Penetrator for a puncture communication tool and method

Abstract

A penetrator for a Puncture Communication Tool includes a base; a body extending from the base and terminating at a tip; and a fluid bypass disposed in the body. Communicating a hydraulic chamber.

Claims

1. A Puncture and Communication Tool, comprising: a ramp axially translatable within a tubular structure of a wellbore system; a penetrator in operable communication with the ramp, the penetrator responsive to axial translation of the ramp to extend radially to breach a hydraulic fluid chamber of the tubular structure, the penetrator including: a penetrator base; a penetrator body extending from the base and terminating at a penetrator tip; and a fluid bypass disposed in the penetrator body.

2. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid bypass is a narrowed neck of the body.

3. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is hourglass shaped.

4. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid bypass is one or more recesses in the body.

5. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess is positioned in the side of the body.

6. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recess extends to the tip.

7. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid bypass includes one or more passageways extending from the tip toward the base and intersecting one or more cross passageways extending from a side of the body.

8. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more passageways are one or more of coaxial and non-coaxial with the body.

9. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more cross passageways are orthogonally positioned relative to the body.

10. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid bypass is one or more through bores extending from the tip to the base.

11. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 10 wherein the one or more through bores are one or more of coaxial and non-coaxial with the body.

12. A puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the one or more through bores are parallel.

13. A method for communicating a hydraulic chamber with a puncture and communication tool as claimed in claim 1 comprising: urging the penetrator through a wall of a hydraulic fluid chamber to penetrate into the hydraulic fluid chamber; registering a pressure change in the hydraulic fluid chamber without retracting the penetrator.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein fluid flow causing the pressure change flows through a fluid bypass of the penetrator.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fluid bypass is one or more recesses.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fluid bypass is one or more through bores.

17. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fluid bypass is one or more passageways and cross passageways.

18. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fluid bypass is a narrower neck portion of a body of the penetrator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a prior art Puncture Communication Tool in a run in position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the portion of a prior art Puncture Communication Tool of FIG. 1 in an actuated position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a penetrator as described herein;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a penetrator as described herein;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a penetrator as described herein;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a penetrator as described herein; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a penetrator as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) Referring to FIGS. 3-7 simultaneously, one of skill in the art will understand the overarching functional requirement of facilitating immediate fluid communication through the various penetrator 14 configurations upon breach of the hydraulic chamber 16. In each case, a fluid bypass is created even if the penetrator 14 itself remains in the breach that it created in the hydraulic chamber 16.

(10) Referring to FIG. 3, a first embodiment of the penetrator 14 is illustrated in a perspective view. The Penetrator 14 includes a base 20 and a tip 22. The base 20 is of a greater area than the tip 22 more for convenience than for function as the base will interact with the prior art Puncture Communication Tool in the same way that the prior art penetrator did. The tip 22 is configured (shaped and dimensioned) to create the hole into the hydraulic chamber.

(11) Importantly to the embodiment is the configuration of the section between the base and the tip, given the moniker herein of “body” 24. The body 24 is roughly hourglass shaped, with the thinnest portion denoted neck 26. Precisely how radically the hourglass shape is shaped relates to both fluid passage desired and strength of the penetrator 14. The two considerations are juxtaposed to one another. More particularly, the more extreme the hourglass shape (narrower the neck), the more fluid flow is achievable but the weaker the penetrator simply because the amount of material that makes up the smallest diameter along the hourglass shape will be the weak link. Fluid flow will be greater because an annulus formed between the puncture size in the hydraulic chamber (dictated by the tip dimensions) and the neck 26 of the hourglass will have a larger annular dimension as the neck diameter decreases.

(12) In two other illustrated embodiments, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the penetrator 14 comprises base 20 and tip 22 as in FIG. 3 but body 24 is distinct. Body 24 comprises a flared frustoconical structure beginning at the base 20 and ending at the tip 22. This shape is very similar to the prior art penetrator but in the invention, the body 24 is also provided with one or more recesses 30 therein (one illustrated) positioned through a side of the body 24. Such a recess is producible by any number of machining tools that are known to the art. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be appreciated that the recess 30 extends into the surface of tip 22 while that of FIG. 4 does not extend to the surface of tip 22. In either case, the recess 30 provides a fluid pathway through which fluid in the hydraulic chamber 16 may escape thereby facilitating a pressure change thereby confirming penetration of the penetrator in to the hydraulic chamber 16. Communication with the control line is hence assured.

(13) In another embodiment hereof, referring to FIG. 6, the penetrator 14 includes one or more passageways 32 through tip 22 and into body 24. While the one or more passageways 32 is illustrated to originate at tip 22 and extend coaxially with penetrator 14, it need not be so positioned. The opening could be off center and the one or more passageways would be off center and parallel with the axis of penetrator 14 or could be nonparallel with the axis of penetrator 14. The depth of the one or more passageways 32 into body 24 is variable. The one or more passageways 32 is intersected with one or more cross passageways 34 that vent the passageway 32 to a surface of body 24. Although the cross passageways 34 in FIG. 6 are positioned orthogonally to passageway 32, they can be positioned at any angle that allows the fluid in passageway 32 to vent to a surface of body 24. Also, although a single cross passageway is drilled diametrically across body 24, it is noted that the cross passageway 34 could be radially positioned to extend from the passageway 32 to one side of the body 24 instead of both sides. There can also be more cross passageways and they may be at any angle.

(14) Finally, referring to FIG. 7, another alternate embodiment presents one or more through bore 36 from tip 22 to base 20. The one or more through bores may be of varied diameter and can be positioned coaxially or non-coaxially with the penetrator 14. In the case of one or more through bores being non-coaxial, they or it may be in parallel to the axis or may be nonparallel with the axis. In each embodiment fluid will pass the penetrator upon puncturing the hydraulic chamber thereby allowing a pressure change to be perceivable remotely to confirm puncture.

(15) While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.