IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,307,011
Granted Patent B2
US 11,307,011 · App. 17/007,794 · Granted Apr 19, 2022

Electronic initiation simulator

Inventors: Christian Eitschberger (Munich, DE); Sascha Thieltges (Siegburg, DE); Frank Graziola (Königswinter, DE)
Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
F42D1/05F42B3/122F42C15/40F42C15/42F42D1/055H02H3/202
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,307,011
App. No.
17/007,794
Granted
Apr 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic initiation system for use with a firing panel may include an input connector, a plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) operably coupled together in series, and an indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs. A first EIC of the plurality of EICs may be operably coupled to the input connector. The indicator is configured to generate an indication in response to an output of an EIC of the plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition.

Claims (66)

1. An electronic initiation system for use with a firing panel, the electronic initiation system comprising:

an input connector;

a plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) operably coupled together in series, a first EIC of the plurality of EICs being operably coupled to the input connector;

an indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs,

an output connector operably coupled to a sequentially last EIC of the plurality of EICs,

wherein the indicator is configured to generate an indication in response to an output of an EIC of the plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition; and

the output connector is configured to operably couple to an input connector of a second electronic initiation system.

2. The electronic initiation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of EICs are configured to be selectively activated by the firing panel, and each EIC of the plurality of EICs is configured to output an output voltage in response to an activation signal from the firing panel.

3. The electronic initiation system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether the output of the EIC of the plurality of EICs is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage.

4. The electronic initiation system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic initiation system simulates control circuitry of perforation guns in a wellbore tool string.

5. The electronic initiation system of claim 4 , wherein the indicator comprises:

a minimum voltage circuit operably coupled to the output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs and configured to determine whether an output of an EIC is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage; and

a light-emitting diode (LED) operably coupled to the minimum voltage circuit;

wherein the minimum voltage circuit is configured to illuminate the LED in response to the minimum voltage circuit determining than an output of an EIC is greater than the predetermined threshold voltage.

6. A method for controlling an electronic initiation system, the method comprising:

providing a first electronic initiation system comprising:

a first input connector; and

a first plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) serially arranged and operably coupled to the first input connector;

operably coupling a firing panel to the first input connector of the first electronic initiation system;

controlling the firing panel to transmit a signal to the first electronic initiation system; and

receiving a signal from the first electronic initiation system in response to an output of an EIC of the first plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition, wherein

the controlling the firing panel to transmit a signal to the first electronic initiation system comprises:

controlling the firing panel to transmit an activation signal to activate a selected EIC of the first plurality of EICs; and

controlling the firing panel to transmit a firing signal to the activated EIC; and

the receiving a signal from the first electronic initiation system in response to an output of an EIC of the first plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition comprises:

determining whether an output of the activated EIC satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

providing an indication in response to the output of the activated EIC satisfying the predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the firing panel is operably coupled to the first input connector via a wireline.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the firing panel is operably coupled to the first input connector via a case collar locator.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the activated EIC is a sequentially last EIC of the first plurality of EICs.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the indication is a visual indication or an audio indication.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the providing an indication in response to the output of the activated EIC satisfying the predetermined threshold comprises illuminating a light-emitting diode (LED).

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the first electronic initiation system further comprises a first output connector operably coupled to a sequentially last EIC of the plurality of EICs;

the method further comprises providing a second electronic initiation system comprising:

a second input connector;

a second circuit board comprising a second plurality of EICs serially arranged and operably coupled to the second input connector; and

the first output connector is operably coupled to the second input connector.

13. A system for simulating electronic initiation, the system comprising:

a firing panel;

a simulator operably coupled to the firing panel, the simulator comprising:

a first input connector;

a first plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) operably coupled together in series;

a first EIC of the first plurality of EICs operably coupled to the first input connector; and

a first indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs,

wherein the first indicator is configured to generate a first indication in response to an output of an EIC of the first plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein:

the firing panel is configured to:

activate a selected EIC of the first plurality of EICs; and

transmit a firing signal to the selected EIC; and

each EIC of the first plurality of EICs is configured to output an output voltage in response to receiving the firing signal from the firing panel.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined condition is whether an output voltage of the EIC of the plurality of EICs is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the indication is a visual indication or an audio indication.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the indicator comprises:

a minimum voltage circuit operably coupled to the output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs and configured to determine whether an output of an EIC of the plurality of EICs is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage; and

a light-emitting diode (LED) operably coupled to the minimum voltage circuit,

wherein the minimum voltage circuit is configured to illuminate the LED in response to the minimum voltage circuit determining than an output of an EIC is greater than the predetermined threshold voltage.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein:

the simulator is a first simulator, and the first simulator comprises a first output connector operably coupled to a sequentially last EIC of the plurality of EICs; and

the system further comprises a second simulator comprising:

a second input connector;

a second plurality of EICs operably coupled together in series;

a first EIC of the second plurality of EICs is operably coupled to the second input connector; and

a second indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the second plurality of EICs;

wherein the second indicator is configured to generate a second indication in response to an output of an EIC of the second plurality of EICs satisfying the predetermined condition; and

the second input connector is operably coupled to the first output connector.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2020
From: EITSCHBERGER, CHRISTIAN; THIELTGES, SASCHA; GRAZIOLA, FRANK
To: DYNAENERGETICS EUROPE GMBH
Reel/Frame 054607/0006 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation In Part 16776977 · Jan 30, 2020
Continuation 15880153 · Jan 25, 2018
Continuation 15499439 · Apr 27, 2017
Provisional Application 62894174 · Aug 30, 2019
Provisional Application 62454841 · Feb 5, 2017
Related Publication 20200400417A1 · Dec 24, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,203,331 US 12,287,182