Implosive actuation of downhole tools

Abstract

An actuation and/or communication device for the downhole environment. The device includes a selectively implosion resistant canister; and an environment within the canister and releasable upon implosion of the canister. A method for actuating a downhole device and/or communicating. The method includes delivering a selectively implosion resistant canister having an environment internal to the canister releasable upon implosion of the canister to a selected location within a borehole; imploding the canister; releasing the environment; and receiving a signal generated by the release of the environment. A method for an actuating a tool and/or communicating including delivering of an implosive device to a selected location; creating a rarefaction event by imploding said device; and affecting a tool in response to the event.

1 . An actuation and/or communication device for the downhole environment comprising:
 a selectively implosion resistant canister; and   an environment within the canister and releasable upon implosion of the canister.   
   
   
       2 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the environment is gaseous. 
   
   
       3 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the environment is a frangible solid. 
   
   
       4 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the solid fills the canister. 
   
   
       5 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of canisters is nested. 
   
   
       6 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of canisters are attached to one another. 
   
   
       7 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the canister is pressure implodable. 
   
   
       8 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the canister is water soluble. 
   
   
       9 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the canister is chemically implodable. 
   
   
       10 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the plurality of canisters contain more than one type of environment among them. 
   
   
       11 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the environment is chemically active. 
   
   
       12 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the plurality of canisters attached to one another include at least one that is responsive to a different environment for implosion. 
   
   
       13 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the different environment is a different pressure. 
   
   
       14 . The actuation and/or communication device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the different environment is a different chemical. 
   
   
       15 . A method for actuating a downhole device and/or communicating, comprising:
 delivering a selectively implosion resistant canister having an environment internal to the canister releasable upon implosion of the canister to a selected location within a borehole;   imploding the canister;   releasing the environment;   generating a signal by the release of the environment.   
   
   
       16 . The method for actuating a downhole device and/or communicating as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the imploding is caused by exposing the canister to a selected pressure. 
   
   
       17 . The method for actuating a downhole device and/or communicating as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the imploding is caused by exposing the canister to a selected chemical. 
   
   
       18 . The method for actuating a downhole device and/or communicating as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the imploding is caused by exposing the canister to water. 
   
   
       19 . The method for actuating a downhole device and/or communicating as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the method includes delivering a plurality of canisters to the selected location. 
   
   
       20 . A method for an actuating a tool and/or communicating, comprising:
 delivering of an implosive device to a selected location;   creating a rarefaction event by imploding said device;   affecting a tool in response to the event.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the affecting is actuating. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the affecting is jarring. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the delivery is by circulation.