U.S. patent application number 15/253057 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-02 for high shot density perforating gun.
This patent application is currently assigned to OWEN OIL TOOLS LP. The applicant listed for this patent is OWEN OIL TOOLS LP. Invention is credited to SHAUN M. GEERTS, JEFFREY D. WOOD.
Application Number | 20170058649 15/253057 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58103416 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170058649 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GEERTS; SHAUN M. ; et
al. |
March 2, 2017 |
HIGH SHOT DENSITY PERFORATING GUN
Abstract
A perforating gun includes a charge tube disposed inside a
carrier and a plurality of sets of shaped charges axially
distributed along the charge tube and the initiation tube. Each
shaped charge of the plurality of shaped charges is supported at an
opening in the charge tube. The perforating gun also includes a
plurality of detonator cords. Each detonator cord of the plurality
of detonator cords connects to one shaped charge in each set of
shaped charges.
Inventors: |
GEERTS; SHAUN M.; (Crowley,
TX) ; WOOD; JEFFREY D.; (Keller, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OWEN OIL TOOLS LP |
|
|
|
|
|
Assignee: |
OWEN OIL TOOLS LP
|
Family ID: |
58103416 |
Appl. No.: |
15/253057 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62213235 |
Sep 2, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42D 1/043 20130101;
E21B 43/116 20130101; E21B 43/117 20130101; C06C 5/04 20130101;
E21B 43/1185 20130101; F42B 1/02 20130101; F42D 1/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 43/117 20060101
E21B043/117; F42D 1/22 20060101 F42D001/22; C06C 5/04 20060101
C06C005/04; E21B 43/1185 20060101 E21B043/1185; F42B 1/02 20060101
F42B001/02 |
Claims
1. A perforating gun, comprising: a carrier; a charge tube disposed
inside the carrier; a plurality of sets of shaped charges axially
distributed along the charge tube and the initiation tube, each
shaped charge of the plurality of shaped charges being supported at
an opening in the charge tube; and a plurality of detonator cords,
each detonator cord of the plurality of detonator cords connecting
to one shaped charge in each set of shaped charges.
2. The perforating gun of claim 1, further comprising an initiation
tube disposed inside the charge tube, wherein each shaped charge is
further supported at an associated opening in the initiation
tube.
3. The perforating gun of claim 2, wherein the charge tube and the
initiation tube are concentric tubular members.
4. The perforating gun of claim 3, wherein a majority of a casing
of each shaped charge is positioned between the initiation tube and
the charge tube.
5. The perforating gun of claim 2, wherein the plurality of
detonator cords runs parallel through a bore of the initiation
tube.
6. The perforating gun of claim 2, wherein the plurality of
detonator cords runs parallel to a longitudinal axis of the charge
tube in a helical manner through the initiation tube.
7. The perforating gun of claim 1, wherein each shaped charge in at
least one set of shaped charges is detonated by a different
detonator cord of the plurality of detonator cords.
8. The perforating gun of claim 1, wherein adjacent sets of shaped
charges have an angular phase shift relative to one another.
9. The perforating gun of claim 1, wherein the shaped charges of
each set are circumferentially distributed along a plane transverse
to a longitudinal axis of the carrier.
10. A perforating gun, comprising: a carrier; a charge tube
disposed inside the carrier; a plurality of sets of shaped charges
axially distributed along the charge tube and the initiation tube,
each shaped charge of the plurality of shaped charges being
supported at an opening in the charge tube, wherein the shaped
charges of each set are circumferentially distributed along a plane
transverse to a longitudinal axis of the carrier; a plurality of
detonator cords, each detonator cord of the plurality of detonator
cords connecting to one shaped charge in each set of shaped
charges; and an initiation tube disposed inside the charge tube,
wherein each shaped charge is further supported at an associated
opening in the initiation tube.
11. The perforating gun of claim 10, wherein adjacent sets of
shaped charges have an angular phase shift relative to one another,
and wherein the shaped charges of each set are circumferentially
distributed along a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
carrier.
12. The perforating gun of claim 10, wherein the charge tube and
the initiation tube are concentric tubular members, wherein a
majority of a casing of each shaped charge is positioned between
the initiation tube and the charge tube, and wherein the plurality
of detonator cords runs parallel through a bore of the initiation
tube.
13. A method of using a perforating gun, comprising: attaching the
perforating gun to a conveyance device, the perforating gun
including: a carrier, a charge tube disposed inside the carrier, a
plurality of sets of shaped charges axially distributed along the
charge tube and the initiation tube, each shaped charge of the
plurality of shaped charges being supported at an opening in the
charge tube, and a plurality of detonator cords, each detonator
cord of the plurality of detonator cords connecting to one shaped
charge in each set of shaped charges; conveying the perforating gun
into a wellbore using the carrier; positioning the perforating gun
at a desired depth in the wellbore; and transmitting a signal from
a surface location to fire the perforating gun.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 62/213,235, filed Sep. 2, 2015, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to devices and method for
perforating a subterranean formation.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, are produced from cased
wellbores intersecting one or more hydrocarbon reservoirs in a
formation. These hydrocarbons flow into the wellbore through
perforations in the cased wellbore. Perforations are usually made
using a perforating gun that is generally comprised of a steel tube
"carrier," a charge tube riding on the inside of the carrier, and
with shaped charges positioned in the charge tube. The gun is
lowered into the wellbore on electric wireline, slickline, tubing,
coiled tubing, or other conveyance device until it is adjacent to
the hydrocarbon producing formation. Thereafter, a surface signal
actuates a firing head associated with the perforating gun, which
then detonates the shaped charges. Projectiles or jets formed by
the explosion of the shaped charges penetrate the casing to thereby
allow formation fluids to flow through the perforations and into a
production string.
[0004] In certain instances, it may be desirable to form a
relatively large number of perforations within a pay zone. More
generally, there may be activities that require a tool capable of
providing a high density of perforating jets, such as in connection
with well abandonment. The present disclosure addresses the need
for perforating guns that can provide high shot density.
SUMMARY
[0005] In aspects, the present disclosure provides a perforating
gun having high shot density characteristics. The perforating gun
may include a carrier; a charge tube disposed inside the carrier; a
plurality of sets of shaped charges axially distributed along the
charge tube and the initiation tube, each shaped charge of the
plurality of shaped charges being supported at an opening in the
charge tube; and a plurality of detonator cords, each detonator
cord of the plurality of detonator cords connecting to one shaped
charge in each set of shaped charges.
[0006] It should be understood that certain features of the
invention have been summarized rather broadly in order that the
detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood,
and in order that the contributions to the art may be appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will in some cases form the
subject of the claims appended thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For detailed understanding of the present disclosure,
references should be made to the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
elements have been given like numerals and wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an end view of a
perforating gun according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a sectional view of the
FIG. 1 embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a side view of a prior art
perforating gun;
[0011] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an isometric view of a
perforating gun according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
[0012] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a well completion system
that includes a perforating tool according to the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for
perforating a formation intersected by a wellbore. The present
disclosure is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. There
are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail,
specific embodiments of the present disclosure with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not
intended to limit the disclosure to that illustrated and described
herein.
[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one
embodiment of a perforating gun 100 in accordance with the present
disclosure. The perforating gun 100 may include a carrier 102 that
has a bore 103 for receiving a charge tube 104 and an initiation
tube 106. The charge tube 104 and the initiation tube 106 each may
include openings 108 and 110, respectively, for supporting shaped
charges 112. In one embodiment, the carrier 102, the charge tube
104, and the initiation tube 106 may be formed as concentric
tubulars made of a suitable material such as metal. However, it
should be understood that other configurations, such as strips, may
also be used.
[0015] As best seen in FIG. 2, the shaped charges 112 may be of
convention design and include a case 116 having an open end 118 and
a closed end 120. A post 122 may be formed at the closed end 120
and shaped to connect with a detonator cord 124 (FIG. 1). The
charge tube opening 108 supports the shaped charge 112 at the open
end 118. The open end 118 of the shaped charge 112 may be clipped,
screwed, or otherwise fixed within the charge tube opening 108.
[0016] The initiation tube opening 110 receives the shaped charge
112 at the closed end 120 and supports the connection between the
post 122 and the detonator cord 124 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments,
the initiation tube opening 110 is sized to receive the post 122,
which may be affixed to the initiation tube 110 using features such
as one or more bendable tabs or a charge clip.
