Patent Grant
10429161
A perforation gun system is generally described. More particularly, various perforation gun components that can be modularly assembled into a perforation gun system, the assembled perforated gun system itself, a perforation gun system kit, and a method for assembling a perforation gun system are generally described.
Perforation gun systems are used in well bore perforating in the oil and natural gas industries to tie a bore hole with a storage horizon within which a storage reservoir of oil or natural gas is located.
A typical perforation gun system consists of an outer gun carrier, arranged in the interior of which there are perforators-usually hollow or projectile charges—that shoot radially outwards through the gun carrier after detonation. Penetration holes remain in the gun carrier after the shot.
In order to initiate the perforators, there is a detonating cord leading through the gun carrier that is coupled to a detonator.
Different perforating scenarios often require different phasing and density of charges or gun lengths. Moreover, it is sometimes desirable that the perforators shooting radially outwards from the gun carrier be oriented in different directions along the length of the barrel. Therefore, phasing may be required between different guns along the length.
Onsite assembly of perforation gun systems may also be problematic under certain conditions as there are certain safety hazards inherent to the assembly of perforation guns due to the explosive nature of certain of its sub-components, including the detonator and the detonating cord.
There is thus a need for a perforation gun system, which by virtue of its design and components would be able to address at least one of the above-mentioned needs, or overcome or at least minimize at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
According to an embodiment, an object is to provide a perforation gun system that addresses at least one of the above-mentioned needs.
According to an embodiment, there is provided a perforation gun system having an outer gun carrier and comprising:
a top connector;
at least one stackable charge holder for centralizing a single shaped charge within the gun carrier;
a detonation cord connected to the top connector and to each stackable charge holder;
at least one bottom connector for terminating the detonation cord in the gun system; and
a detonator energetically coupled to the detonation cord,
wherein each of the top connector, at least one stackable charge holder and at least one bottom connector comprise a rotation coupling for providing a selectable clocking rotation between each of the top connector, at least one stackable charge holder and at least one bottom connector.
In some embodiments, the bottom connector may double as a spacer for spacing a plurality of stackable charge holders, and may either act as a metric dimensioned spacer or as an imperial dimensioned spacer for any specific metric or imperial shot density, phase and length gun system.
According to another aspect, there is also provided a perforation gun system kit having component parts capable of being assembled within an outer gun carrier, the kit comprising a combination of:
a top connector;
at least one stackable charge holder for centralizing a single shaped charge within the gun carrier;
a detonation cord connectable to the top connector and to each stackable charge holder;
at least one bottom connector adapted for terminating the detonation cord in the gun system; and
a detonator energetically couplable to the detonation cord,
wherein each of the top connector, at least one stackable charge holder and at least one bottom connector comprise a coupling having a plurality of rotational degrees of freedom for providing a selectable rotation between each of the top connector, at least one stackable charge holder and at least one bottom connector.
According to another aspect, there is also provided a method for assembling a perforation gun system, comprising the steps of:
a top connector;
at least one stackable charge holder for centralizing a single shaped charge within the gun carrier;
a detonation cord connectable to the top connector and to each stackable charge holder;
at least one bottom connector adapted for terminating the detonation cord in the gun system and adapted for doubling as a spacer for spacing a plurality of stackable charge holders; and
a detonator energetically couplable to the detonation cord,
A number of optional steps that are detailed below may be added to the above-described steps of the method.
According to another aspect, there is also provided a top connector for a perforation gun system comprising:
a coupler for providing energetic coupling between a detonator and a detonating cord;
at least one directional locking fin for locking the top connector within a gun carrier;
a rotation coupling for providing a selectable clocking rotation between the top connector, and a charge holder
wherein the top connector is configured to receive electrical connections therethrough.
According to another aspect, there is also provided a stackable charge holder for a perforation gun system having an outer gun carrier, the charge holder comprising:
a charge receiving structure for receiving a single shaped charge;
a plurality of projections for centralizing the shaped charge within the gun carrier; and
at least one rotation coupling for providing a selectable clocking rotation between the charge holder and an adjacent component in the perforation gun system;
wherein a pair of the plurality of projections is configured for capturing a detonation cord traversing the charge holder.
According to another aspect, there is also provided a bottom connector for a perforation gun system comprising:
a terminating structure arranged for terminating a detonation cord in the gun system;
a plurality of wings or fins for axially locking the bottom connector to a snap ring fixed in the carrier.
a rotation coupling for providing a selectable clocking rotation between the bottom connector and a charge holder;
wherein the rotation coupling is arranged such that bottom connector doubles as a spacer for spacing a plurality of stackable charge holders.
These and other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon referring to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments 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:
In the following description and accompanying FIGS., the same numerical references refer to similar elements throughout the FIGS. and text. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as not to unduly burden the FIGS. with several reference numbers, only certain FIGS. have been provided with reference numbers, and components and features of the embodiments illustrated in other FIGS. can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, and/or dimensions shown in the FIGS. are for exemplification purposes only. Various features, aspects and advantages of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description.
Moreover, although some of the embodiments were primarily designed for well bore perforating, for example, they may also be used in other perforating scenarios or in other fields, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as “gun system”, etc., as used herein should not be taken as to be limiting, and includes all other kinds of materials, objects and/or purposes with which the various embodiments could be used and may be useful. Each example or embodiment are provided by way of explanation, and is not meant as a limitation and does not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments.
