DETONATOR CARTRIDGE FOR PERFORATING GUN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A detonator cartridge includes a housing configured for receipt in a receptacle of a charge tube, an electronic initiation board supported in the housing, and a detonating capsule configured for lateral receipt in a slot defined in a first side wall of the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A variety of industrial sectors utilize explosives for civil uses. Those industrial sectors include, for example, mining, oil and gas exploration and production, seismic exploration, demolition, and explosive welding. In general, any explosive utilized in these applications is typically initiated using a detonator. Typical detonator designs include a monolithic detonator housing or capsule that houses an explosive load that may include a primary explosive load and a secondary explosive load. During production of the detonator, the primary and secondary explosive loads may be deposited into the detonator capsule.

An initiation device (e.g., a fuse head, bridge wire, or slapper foil) and electric wiring connected to the initiation device is used to initiate the explosive load. In some fields of application, the detonator may also include some additional electric or electronic parts, for example, resistors or capacitors and other electronic components. Other detonators may include logic circuits, data processors, capacitors, resistors or measuring devices, such as, for example, accelerometers, gravimeters, or thermometers, which are typically mounted to an electronic circuit board. With an increased amount of electronics in the detonator, the space on a single electronic circuit board is limited to the outer dimensions of a detonator.

The detonator capsule may couple with a second housing, which may include the electric (or electronic) parts and the fuse head. These parts may be stored inside the detonator capsule or they may be stored in another housing that houses both the detonator capsule and the electronic parts and the fuse head. The parts may be permanently connected to each other (e.g., by gluing, crimping, welding, screwing, or through the use of clips or a snap fit connection). The detonator receives a signal to initiate and detonates with an emerging shock wave. The shock wave initiates the explosive for the application.

Hydrocarbons, such as fossil fuels (e.g. oil) and natural gas, are extracted from underground wellbores extending deep below the surface using complex machinery and explosive devices. Once the wellbore is established by placement of casing pipes after drilling and cementing the casing pipe in place, a perforating gun assembly, or train or string of multiple perforating gun assemblies, are lowered into the wellbore and positioned adjacent one or more hydrocarbon reservoirs in underground formations. The detonator is then used to initiate one or more shaped charges positioned in the perforating gun assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to an aspect, the exemplary embodiments include a detonator including a housing, an electronic initiation board supported in the housing, and a detonating capsule. The housing includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall. The first side wall defines a slot therein. The detonating capsule is configured for receipt in the slot of the housing. The detonator further includes a line-in terminal, a line-out terminal, and a ground terminal each electrically coupled to the electronic initiation board.

According to further aspects, the exemplary embodiments include a perforating gun assembly including a charge tube, an end cap attached to an end of the charge tube, and a detonator cartridge configured for receipt in a receptacle of the end cap. The charge tube defines a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough. The detonator cartridge includes a housing, an electronic initiation board supported in the housing, a line-in terminal, a line-out terminal, a ground terminal, and a detonating capsule. The housing has a first side wall and an opposite second side wall. Each of the line-in terminal, a line-out terminal, and a ground terminal is electrically coupled to the electronic initiation board. The detonating capsule is configured for receipt in a slot defined in the first side wall of the housing and configured to transmit combustion to a detonating cord.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description will be rendered by reference to exemplary embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Understanding that these drawings depict exemplary embodiments and do not limit the scope of this disclosure, the exemplary embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a detonator cartridge of a perforating gun assembly in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a top perspective view of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view, with an inner wall removed, illustrating a detonating capsule of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A being inserted into a housing of the detonator cartridge;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the detonator capsule fully inserted into the housing of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a first side plan view illustrating internal components of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a second side plan view illustrating the internal components of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a first end of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a second end of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the detonator cartridge of FIG. 5, with the housing shown in phantom, illustrating internal components of the detonator cartridge; and

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating components of the perforating gun assembly including the detonator cartridge of FIG. 1A.

Various features, aspects, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components throughout the figures and detailed description. The various described features are not necessarily drawn to scale in the drawings but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to some embodiments.

The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure or the claims. To facilitate understanding, reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation and does not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments.

For purposes of illustrating features of the embodiments, an exemplary embodiment will now be introduced and referenced throughout the disclosure. This example is illustrative and not limiting and is provided for illustrating the exemplary features of a detonator and components thereof as described throughout this disclosure.