[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, six sets of shaped charges
112 are axially distributed along the charge tube 104. Each set has
five shaped charges 112 circumferentially distributed along a plane
126 transverse to a longitudinal axis 128 of the perforating gun
100 or a component of the perforating gun 100, e.g., the carrier
102. The angular positions of the shaped charges 112 of adjacent
sets are phase-shifted. That is, the shaped charges 112 of adjacent
sets point radially in different directions. This angular offset
allows the space between two shaped charges 112 of one set to be
partially occupied by a shaped charge 112 of an adjacent set.
Circumferentially offsetting the angular position of the shaped
charges 112 in this manner increases the number of shaped charges
112 that can be packed within the internal volume of the
perforating gun 100. Of course, greater or fewer sets of shaped
charges 112 may be used at each plane 126 depending on the size and
configuration of the perforating gun 100. Likewise, a greater or
fewer number of shaped charges 112 may be used within each set.
[0018] As best seen in FIG. 1, in embodiments, each shaped charge
112 of a given set is independently detonated. For example, each
shaped charge 112 of the one set connects to a separate detonator
cord 124. In the illustrated embodiment, there are five detonator
cords 124 that run in a parallel fashion through an inner bore 130
of the initiation tube 106. Each detonator cord 124 ballistically
connects to one shaped charge 112 in each set of shaped charges 112
such that the energy released by the detonator cord 124 is
transferred to and detonates the shaped charges 112. The detonator
cords 124 may undulate or bend in order to accommodate the
phase-shifts of successive shaped charges 112.
[0019] In other embodiments, the shaped charges 112 of a given set
may be detonated by a common detonator cord 124. More generally,
any detonation mechanism that allows the shaped charges 112 to be
shifted radially outward and away from the tool axis may be
used.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, conventional shaped charges 20 tend to
be arranged closer to a center line or tool axis 22 of a
perforating gun 24. Positioning these shaped charges 20 close to
the tool axis 22 allows a single detonator cord 26 to detonate all
of the shaped charges 20. This positioning reduces the
circumferential area along which the shaped charges 20 can be
disposed and thereby restricts the total number of shaped charges
that can be packed into a given volume of perforating gun.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, embodiments of the present disclosure
position the shaped charges 108 further radially outward from the
tool axis 128 (FIG. 2), which increases the amount of
circumferential area along which the shaped charges 112 can be
distributed and arranged on a transverse plane. Thus, the number of
shaped charges 112 that can be packed into a given volume of a
perforating gun 100 is increased.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a well construction
and/or hydrocarbon production facility 30 positioned over
subterranean formations of interest 32. The facility 30 can be a
land-based or offshore rig adapted to drill, complete, or service
the wellbore 12. The facility 30 can include known equipment and
structures such as a platform 40 at the earth's surface 42, a
wellhead 44, and casing 46. A work string 48 suspended within the
well bore 12 is used to convey tooling into and out of the wellbore
12. The work string 48 can include coiled tubing 50 injected by a
coiled tubing injector (not shown). Other work strings can include
tubing, drill pipe, wire line, slick line, or any other known
conveyance means. The work string 48 can include telemetry lines or
other signal/power transmission mediums that establish one-way or
two-way telemetric communication from the surface to a tool
connected to an end of the work string 48. A suitable telemetry
system (not shown) can be known types as mud pulse, electrical
signals, acoustic, or other suitable systems. A surface control
unit (e.g., a power source and/or firing panel) 54 can be used to
monitor and/or operate tooling connected to the work string 48. A
perforating gun 100 is coupled to an end of the work string 48. The
perforating gun 100 may include one or more detonators 60 that
detonate the detonator cords 124 (FIG. 1).
[0023] In one mode of use, the perforating gun 100 may be conveyed
into the wellbore 12 and positioned at a desired depth. Thereafter,
a suitable signal is transmitted to activate the detonator(s) 60,
which then fires the perforating gun 100. The projectiles formed by
the shaped charges 112 may perform any number of functions
including, but not limited to, perforating the formation or a
wellbore tubular such as casing or liner. These projectiles may
also be used to sever a wellbore tubular so that the tubular may be
extracted from the wellbore 12.
[0024] The foregoing description is directed to particular
embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of
illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to one
skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the
embodiment set forth above are possible without departing from the
scope of the invention. It is intended that the following claims be
interpreted to embrace all such modifications and changes.
* * * * *