Apparatus for generating hydraulic shock waves in a well

Patent · Tue Mar 05 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5495924

Stock, W E

This patent describes an apparatus for the discharge of electrical energy into a fluid bearing formation of a borehole to produce a hydraulic shock wave for assisting in the removal of fluid from the formation. It comprises: a bank of capacitors positioned at a surface location for the storage of electrical energy; a source of electrical energy to provide electrical energy to the bank of capacitors; a tool positioned within the borehole adjacent the formation; and an electrical cable extending between the bank of capacitors and the tool for supplying electrical energy to the tool; the tool having an upper end portion containing an upper electrode and a spaced lower end portion containing a lower electrode, the electrodes being in opposed spaced relation and defining a spark gap therebetween. The upper end portion of the tool having a plurality of tubular sections threadedly connected to each other in end to end relation; the cable including a central electrical conductor and a ground conduit insulated from the central electrical conductor. The electrical ground conduct having ends secured to one of the tool sections of the upper end portion, the lowermost section of the tool sections having the electrode thereon connected to the conductor; the electrical cable having an outer protective sheath secured to the uppermost of the sections of the upper end portion for anchoring the cable and supporting the tool. This patent also describes the method of assembling a tool. It comprises: providing a separate insulating sleeve; mounting the separate insulating sleeve about the upper positive electrode prior to the mounting of the cage assembly to the upper tool section.

• Assignee: NOV; EDB-91-121735; NOV-91-018010
• Patent Number(s): US 4997044; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-444300
• OSTI ID: 5495924
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
COMMINUTION
DESIGN
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
FRACTURING
HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
RECOVERY
SHOCK WAVES
STIMULATION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS