Perforating Gun Asymmetrical Threading and Self-Service Electrical Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current perforating guns require complex assembly and electrical wiring connections at the well site, which can lead to errors and safety issues due to harsh environments and the need for manual wire connections, and they often have uniform diameters with female threads on both ends, limiting the elimination of subs that house electronic and ballistic components.
Innovation Solution
The perforating gun system features a gun body with one end swaged down to a smaller diameter for male threads and the other end with female threads, allowing direct threading of thin-walled guns together, and incorporates a metallic shaped charge holder as a conductor for electrical communication without passing wires through the gun body, along with a cartridge housing electrical and ballistic components for modular integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If perforating guns use uniform diameter with female threads on both ends, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but the ability to eliminate subs housing electronic and ballistic components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The gun body employs asymmetric threading configuration with male threads at one end and female threads at the other end, enabling direct connection between gun bodies without requiring intermediate subs. This asymmetric design eliminates the need for subs housing electronic and ballistic components while maintaining assembly flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions previously separated into subs (electronic components, ballistic components, and connection functions) directly into the gun body structure. By integrating these functions into the gun body itself, the design eliminates subs while reducing overall assembly complexity.
2Reliability
If manual wire connections are made at the well site, then electrical connectivity is established, but errors and safety issues occur due to harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service electrical connectivity through direct mechanical engagement between mating connectors on adjacent gun bodies. The connectors automatically establish electrical contact when gun bodies are threaded together, eliminating the need for manual wire connections and reducing errors caused by harsh well site environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges mechanical connection and electrical connection into a single integrated operation. The same threading action that mechanically joins gun bodies also simultaneously establishes electrical connectivity through integrated connectors, eliminating separate manual wiring steps.
3Reliability
If wires are passed through the gun body, then electrical communication is achieved, but the risk of damage and errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the electrical communication function from the gun body interior by providing dedicated external connectors on the outer surface of the gun body. This eliminates the need to pass wires through the gun body, reducing the risk of wire damage and simplifying the overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The connectors serve as intermediary elements that establish electrical communication between adjacent gun bodies without requiring wires to traverse the gun body interior. The connectors are positioned on the outer surface, acting as mediators that transfer electrical signals during the threading operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies assembly, reduces the risk of errors and damage, eliminates the need for manual wire connections, and allows for interchangeable and modular housing of electrical and ballistic components, enhancing safety and efficiency in well perforation operations.
Implementation Method 1
one end swaged down to a smaller diameter for male threads
Implementation Method 2
incorporates a metallic shaped charge holder as a conductor for electrical communication
Data Source
AI summary
A box by pin perforating gun system using swaged down gun bodies, a removable cartridge to hold a detonator and switch, and an insulated charge holder as an electrical feed-through.