to permit the communication of signals between the control system and both the first switch and the third switch.

6. The completion system of claim 5, wherein:

the tool string comprises a setting tool comprising an initiator assembly configured to set the downhole plug of the tool string;

the third switch is configured to initiate the initiator assembly in response to receiving a first arming signal from the control system;

the control system is configured to assign a second unique identifier and a third unique identifier of the plurality of unique identifiers to the third switch; and

the third switch is configured to initiate a detonator assembly associated with a second perforating gun of the tool string in response to receiving a second arming signal from the control system, wherein the first arming signal comprises the second unique identifier and the second arming signal comprises the third unique identifier.

7. The completion system of claim 6, wherein:

the second switch comprises an accelerometer; and

the control system is configured to detect the actuation of at least one of the setting tool, the first perforating gun, and the second perforating gun based on measurements provided by the accelerometer of the second switch.

8. The completion system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch comprises a central axis, a printed circuit board (PCB), a first electrical connector positioned at a first end of the PCB, a second electrical connector positioned at a second end of the PCB, and an electrical ground contact extending radially outward from the central axis, and wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector each extend along the central axis.

9. The completion system of claim 8, wherein the PCB is encased within a damping material.

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10. The completion system of claim 6, wherein the second switch is configured to actuate from the open configuration to the closed configuration in response to receiving a signal transmitted from the control system whereby a field-effect transistor (FET) of the second switch closes.

11. The completion system of claim 10, wherein the second switch comprises a fuseable component configured to open the FET in response to a failure of the FET.

12. A method for perforating a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, comprising:

(a) assembling a tool string comprising a first perforating gun and a plurality of digital switches;

(b) generating a plurality of unique identifiers for each switch of the plurality of switches;

(c) assigning each of the plurality of unique identifiers to the plurality of switches;

(d) lowering the tool string through the wellbore; and

(e) transmitting a signal to a first switch of the plurality of switches comprising a first unique identifier of the plurality of unique identifiers to actuate the first perforating gun and perforate the tubular string, wherein the first unique identifier is assigned to the first switch.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein (b) comprises generating a plurality of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values using a plurality of unique seed values stored in a memory of the control system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each CRC value comprises at least one of 8- bits and 16-bits.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein (b) comprises generating a first CRC value of the plurality of CRC values by dividing a data block by a generator polynomial.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein: the plurality of switches comprises a second switch and a third switch, wherein the second switch is positioned between a wireline connected to the tool string and the first switch, and wherein the third switch is positioned between the first switch and a downhole plug of the tool string; and

the method further comprises:

(f) transmitting a signal to the second switch to actuate the second switch from an open configuration configured to restrict communication of signals between a control system positioned at the surface of the wellbore and both the first switch and the third switch to a closed configuration configured to permit the communication of signals between the control system and both the first switch and the third switch.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

(b) comprises assigning a second unique identifier and a third unique identifier of the plurality of unique identifiers to the third switch; and

wherein the method further comprises:

(g) transmitting a first arming signal to a third switch to initiate an initiator assembly of a setting tool and set the downhole plug of the tool string; and

(h) transmitting a second arming signal to the third switch to initiate a detonator assembly associated with a second perforating gun of the tool string, wherein the first arming signal comprises the second unique identifier and the second arming signal comprises the third unique identifier.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(i) detecting the actuation of at least one of the setting tool, the first perforating gun, and the second perforating gun based on measurements provided by an accelerometer of the second switch.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch comprises a central axis, a printed circuit board (PCB), a first electrical connector positioned at a first end of the PCB, a second electrical connector positioned at a second end of the PCB, and an electrical ground contact extending radially outward from the central axis, and wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector each extend along the central axis.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the PCB is encased within a damping material.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

(i) transmitting a signal to the second switch to close a field-effect transistor (FET) of the second switch whereby the second switch is actuated from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the second switch comprises a fuseable component configured to open the FET in response to a failure of the FET.

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