A setting tool adaptor for attachment to a tandem and a setting tool is provided. The setting tool adaptor includes an ignitor within an ignitor cavity and includes an electrically grounded thermal fuse within a logic cavity. The ignitor is adjacent a power charge in a setting tool, such that the ignitor initiates a combustion of the power charge. Pressure and heat generated by the combustion of the power charge ejects the ignitor into the logic cavity and initiates the thermal fuse to render internal circuitry unreadable, while the adjacent tandem isolates the hot gases from an upstream perforating gun or other upstream tool.
E21B 23/04 - Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion
An improved perforating gun assembly is provided. The perforating gun assembly includes an alternating sequence of perforating guns and tandems. Each perforating gun includes two contact housings, and each contact housing includes an electrical connector plug protruding in an axial direction. The electrical connector plug includes an outwardly bowed middle portion that is resiliently deformable—also referred to as a banana pin connector plug. The banana pin connector plug is received within a socket opening in an electrically conductive pass—through element that is centrally received within the tandem. The pass-through element is surrounded by an insulating sleeve, such that the pass-through element is electrically isolated from an electrically grounded portion of the tandem and transfers a firing signal from a first perforating gun to a second perforating gun.
An improved perforating gun is provided. The perforating gun includes a shaped charge positioning tube that is freely rotatable with respect to an outer gun barrel without the use of bearings. The perforating gun includes first and second contact housings coupled to opposing ends of the shaped charge positioning tube. Each contact housing includes an electrical connector plug that is rotatable within a socket opening of a corresponding tandem, such that the electrical connector plugs define an axis of rotation of the shaped charge positioning tube. An asymmetric weight provides a desired angular orientation of the shaped charge positioning tube when inclined from vertical. The perforating gun further includes a grounding collar fixedly attached to the shaped charge positioning tube, with a plurality of resilient fingers extending radially therefrom in sliding engagement with the outer gun barrel.
An improved tandem for attachment to a perforating gun is provided. The tandem includes a cylindrical body having a first externally threaded end portion and a second externally threaded end portion. The first externally threaded end portion includes a first plurality of threads defining a first thread pattern, and the second externally threaded end portion includes a second plurality of threads defining a second thread pattern. The first thread pattern is different than the second thread pattern such that the cylindrical body is threadably attachable to first and second perforating guns in a single direction. The thread patterns can differ in at least one or more of the following: thread profile, thread pitch, pitch diameter, major diameter, minor diameter, and thread angle, by non-limiting example.
An improved firing switch for a perforating gun is provided. The firing switch includes a contact pin extending from a disc-shaped body portion, the contact pin providing an electrical connection for uphole communications. The firing switch also includes a ring-shaped grounding collar disposed about the outer periphery of the disc-shaped body portion, the grounding collar including a plurality of resilient fingers extending outwardly therefrom. The disc-shaped body portion further includes a plurality of axial openings, in lieu of a wiring interface, for a positive detonator connection and a negative detonator connection. The plurality of axial openings are disposed radially outward of the contact pin, which is centrally disposed on the disc-shaped body portion opposite of a threaded post.
An arming tandem for a perforating gun is provided. The arming tandem includes an internal arming pin that is biased in a retracted position. Detonating the last perforating gun in a gun string forces the arming pin in the immediately adjacent tandem into contact with a grounding plate in the next perforating gun, thereby arming the next perforating gun. The arming pin is biased in the retracted position by a helical compression spring that is contained within a counterbored opening in the arming tandem. An adjacent bulkhead includes a grounding plate that surrounds a contact pin. The grounding plate provides a flat surface for contacting the arming pin and creating a secure connection to ground.
An improved perforating gun system is provided. The perforating gun system includes a perforating gun having a shaped charge positioning tube that is securely received within a female opening in a tandem to provide a 360-degree connection to ground. The shaped charge positioning tube includes segmented end portions that extend over first and second contact housings. Each contact housing includes a contact pin that is biased outwardly by a spring, the spring comprising a portion of an electrical path for a firing signal.
An extended thread protector for a perforating gun is provided. The thread protector can be joined to a perforating gun to prevent material from entering the interior of the perforating gun while also protecting the threads of the perforating gun. The extended thread protector includes an extended cavity to accept various product classifications. In one embodiment, the thread protector includes an externally threaded collar and an extended sidewall that are separated from each other by a circumferential flange. The extended sidewall is slightly tapered along its outer diameter, narrowing toward the closed end of the thread protector. The extended sidewall is at least twice the length of the threaded collar, optionally between two and six times the length of the threaded collar.
A detonator arming assembly for a perforating gun is provided. The detonator arming assembly is integrated into the bulkhead of a perforating gun, such that it can be positioned at either end of a shaped charge positioning tube. The detonator arming assembly is armed when a tandem is threaded into the perforating gun. If not armed, a premature detonation of the internal detonator does not initiate a detonation of the internal detonating cord. If armed, a detonation of the internal detonator causes the detonation of a laterally adjacent detonating cord, which is coupled to each shaped charge in the perforating gun.
E21B 23/04 - Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion
A setting tool adaptor for attachment to a tandem and a setting tool is provided. The setting tool adaptor includes an ignitor within an ignitor cavity and includes an electrically grounded thermal fuse within a logic cavity. The ignitor is adjacent a power charge in a setting tool, such that the ignitor initiates a combustion of the power charge. Pressure and heat generated by the combustion of the power charge ejects the ignitor into the logic cavity and initiates the thermal fuse to render internal circuitry unreadable, while the adjacent tandem isolates the hot gases from an upstream perforating gun or other upstream tool.
