Patent Grant
11248894
The present disclosure is directed to a holder for shaped charges. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a high shot density shaped charge holder for use with a perforating gun.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a shaped charge holder for a perforating gun comprises five or more shaped charges, each shaped charge having a detonation end and a firing end. One or more charge detonating cords is attached to the detonation end of the shaped charges, each charge detonating cord has a booster attached thereto. The shaped charges are arranged in a circular plane having a center with the detonation end and firing end of each shaped charge coaxially aligned, the detonation ends point toward the center of the circular plane and the firing ends point away from the center. A single main detonating cord is attached to each charge detonating cord with the booster between the main detonating cord and each charge detonating cord. The shaped charges are arranged such that the radial distance between each successive shaped charge holder is constant. The charge detonating cord may be arranged in a circle coplanar with the shaped charge circular plane and is attached to the detonation ends of every shaped charge.
According to another aspect, a shaped charge holder for a perforating gun generally includes a pair of opposed plates, each of which includes a plurality of indentations for receiving shaped charges in a coplanar, axially-oriented configuration. The shaped charge holder also includes at least one fastener for affixing the opposed plates to one another.
According to another aspect, each shaped charge within the holder is connected to its own detonating cord to enable a simultaneous initiation off all charges in one plane. The detonating cords might have a bi-directional booster at one end. The boosters or cords are connected to one another at a hub, which is connected to a single initiation explosive, like a main detonating cord, a single detonator or a single bi-directional booster charge. Since all detonating cords, which are connected to a shaped charge are connected at the same initiation explosive body, the shaped charges are detonated substantially simultaneously. This helps to reduce the cost and variability associated with assemblies that include multiple detonators connected to multiple detonating cords, such as those described in US Patent Application Publication No. US2017/058649.
The following description will be made by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments thereof and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, exemplary embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
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According to an aspect of the present invention, a shaped charge holder 100 for a perforating gun comprises five or more shaped charges C, each shaped charge having a detonation end 125 and a firing end 127, as shown in
The shaped charge holder 100 may include at least one fastener, or in this example, a plurality of fasteners 114 (only one of which is labeled), such as screws, for attaching the first and second plates 102, 104 to one another. The fasteners 114 may be tightened so that the interior side 106, 108 of each plate 102, 104 is urged tightly against the surface of the shaped charges C.
The interior side 106, 108 of each plate 102, 104 may also include a plurality of respective depressions or indentations 116a, 116b (hidden from view) (best seen in
As shown throughout the figures, each shaped charge C is connected to an individual or secondary detonating cord 118 (only one of which is labeled) at or near the initiation point 129. A free end 120 of each detonating cord 118 is connected to a booster 121 (e.g., bi-directional booster), which is received within a splitter or upper cord holder 122, which in turn, is connected to a main (i.e., initiation) explosive, such as at least one of a receiver booster 123, detonator and detonating cord 124. The main or primary detonating cord 124 is connected to a single detonator (not shown). When the detonator is activated, the shaped charges C are initiated substantially simultaneously (i.e., in a parallel sequence). Any suitable detonator may be used, for example, an RF safe detonator, resistorized detonator, or a receiver booster. The use of a single detonator helps to reduce the cost and undesirable variability associated with multi-detonator assemblies.
The shaped charge holder 100 may also include a spacer or separator 126 generally centrally located between the charges C. The spacer 126 may generally assist with maintaining the individual detonating cords 118 in a separated condition from one another. The spacer 126 also confines the cord at the end of the charge and avoids gaps between the cord and the backside of the shaped charge.
Countless variations are contemplated by the present disclosure. For example, the shaped charge holder may be configured to hold any number of charges desired, for example, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 charges. It is also contemplated that multiple shaped charge holders according to the present disclosure may be used in conjunction with one another.
Alternate detonator cord configurations and/or boosters may be included if desired. For example, instead of individual detonating cords 118 from the upper cord holder 122, a single detonating cord may be formed in a circle and connect to each shaped charge C along the periphery of the circle.
The present disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially developed as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present disclosure after understanding the present disclosure. The present disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments, configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and/or reducing cost of implementation.
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 variations in these ranges will suggest themselves to a practitioner having ordinary skill in the art and, where not already dedicated to the public, the appended claims should cover those variations.
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.
The foregoing discussion of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspects of the present disclosure may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the present disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, the claimed features lie in less than all features of a single foregoing 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 the present disclosure.
Advances in science and technology may make equivalents and substitutions possible that are not now contemplated by reason of the imprecision of language; these variations should be covered by the appended claims. This written description uses examples to disclose the method, machine and computer-readable medium, including the best mode, and also to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to practice these, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope thereof is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
This application is application is a national phase application of and claims priority to Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Application No. PCT/EP2018/080298 filed Nov. 6, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/585,125, filed Nov. 13, 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/080298 | 11/6/2018 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019/091963 | 5/16/2019 | WO | A |
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| 62585125 | Nov 2017 | US |
