Self-contained gas impulse creation

Abstract

A self-contained gas impulse apparatus includes a gas impulse unit for generating a plurality of gas blasts when supplied with pressurized gas. A gas supply unit is connected by a gas conduit to the gas impulse unit. The gas supply unit is configured to be remotely activated to supply pressurized gas via the conduit to the gas impulse unit. The self-contained gas impulse apparatus is transportable by a cable to and from a remote location for operation at the remote location.

1 . A self-contained gas impulse apparatus comprising:
 a gas impulse unit for generating a plurality of gas blasts when supplied with pressurized gas; and   a gas supply unit connected by a gas conduit to the gas impulse unit, the gas supply unit being configured to be remotely activated to supply pressurized gas via the conduit to the gas impulse unit,   wherein the self-contained gas impulse apparatus is transportable by a cable to and from a remote location for operation at the remote location.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is connected to the cable. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cable includes a wireline or a slickline. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply unit comprises a compressed gas storage unit that is fillable with a compressed gas. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the compressed gas storage unit includes a barrier to initially prevent flow of the compressed gas from the compressed gas storage unit to the gas impulse unit and an activation device for opening the barrier. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the activation device comprises a squib. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the barrier comprises a piston or a sealing disk. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply unit comprises a gas generator unit that is fillable with a gas generation material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the gas generator unit is activable by initiation of a gas-generating reaction in the gas generation material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the gas generation material includes a solid propellant. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising an igniter for initiating the reaction. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the gas generation material comprises a liquefied gas. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply unit is configured to hang below the gas impulse unit when being transported to or from the remote location. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be lowered to the remote location at a depth of at least 50 meters within a well. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply unit is configured to be remotely activated via an electrically conducting wire. 
     
     
         16 . A method for generating gas impulses at a remote location, the method comprising:
 providing a self-contained gas impulse apparatus that includes a gas impulse unit and a gas supply unit that is connected to the gas impulse unit by a gas conduit;   using a cable to transport the apparatus to the remote location; and   activating the gas supply unit to supply pressurized gas to the gas impulse unit such that the gas impulse unit generates a plurality of gas blasts.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein using a cable to transport the apparatus comprises lowering the apparatus into a well to a depth of at least 50 meters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein remotely activating the gas supply unit comprises transmitting an activation signal to the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein remotely activating the gas supply unit comprises setting a delay mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein remotely activating the gas supply unit comprises opening a barrier that initially prevents flow of the pressurized gas from the gas supply unit to the gas impulse unit, or initiating a process that generates the pressurized gas within the gas supply unit.