Perforation Gun String Energy Propagation Management with Tuned Mass Damper

Abstract

A perforation tool assembly comprises a perforation gun, and a mass energy absorber coupled to the perforation gun. The mass energy absorber is configured to alter the propagation of mechanical energy released by firing one or more perforation guns. The mass energy absorber comprises a mass and at least one absorber, and the at least one absorber is disposed between the mass and the perforating gun.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A perforation tool assembly, comprising
 a perforation gun; and   a mass energy absorber coupled to the perforation gun and configured to alter the propagation of mechanical energy released by firing one or more perforation guns, wherein the mass energy absorber comprises a mass and at least one absorber, and wherein the at least one absorber is disposed between the mass and the perforating gun.   
     
     
         2 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mass comprises at least 80% by weight tungsten or depleted uranium. 
     
     
         3 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorber is configured to alter shock waves associated with a plurality of time separated perforation gun firings. 
     
     
         4 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorber is a crushable material. 
     
     
         5 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorber is a frangible material. 
     
     
         6 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorber is a material that deforms non-restoratively. 
     
     
         7 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one absorber comprises a first absorber on a first end of the mass energy absorber and a second absorber on a second end of the mass energy absorber. 
     
     
         8 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first absorber has a different compliance than the second absorber. 
     
     
         9 . A perforation tool assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of perforation guns; and   a mass energy absorber disposed between at least two of the plurality of perforation guns, wherein the mass energy absorber is configured to reduce the propagation of mechanical energy across the mass energy absorber, wherein the mass energy absorber comprises a mass and at least one absorber, and where the mechanical energy is released by firing one or more perforation guns.   
     
     
         10 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the mass comprises one or more of tungsten or depleted uranium. 
     
     
         11 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one absorber is a material that deforms non-restoratively. 
     
     
         12 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one absorber is at least one of a crushable material or a frangible material. 
     
     
         13 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the mass energy absorber comprises a first absorber and a second absorber, wherein the first and second absorber are configured to absorb energy and reduce the mechanical energy that propagates across the mass energy absorber. 
     
     
         14 . The perforation tool assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first absorber has a different mechanical energy absorption characteristic from the second absorber. 
     
     
         15 . A method of perforating a casing string in a wellbore, comprising:
 modeling a wellbore;   modeling a perforation tool assembly, wherein the perforation tool assembly comprises at least one perforation gun and a mass energy absorber;   simulating firing the at least one perforation gun;   designing the mass energy absorber based on the simulating;   firing the first perforation gun when the first perforating gun is disposed in a wellbore; and   attenuating a mechanical energy that propagates across the mass energy absorber, wherein the mechanical energy is associated with firing the first perforation gun.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein designing the mass energy absorber comprises designing a crushable component based on the simulating. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein designing the mass energy absorber comprises designing a frangible component based on the simulating. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein designing the mass energy absorber comprises designing the mass energy absorber to attenuate mechanical energy that propagates across the mass energy absorber at different times, wherein the different times are separated by at least 1 second. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein designing the mass energy absorber comprises selecting from a plurality of dense materials based on an analysis of energy attenuation and cost of the dense material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the dense materials are selected from tungsten and depleted uranium.