E21B 23/04 - Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells operated by fluid means, e.g. actuated by explosion
An improved perforating gun assembly is provided. The perforating gun assembly includes an alternating sequence of perforating guns and tandems. Each perforating gun includes two contact housings, and each contact housing includes an electrical connector plug protruding in an axial direction. The electrical connector plug includes an outwardly bowed middle portion that is resiliently deformable—also referred to as a banana pin connector plug. The banana pin connector plug is received within a socket opening in an electrically conductive pass-through element that is centrally received within the tandem. The pass-through element is surrounded by an insulating sleeve, such that the pass-through element is electrically isolated from an electrically grounded portion of the tandem and transfers a firing signal from a first perforating gun to a second perforating gun.
An improved perforating gun assembly is provided. The perforating gun assembly includes an alternating sequence of perforating guns and tandems. Each perforating gun includes two contact housings, and each contact housing includes an electrical connector plug protruding in an axial direction. The electrical connector plug includes an outwardly bowed middle portion that is resiliently deformable—also referred to as a banana pin connector plug. The banana pin connector plug is received within a socket opening in an electrically conductive pass-through element that is centrally received within the tandem. The pass-through element is surrounded by an insulating sleeve, such that the pass-through element is electrically isolated from an electrically grounded portion of the tandem and transfers a firing signal from a first perforating gun to a second perforating gun.
An improved perforating gun system is provided. The perforating gun system includes a perforating gun having a shaped charge positioning tube that is securely received within a female opening in a tandem to provide a 360-degree connection to ground. The shaped charge positioning tube includes segmented end portions that extend over first and second contact housings. Each contact housing includes a contact pin that is biased outwardly by a spring, the spring comprising a portion of an electrical path for a firing signal.
An improved perforating gun system is provided. The perforating gun system includes a perforating gun having a shaped charge positioning tube that is securely received within a female opening in a tandem to provide a 360-degree connection to ground. The shaped charge positioning tube includes segmented end portions that extend over first and second contact housings. Each contact housing includes a contact pin that is biased outwardly by a spring, the spring comprising a portion of an electrical path for a firing signal.
An improved perforating gun. The perforating gun includes an internal charge holder formed from a conductive material and comprising a grounding tab. The grounding tab protrudes through a first end cap and is in direct electrical contact with a tandem for grounding the internal charge holder. An optional second grounding tab protrudes through a second end cap and is in direct electrical contact with a second tandem. Each end cap includes a contact pin that engages a signal transfer pin contained within a tandem. The contact pins are biased outwardly by respective compression springs, and each compression spring comprises a portion of an electrical path for a firing signal.
An improved perforating gun is provided. The perforating gun includes an outer loading tube, an internal charge holder, an addressable switch housing, and a detonator housing. In some embodiments, the addressable switch housing and the detonator housing are separate components that are joined to the outer loading tube. In other embodiments, the addressable switch housing is integrally joined to a first portion of the internal charge holder and the detonator housing is integrally joined to a second portion of the internal charge holder. When detonated, a plurality of shaped charges create a plurality of perforations through a wellbore casing, the perforations being angularly offset from each other within a single perforation plane, optionally followed by a hydraulic fracturing stage.
E21B 29/02 - Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windowsDeforming of pipes in boreholes or wellsReconditioning of well casings while in the ground by explosives or by thermal or chemical means
An improved perforating gun is provided. The perforating gun includes an outer loading tube, an internal charge holder, an addressable switch housing, and a detonator housing. In some embodiments, the addressable switch housing and the detonator housing are separate components that are joined to the outer loading tube. In other embodiments, the addressable switch housing is integrally joined to a first portion of the internal charge holder and the detonator housing is integrally joined to a second portion of the internal charge holder. When detonated, a plurality of shaped charges create a plurality of perforations through a wellbore casing, the perforations being angularly offset from each other within a single perforation plane, optionally followed by a hydraulic fracturing stage.
E21B 29/02 - Cutting or destroying pipes, packers, plugs or wire lines, located in boreholes or wells, e.g. cutting of damaged pipes, of windowsDeforming of pipes in boreholes or wellsReconditioning of well casings while in the ground by explosives or by thermal or chemical means
An improved perforating gun is provided. The perforating gun includes an outer loading tube, an internal charge holder, an addressable switch housing, and a detonator housing. In some embodiments, the addressable switch housing and the detonator housing are separate components that are joined to the outer loading tube. In other embodiments, the addressable switch housing is integrally joined to a first portion of the internal charge holder and the detonator housing is integrally joined to a second portion of the internal charge holder. When detonated, a plurality of shaped charges create a plurality of perforations through a wellbore casing, the perforations being angularly offset from each other within a single perforation plane, optionally followed by a hydraulic fracturing stage.
Perforating explosive equipment for use in oil and gas wells, namely, perforating guns Oil and gas equipment in the nature of machines, namely, well perforating guns
22.
Oilfield perforating self-positioning systems and methods
A self-positioning system for a perforating gun or gun string is provided. The self-positioning system includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the perforating gun or the gun string for providing a finite number of rotational positions and/or for providing a desired water clearance. The protrusions include one or more groupings of at least three protrusions, the protrusions being angularly offset from each other about the outer circumference of the perforating gun or gun string.
A self-positioning system for a perforating gun or gun string is provided. The self-positioning system includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the perforating gun or the gun string for providing a finite number of rotational positions and/or for providing a desired water clearance. The protrusions include one or more groupings of at least three protrusions, the protrusions being angularly offset from each other about the outer circumference of the perforating gun or gun string.
