POSITIONING DEVICE FOR SHAPED CHARGES IN A PERFORATING GUN MODULE

• US 20200024934A1
• Filed: 06/28/2019
• Published: 01/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH (DMC Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DYNAenergetics GmbH & Co. KG (DMC Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eitschberger, Christian, Shahinpour, Arash, Burmeister, Gernot Uwe, Scharf, Thilo
• Granted Patent: US 10,844,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/068 having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells cementing-heads E21B33/05
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/117 Shaped-charge perforators E21B43/118 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/1185 Ignition systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/119 Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes

Abstract

A positioning device includes a shaped charge holder. A plurality of shaped charge receptacles formed in the shaped charge holder are configured to arrange a plurality of shaped charges in a desired orientation. The shaped charges are detonated by a detonator in response to an initiation signal. The positioning device may be secured in a perforating gun module, with vertical and horizontal movement of the positioning being inhibited in the perforating gun module.

Claims

1. A shaped charge holder comprising:

a body comprising a plurality of shaped charge receptacles;

a plurality of positioning blocks, wherein each positioning block is configured to guide the mounting of a shaped charge in each of the shaped charge receptacles and is contoured to the shape of the shaped charge received in the shaped charge receptacles; and

a cavity extending through the body along a central axis of the body, wherein

the shaped charge receptacles extend radially from the central axis of the body and are arranged in a single axial plane, and

each of the shaped charge receptacles is configured for receiving the shaped charge in a configuration for directly initiating the shaped charge without the use of a detonating cord.

2. The shaped charge holder of claim 1, wherein the cavity and each shaped charge receptacle are together configured for exposing an initiation point of the shaped charge adjacent to the cavity.

3. The shaped charge holder of claim 1, further comprising a booster positioned at least in part within the cavity, wherein each shaped charge receptacle is configured for receiving the shaped charge in a configuration for directly initiating the shaped charge using the booster.

4. The shaped charge holder of claim 3, wherein the booster is initiated by a detonator.

5. The shaped charge holder of claim 1, wherein the body is a unitary structure formed from a plastic material.

6. The shaped charge holder of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of retention mechanisms extending from a portion of the body, wherein the retention mechanisms are configured to retain the shaped charge within the shaped charge receptacle.

7. The shaped charge holder of claim 1, wherein the shaped charge receptacles are spaced from about 60 degrees to about 120 degrees around the central axis.

8. The shaped charge holder of claim 1, wherein the shaped charge receptacle is configured such that at least a portion of the shaped charge is recessed within the body.

9. The shaped charge holder of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sets of additional shaped charge receptacles, wherein each set of the additional shaped charge receptacles is arranged an additional axial plane spaced apart from the single axial plane.

10. A shaped charge holder comprising:

a body comprising three shaped charge receptacles and a plurality of retention mechanisms extending from a portion of the shaped charge receptacles, wherein each of the shaped charge receptacles extends radially from a central axis of the body and the three shaped charge receptacles are arranged in a single axial plane;

a plurality of shaped charges, wherein each of the shaped charges is secured within one of the shaped charge receptacles by the retention mechanisms;

a cavity extending through the body along the central axis of the body adjacent the shaped charge receptacles; and

a detonator in ballistic communication with each of the shaped charges.

11. The shaped charge holder of claim 10, wherein each of the shaped charge receptacles comprises a depression formed in the body.

12. The shaped charge holder of claim 10, wherein the body is a unitary structure formed from a plastic material.

13. The shaped charge holder of claim 11,

wherein the depressions, in combination with the retention mechanisms, is configured to guide placement and retention of the shaped charges within the shaped charge receptacles.

14. The shaped charge holder of claim 10, wherein the shaped charge receptacle is configured such that at least a portion of the shaped charge is recessed within the body.

23. The shaped charge holder of claim 10, further comprising:

a booster positioned within at least a part of the cavity,

wherein the detonator is in ballistic communication with each of the shaped charges, via the booster.

15. A perforating gun assembly comprising:

a perforating gun housing comprising;

a first housing end;

a second housing end; and

a chamber extending from the first housing end to the second housing end;

a shaped charge holder positioned in the chamber, the shaped charge holder comprising;

a body;

a plurality of shaped charge receptacles formed in the body and arranged in a single axial plane; and

a plurality of retention mechanisms extending from a portion of the shaped charge receptacles;

a plurality of shaped charges arranged in shaped charge receptacles in the single axial plane; and

a detonator in ballistic communication with the shaped charges,

wherein the perforating gun housing is configured to be connected to an adjacent perforating gun housing without the use of a tandem sub.

17. The perforating gun assembly of claim 15, wherein the perforating gun housing comprises a length of less than about 9 inches.

18. The perforating gun assembly of claim 15, wherein

the first housing end of the perforating gun housing comprises a plurality of internal threads and the second housing end of the perforating gun housing comprises a plurality of external threads, such that one or more adjacent perforating guns can be connected to the first housing end and the second housing end by the internal or external threads, without the use of the tandem sub.

19. The perforating gun assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a ground bar secured to the shaped charge holder, wherein the ground bar is configured to contact a portion of the adjacent perforating gun housing.

21. The perforating gun assembly of claim 15, wherein the shaped charge holder further comprises:

a cavity extending through the body along a central axis of the body, the cavity being configured for receiving a booster,

wherein the detonator is configured for initiating the booster, and the booster is configured for initiating the shaped charges.

24. The perforating gun assembly of claim 15, wherein the perforating gun housing further comprises:

a slot formed in an inner surface of the perforating gun housing, the slot being configured to receive a protrusion extending from the shaped charge holder to orient the shaped charge holder in the chamber.

16. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22. The perforating gun assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

one or more sets of additional shaped charge receptacles, wherein each set of the additional shaped charge receptacles is arranged at an additional axial plane spaced apart from the single axial plane.