SEALING BODY FOR WELL PERFORATION OPERATIONS
A sealing body is provided for use in well operations such as oil/gas well perforation operations. The sealing body comprises a shell defining a closed cavity; the shell is comprised of a metal alloy. The sealing body has neutral or positive buoyancy. In one embodiment, the sealing body further comprises a reinforcement structure in the cavity. The reinforcement structure may comprise one or more pairs of ribs adjoining an inner surface of the shell of the sealing body.
1 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations, the sealing body comprising:
a shell defining a closed cavity;
wherein the shell is comprised of a metal alloy; and
wherein specific gravity of the sealing body is less than or equal to 1, where 1 is the specific gravity of water.
2 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 1 wherein the metal alloy is a titanium alloy.
3 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 2 wherein the titanium alloy is Ti-6Al-4V.
4 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 1 , wherein the shell is substantially spherical.
5 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement structure within the cavity.
6 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 5 wherein the reinforcement structure comprises one or more pairs of ribs adjoining an inner surface of the shell.
7 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 6 wherein each rib of the one or more pairs of ribs extends in a circle adjoining the inner surface of the shell and wherein, for each pair, planes of the circles of the ribs are orthogonal.
8 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 6 wherein the ribs are spaced evenly within the cavity.
9 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 6 wherein each rib has a substantially square cross section.
10 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 9 wherein the cross section of each rib is 2 mm×2 mm.
11 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 1 , wherein the shell has:
an inner surface, an outer surface and an outside diameter in a range of 2.25 to 3.5 inches;
a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface in a range of 0.085 to 0.135 inches;
wherein the metal alloy comprises a titanium alloy; and
wherein the specific gravity of the sealing body is less than 1.
12 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 5 , wherein the shell has
an inner surface, an outer surface and an outside diameter in a range of 1.25 to 2.0 inches;
a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface in a range of 0.042 to 0.06 inches.
13 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 5 , wherein the metal alloy is a titanium alloy.
14 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 7 comprising one pair of ribs wherein the planes of the circles of the ribs intersect a center of the sealing body.
15 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 7 wherein:
the outside diameter is in the range of 1.25 to 1.5 inches;
the thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface is in the range of 0.042 to 0.055 inches; and
wherein the metal alloy comprises a titanium alloy.
16 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 7 comprising two pairs of ribs wherein each of the four ribs are offset from a center of the sealing body.
17 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 16 comprising wherein:
the outside diameter is 1.75 inches;
the thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface is 0.055 inches; and
wherein the metal alloy comprises a titanium alloy.
18 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 7 comprising three pairs of ribs wherein four of the six ribs are offset from a center of the sealing body and wherein the planes of the circles of the other two ribs intersect a center of the sealing body.
19 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operation according to claim 18 comprising wherein:
the outside diameter is 2 inches;
the thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface is 0.06 inches; and
wherein the metal alloy comprises a titanium alloy.
20 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 1 wherein the cavity is evacuated of gas or liquid.
21 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operation according to claim 1 wherein the cavity is filled with a gas or a liquid.
22 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 6 wherein the one or more pairs of ribs are comprised of a titanium alloy.
23 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 21 wherein the titanium alloy comprises a Ti-6Al-4V titanium.
24 . A sealing body for use in well perforation operations according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the sealing body comprises an irregular surface.
25 . A method of performing well perforation operations comprising:
introducing a sealing body into a seat positioned in a well bore, the sealing body comprising a shell defining a closed cavity, wherein the shell is comprised of a metal alloy; and wherein specific gravity of the sealing body is less than or equal to 1, where 1 is the specific gravity of water; and
pressurizing a portion of the well bore up-hole from the seat to a predetermined pressure threshold for triggering a perforating gun.