Perforating Gun Orientation via Key Slot Latch Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current landing techniques for perforating gun systems in wellbores fail to consistently and accurately achieve the desired angular orientation, which can hinder hydrocarbon production.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a latch assembly and landing housing with key features and biasing mechanisms that ensure the perforating gun is secured in a specific orientation, using key slots and protrusions to couple only when correctly aligned, and a funneling feature to aid alignment, ensuring consistent detonation orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional landing techniques (packer, gun hanger, tubing anchor) are used to land the perforating gun system, then the gun system can be supported at the target position, but the angular orientation cannot be consistently and accurately controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The landing housing and latch assembly incorporate asymmetric key slots and key features that are geometrically complementary. The key slots have specific angular orientations and dimensional characteristics that only match the corresponding key features when the latch assembly is rotated to the precise desired angular orientation. This asymmetric geometric relationship ensures that the perforating gun system can only be landed in the correct angular position, simultaneously improving both orientation accuracy and landing reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the perforating gun system is supported by the tool string at the target position, then landing is simplified, but angular orientation control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly serves as an intermediary component between the tool string/perforating gun system and the landing housing. It provides a mechanical coupling mechanism that simultaneously achieves simple operation (by providing a clear drop-and-lock procedure) and precise angular orientation control (through the asymmetric key slot and key feature geometry). The latch assembly translates the simple dropping motion into precise angular positioning.
3Measurement precision
If key slots and protrusions are used to couple the latch assembly to the landing housing, then angular orientation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the landing housing with key slots, the latch assembly with key features, and the biasing mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The key slots and key features are separate geometric elements that work together, rather than a single complex integrated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism automatically engages the key features with the key slots when the latch assembly is dropped into the landing housing. The spring-loaded design provides self-aligning and self-latching functionality, eliminating the need for manual alignment or complex control systems. The mechanism serves itself by using the dropping motion to automatically engage the precision-oriented key slots and key features.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for landing a perforating gun in a particular orientation may include a landing housing securable within a wellbore and having at least one key slot extending into an inner surface of the landing housing. The system further includes a latch assembly configured to couple to the landing housing in a particular orientation. The latch assembly includes a tubular support structure and at least one key feature configured to extend and retract radially through a sidewall of the tubular support structure. The latch assembly further includes a biasing mechanism configured to bias the at least one key feature into the at least one key slot to couple the latch assembly to the landing housing. Additionally, the system includes a perforating gun system secured to the latch assembly such that the orientation of the latch assembly aims the perforating gun system in the wellbore.