In aspects, the present disclosure provides a cartridge type detonator that can be plugged into a receptacle of a charge tube end cap or any other suitable receiving body inside a perforating gun assembly. The form and shape of the detonator is designed so that the detonator can only fit in the receptacle in one possible orientation. A rotationally asymmetric shape of contact edges of a detonator housing of the detonator assures the proper fit in the correspondingly-shaped receptacle. Besides this safety function, the housing supports therein an electronic ignition board (EIB).

With reference to FIGS. 1A-8, a detonator 100 of a perforating gun assembly 10 (FIG. 8) generally includes a housing 102, an electronic initiation board 104 supported in the housing 102, and a detonating capsule 200 configured for removable receipt in the housing 102. The housing 102 defines an inner chamber 103 (FIG. 2B) and includes a first side wall 102a and a second side wall 102b opposite the first side wall 102a. The first side wall 102a defines a longitudinally-extending slot 110 therein configured for lateral receipt (e.g., side-loading in direction “A” in FIG. 2A) of the detonating capsule 200. The housing 102 has a first end portion or head 105a and a second end portion or stem 105b extending axially from the head 105a. The stem 105b has a width that is less than a width of the head 105a.

In an exemplary embodiment, a length of the housing 102 may be in a range from 1.25 inches to 4.5 inches. The length of the housing 102 is the dimension in the left-right direction in FIG. 4 In an exemplary embodiment, a width of the housing 102 may be in a range from 0.75 inches to 2.5 inches. The width of the housing 102 is the dimension in a left-right direction in FIG. 5. In an exemplary embodiment, a height of the housing 102 may be in a range from 0.25 inches to 1.5 inches. The height of the housing 101 is the dimension in an up-down direction in FIG. 5.

With reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, the first lateral side wall 102a of the detonator housing 102 has a pair of opposed surfaces 112, 114 that define the slot 110 therebetween. Each of the surfaces 112, 114 includes a first chambered edge 112a, 114a and a second chamfered edge 112b, 114b extending inwardly from the first chamfered edge 112a, 114a. The opposed surfaces 112, 114 are configured to expand away from one another during receipt of the detonating capsule 200 into the slot 110. It is contemplated that the first lateral side wall 102a may be fabricated from a flexible material, such as, for example, a flexible plastic. An internal wall 116 is provided in the detonator housing 102 in side-by-side relation with the first lateral side wall 102a. The detonator capsule 200 abuts the internal wall 116 upon being fully received in the slot 110. As such, the pair of surfaces 112, 114 of the first lateral side wall 102a and the internal wall 116 capture the detonating capsule 200 therebetween to prevent dislodgement of the detonating capsule 200 from the detonator housing 102. The detonating capsule 200 may be partially integrated into the detonator housing 102 and hosts the primary and secondary explosives. The detonating capsule 200 may be snap-fittingly engaged with the slot 110 of the housing 102.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, the EIB 104 of the detonator 100 is supported in the inner chamber 103 of the housing 102 and has a first lateral edge 104a positioned adjacent the first lateral side wall 102a of the housing 102, and a second lateral edge 104b positioned adjacent the second lateral side wall 102a of the housing 102. The first lateral edge 104a of the EIB 104 is configured to couple to the detonator capsule 200, and the second lateral edge 104b of the EIB 104 accommodates a ground contact 106.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the detonator 100 further includes a fuse head 120 configured to initiate the detonating capsule 200. The fuse head 120 is mounted directly on the EIB 104, which is in direct contact with the ground contact 106. The ground terminal or contact 106 extends alongside the second lateral side wall 102b of the housing 102, opposite the first lateral side wall 102a to which the detonating capsule 200 is attached. As such, the ground contact 106 and the detonating capsule 200 are parallel with one another. The ground contact 106 protrudes laterally outward from the second lateral side wall 102b of the housing 102. A spring-loaded contact element 122 (FIG. 8) is positioned within an end cap 160 of the perforating gun assembly 10 and extends perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of the perforating gun assembly 10. The spring-loaded contact element 122 electrically couples the ground contact 106 to the gun housing 140.

