Well tool assemblies with quick connectors and shock mitigating capabilities

• US 9,206,675 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Hales, John H., Burleson, John D., Martinez, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Yong-Suk (Philip)
• Application Number:
  US13/430,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20120241170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 166/478, 166/55, 166/797, 166/299, 166/378, 175/4.5, 175/4.56, 285/137.11, 285/141, 285/222, 285/331, 285/333, 89/11.5, 102/275.12, 102/274.2, 102/275.4, 102/275.6, 102/275.7, 102/275.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/04 between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/07 Telescoping joints for varying drill string lengths; Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/116 Gun or shaped-charge perforators

Abstract

A method can include interconnecting a well tool in a well tool assembly with a shock mitigating connection, the interconnecting being performed without threading, and positioning the well tool assembly in a wellbore. A well perforating assembly can include at least two perforating devices, a detonation train extending through the perforating devices, and a shock absorber positioned between the perforating devices. A method of assembling a perforating assembly can include, prior to installing the perforating assembly in a wellbore, pushing one perforating device connector into another perforating device connector without threading the connectors together, thereby: a) preventing disconnection of the connectors and b) making a connection in a detonation train. A well system can include a perforating assembly including multiple perforating guns and multiple shock absorbers. Each shock absorber may be interconnected between at least two of the perforating guns.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

interconnecting a well tool in a well tool assembly via a well tool connection comprising a male connector and a female connector, the female connector including a sleeve having relatively coarse pitch profiles on one side and relatively fine pitch profiles on an opposite side, the interconnecting of the well tool in the well tool assembly being performed by pushing the male connector into the female connector without rotating the male connector relative to the female connector, wherein radially outward deformation of the sleeve allows the male connector to be withdrawn from the female connector; and

then inserting the well tool in a wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the well tool connection further comprises at least one shock absorber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleeve permits insertion of the male connector into the female connector and prevents the male connector from being withdrawn from the female connector.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sleeve permits relative displacement between the connectors in one longitudinal direction, but prevents relative displacement between the connectors in an opposite longitudinal direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the well tool is selected from a group comprising:

a perforating gun, a firing head, a packer, an instrument carrier, a fluid sampler and an electronics module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interconnecting comprises making a detonation train connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises at least one longitudinal slit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises multiple segments.