PERFORATION GUN COMPONENTS AND SYSTEM

• US 20160168961A1
• Filed: 07/16/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH (DMC Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DYNAenergetics GmbH & Co. KG (DMC Global, Inc.), JDP Engineering & Machine Inc.
• Inventors: Parks, David C., Mulhem, Eric, Scharf, Thilo, Preiss, Frank Haron, McNelis, Liam
• Granted Patent: US 9,494,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/117 Shaped-charge perforators E21B43/118 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/1185 Ignition systems

Abstract

A perforation gun system is provided including combinations of components including a top connector, a self-centralizing charge holder system and a bottom connector that can double as a spacer. Any number of spacers can be used with any number of holders for any desired specific metric or imperial shot density, phase and length gun system. A perforation gun system kit and a method of assembling a perforation gun system are also provided.

Claims

1. A perforation gun system having an outer gun carrier, 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.

2. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bottom connector doubles as a spacer for spacing a plurality of stackable charge holders.

6. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the detonator is a wireless push-in detonator with spring loaded connectors.

7. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein each of the top connector, the at least one stackable charge holder and the at least one bottom connector are configured to receive electrical connections therethrough.

8. The perforation gun system according to claim 7, wherein the electrical connections between the top connector, the at least one charge holder, the at least one bottom connector and the detonator are spring-loaded quick connections.

9. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein each bottom connector comprises a plurality of fins for axially locking each bottom connector to a snap ring.

10. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein each stackable charge holder comprises a plurality of projections resting against an inner surface of the gun carrier and thereby centralizing the shaped charge therewithin.

11. The perforation gun system according to claim 10, wherein a pair of the plurality of projections is configured for capturing the detonation cord traversing each stackable charge holder.

12. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the top connector comprises at least one directional axial locking fin.

13. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the top connector comprises a tandem seal adapter for grounding the detonator to the gun carrier.

14. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the top connector comprises a blind hole for containing the detonation cord.

15. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the top connector is formed by assembling first and second halves of an unassembled top connector.

16. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the rotation coupling is selected from the group comprising a plurality of pins symmetrically arranged about a central axis of the rotation coupling, and a plurality of sockets symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the rotation coupling and configured to engage the plurality of pins of an adjacent rotation coupling.

17. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the rotation coupling is selected from the group comprising a polygon-shaped protrusion, and a polygon-shaped recess configured to engage the polygon-shaped protrusion of an adjacent rotation coupling.

18. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, further comprising a material overmolded over wiring and connectors of the top connector, the at least one charge holder, and the at least one bottom connector.

23. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the top connector further comprising:

a coupler for providing energetic coupling between a detonator and a detonating cord; and

at least one directional locking fin for locking the top connector within a gun carrier,

wherein the top connector is configured to receive electrical connections therethrough.

26. The perforation gun system according to claim 1, wherein the bottom connector further comprises:

a terminating structure arranged for terminating a detonation cord in the gun system;

a plurality of wings for axially locking the bottom connector to a snap ring, and

wherein the rotation coupling is arranged such that the bottom connector doubles as a spacer for spacing a plurality of stackable charge holders.

3-5. -5. (canceled)

19. 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.

20-22. -22. (canceled)

24. 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.

25. The stackable charge holder according to claim 24, wherein the at least one rotation coupling is selected from the group comprising a plurality of pins symmetrically arranged about a central axis of the rotation coupling, and a plurality of sockets symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the rotation coupling and configured to engage the plurality of pins.