With reference to FIG. 4, the detonator 100 further includes a first terminal 130 and a second terminal 132 axially aligned with one another. The first terminal 130 and the second terminal 132 are electrically coupled with the EIB 104 and located in a level or plane below the EIB 104 (e.g., “below” refers to the terminals 130, 132 being on a different plane from the EIB 104, but is not limited to any particular direction). The terminals 130, 132 function as feedthrough/line-out or line-in contacts depending on the position of the detonator 100 inside a gun housing 140 (FIG. 8) of the perforating gun assembly 10. If the perforating gun assembly 10 is shot from the top (e.g., a top-fire gun), the first terminal 130 would function as the line-out terminal and the second terminal 132 would function as the line-in terminal. Alternatively, if the perforating gun assembly 10 were shot from the bottom (e.g., a bottom-fire gun), the first terminal 130 would function as the line-in terminal and the second terminal 132 would function as the line-out terminal. As both terminals 130, 132 are spring loaded, either rigid or spring loaded bulkheads could be used in the perforating gun system 10 with the detonator 100, offering maximum system compatibility and flexibility.

The first terminal 130 includes a contact 134 positioned at a first end 102c of the housing 102 and configured to receive an initiation signal, and a spring 136. The spring 136 has a first end 136a resiliently biasing the contact 134 toward the first end 102c of the housing 102, and a second end 136b in electrical communication with the EIB 104. The second terminal 132 includes a contact 138 positioned at a second end 102d of the housing 102 and configured to receive an initiation signal, and a spring 142. The spring 142 has a first end 142a resiliently biasing the contact 138 toward the second end 102d of the housing 102, and a second end 142b in electrical communication with the EIB 104.

With reference to FIG. 8, in addition to the detonator 100, the perforating gun assembly 10 includes the gun housing 140, a charge tube 150 positioned within and extending through the gun housing 140, the end cap 160 attached to an end of the charge tube 150, a shaped charge 170 supported in the charge tube 150, and a detonating cord 180.

The detonator 100 may be located in the receptacle 162 of the end cap 160. When the detonator 100 is received in the receptacle 162 of the end cap 160, the ground contact 106 of the detonator 100 contacts the spring-loaded contact element 122, which is spring loaded towards the detonator 100 and the perforating gun housing 140. The end cap 160 is fixed to or otherwise coupled to an end of the charge tube 150 to enclose the shaped charge 170 in the charge tube 150. The first terminal 130 of the detonator 100 contacts or connects to a fixed feedthrough contact 164 of the end cap 160 which leads to a feedthrough cable 166 for passing signals to the next perforating gun (not explicitly shown). On the opposite end of the detonator 100, the second terminal 132 is configured to receive signals from the surface via a bulkhead (not explicitly shown). The bulkhead may be spring loaded or rigid.

The detonating cord 180 is received in the charge tube end cap 160 in side-by-side and abutting relation with the detonating capsule 200. This ensures a reliable side initiation of the detonating cord 180. The detonating cord 180 leads to one or more shaped charges 170 inside the charge tube 150. The end cap 160 may also function as a centralizer and fixes the charge tube 150 in its position. The charge tube 150 defines a longitudinally-extending channel 152 therethrough and may connect to the end cap 160 with a latch mechanism (click-in connector), or may be fixated by screws or other suitable fastening engagements.

This disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems, and/or apparatuses as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. This disclosure contemplates, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, the actual or optional use or inclusion of, e.g., components or processes as may be well-known or understood in the art and consistent with this disclosure though not depicted and/or described herein.

The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

In this specification and the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The terms “a” (or “an”) and “the” refer to one or more of that entity, thereby including plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an embodiment” and the like are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Terms such as “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower” etc. are used to identify one element from another, and unless otherwise specified are not meant to refer to a particular order or number of elements.

As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”

As used in the claims, the word “comprises” and its grammatical variants logically also subtend and include phrases of varying and differing extent such as for example, but not limited thereto, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.” Where necessary, ranges have been supplied, and those ranges are inclusive of all sub-ranges therebetween. It is to be expected that the appended claims should cover variations in the ranges except where this disclosure makes clear the use of a particular range in certain embodiments.

The terms “determine”, “calculate” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.