In addition, although some of the embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprise various components and although the embodiment of the adjustment system as shown consists of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperations thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the adjustment systems, and corresponding parts, according to various embodiments, as briefly explained and as can easily be inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope.
Referring to
The gun system 10 includes at least one bottom connector 22 for terminating the detonation cord 20 in the gun system. As better shown in
In an embodiment, the gun system also includes a detonator 26 energetically coupled to the detonation cord 20.
As better shown in
Hence, a user can build multiple configurations of gun systems using various combinations of basic components. A first of these basic components includes a top connector. Another basic component is a single charge holder that centralizes a single shaped charge. The holder is adapted to be stacked and configured into 0, 30, 60, up to 360 degrees or any other combination of these phases for any specified length. Another basic component is a bottom connector that terminates the detonation cord in the gun. The bottom connector may carry as well an electrical connection therethrough. The bottom connector may also double as an imperial measurement stackable spacer to provide any gun shot density up to, for example, 6 shots per foot. Alternately, another bottom connector may be provided or configured to double as a metric measurement stackable spacer to provide any gun shot density up to, for example, 20 shots per meter. Another basic component includes a push-in detonator that does not use wires to make necessary connections. The push-in detonator may uses spring-loaded connectors, thus replacing any required wires and crimping.
Therefore, within the self-centralizing charge holder system, any number of spacers can be used with any number of holders for any specific metric or imperial shot density, phase and length gun system.
In an embodiment, only two pipe wrenches are required for assembly on site of the gun system, as no other tools are required.
In an embodiment, the top connector 14 provides energetic coupling between the detonator and detonating cord.
In an embodiment, each of the top connector 14, stackable charge holder 16 and bottom connector 22 are configured to receive electrical connections therethrough.
In an embodiment, all connections are made by connectors, such as spring-loaded connectors, instead of wires, with the exception of the through wire that goes from the top connector 14 to the bottom connector 22, whose ends are connectors.
In an embodiment, components of the assembly may include molded parts, which may also be manufactured to house the wiring integrally, through, for instance, overmolding, to encase the wiring and all connectors within an injection molded part. For example, the charge holder 16 could be overmolded to include the through wire.
In an embodiment, and as shown in
In an embodiment and as shown in
In an embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment, as better shown in
In an embodiment, the tandem seal adapter 48 is a two-part tandem seal adapter (not shown) that fully contains the bulkhead assembly 58 (comprised of multiple small parts as shown, for instance, in
In an embodiment and as better shown in
In an embodiment as shown in
In an embodiment and as better shown in
In an embodiment and as shown for example in
In another embodiment, the rotation coupling 30 may either include a polygon-shaped protrusion, or a polygon-shaped recess configured to engage the polygon-shaped protrusion of an adjacent rotation coupling. The polygon can be 12-sided for example for 30 degree increments.
In another embodiment, the top and bottom subs work with off the shelf running/setting tools as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
In one embodiment and as shown in
In one embodiment and as shown in
In an embodiment, final assembly of the tool string requires only two pipe wrenches. No tools are required to install the detonator or any electrical connections.
An object is to also provide a perforation gun system kit having the basic component parts described above and capable of being assembled within an outer gun carrier.
In an embodiment, a method for assembling a perforation gun system is provided, to which a certain number of optional steps may be provided. The steps for assembling the gun system for transport include the steps of:
a top connector;
at least one stackable charge holder for centralizing a single shaped charge within the gun carrier;
a detonation cord connectable to the top connector and to each stackable charge holder;
at least one bottom connector adapted for terminating the detonation cord in the gun system and adapted for doubling as a spacer for spacing a plurality of stackable charge holders; and
a detonator energetically couplable to the detonation cord,
In an embodiment, the method further includes, prior to transport, the steps of:
In an embodiment, on location, to complete the assembly, the method further comprises the steps of
Of course, the scope of the perforation gun system, various perforation gun components, the perforation gun system kit, and the method for assembling a perforation gun system should not be limited by the various embodiments set forth herein, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. The components and methods described and illustrated are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. Further, steps described in the method may be utilized independently and separately from other steps described herein. Numerous modifications and variations could be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the FIGS. and claims, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
In this specification and the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Further, reference to “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” and the like are made merely to differentiate parts and are not necessarily determinative of direction. Similarly, terms such as “first,” “second,” 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.”
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 perforation gun system, various perforation gun components, the perforation gun system kit, and the method for assembling a perforation gun system, including the best mode, and also to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to practice same, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the perforation gun system, various perforation gun components, the perforation gun system kit, and the method for assembling a perforation gun system 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 languages of the claims.
This application is a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/287,309 filed Oct. 6, 2016, which is a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/904,788 filed Jan. 13, 2016, which claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/CA2014/050673 filed Jul. 16, 2014, which claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,821,506 filed Jul. 18, 2013, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170276465 A1 | Sep 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15287309 | Oct 2016 | US |
| Child | 15617344 | US | |
| Parent | 14904788 | US | |
| Child | 15287309 | US |