This disclosure is presented for purposes of illustration and description. This disclosure is not limited to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the Detailed Description of this disclosure, for example, various features of some exemplary embodiments are grouped together to representatively describe those and other contemplated embodiments, configurations, and aspects, to the extent that including in this disclosure a description of every potential embodiment, variant, and combination of features is not feasible. Thus, the features of the disclosed embodiments, configurations, and aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, and aspects not expressly discussed above. For example, the features recited in the following claims lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this disclosure.

Advances in science and technology may provide variations that are not necessarily express in the terminology of this disclosure although the claims would not necessarily exclude these variations.

Claims

1. A detonator, comprising: a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, the first side wall defining a slot therein;an electronic initiation board supported in the housing;a line-in terminal, a line-out terminal, and a ground terminal each electrically coupled to the electronic initiation board; anda detonating capsule configured for receipt in the slot of the housing.

2. The detonator according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a rotationally asymmetric shape.

3. The detonator according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall of the housing has first and second opposed surfaces that define the slot therebetween, the slot extending along a length of the housing.

4. The detonator according to claim 3, wherein the first surface of the first side wall has a first chamfered edge configured to facilitate receipt of the detonating capsule laterally into the slot of the housing.

5. The detonator according to claim 4, wherein the first surface includes a second chamfered edge angled inwardly from the first chamfered edge and configured to retain the detonating capsule in the slot of the housing.

6. The detonator according to claim 1, further comprising an internal wall positioned within the housing and extending in parallel relation with the first side wall, wherein the detonating capsule is configured to abut the internal wall when the detonating capsule is fully inserted into the slot of the housing.

7. The detonator according to claim 1, wherein the ground terminal extends alongside the second side wall of the housing such that the ground terminal and the detonating capsule are parallel with one another.

8. The detonator according to claim 7, wherein the ground terminal is mounted on a lateral side of the electronic initiation board and protrudes laterally outward from the second side wall of the housing.

9. The detonator according to claim 8, wherein the line-in terminal includes: a contact positioned at a first end of the housing and configured to receive an initiation signal; anda spring having a first end resiliently biasing the contact toward the first end of the housing, and a second end in electrical communication with the electronic initiation board.

10. The detonator according to claim 9, wherein the line-in terminal is parallel with and positioned underneath the electronic initiation board.

11. The detonator according to claim 9, wherein the line-out terminal includes: a contact positioned at a second end of the housing and configured to transmit the initiation signal to a perforating gun; anda spring having a first end resiliently biasing the contact of the line-out terminal toward the second end of the housing, and a second end in electrical communication with the electronic initiation board.

12. The detonator according to claim 11, wherein the line-in and line-out terminals are axially aligned with one another.

13. A perforating gun assembly, comprising: a charge tube defining a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough;an end cap attached to an end of the charge tube, the end cap defining a receptacle therein; anda detonator cartridge configured for receipt in the receptacle of the end cap, the detonator cartridge including: a housing including a first side wall and an opposite second side wall, the first side wall defining a slot therein;an electronic initiation board supported in the housing;a line-in terminal, a line-out terminal, and a ground terminal each electrically coupled to the electronic initiation board; anda detonating capsule configured for receipt in the slot of the housing and configured to transmit combustion to a detonating cord.

14. The perforating gun assembly according to claim 13, wherein the detonating capsule is positioned in side-by-side relationship with a proximal end portion of the detonating cord.

15. The perforating gun assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a gun housing in which the charge tube, the end cap, and the detonator cartridge are received.

16. The perforating gun assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a spring-loaded contact extending within the end cap and electrically coupling the ground terminal and the gun housing.

17. The perforating gun assembly according to claim 16, wherein the spring-loaded contact is perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the gun housing.

18. The perforating gun assembly according to claim 13, wherein the housing has a rotationally asymmetric shape corresponding to an asymmetric shape of the receptacle of the end cap.

19. The perforating gun assembly according to claim 13, wherein the first side wall of the housing has first and second opposed surfaces that define the slot therebetween, the slot extending along a length of the housing.

20. The perforating gun assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first surface of the first side wall includes: a first chamfered edge configured to facilitate receipt of the detonating capsule laterally into the slot of the housing; anda second chamfered edge angled inwardly from the first chamfered edge and configured to retain the detonating capsule in the slot of the housing.