Segmented Perforating Gun Contacts Without Wire Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current select-fire gun systems in oil & gas completions operations face issues with wire damage during assembly, handling, and conveyance, leading to electrical failures and incomplete charge firing due to open connections.
Innovation Solution
A modular perforating gun system with integrated electrical contacts within charge segments, eliminating the need for wires by using molded plastic housings with conductive materials and automated assembly, ensuring reliable power transfer to detonators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wires are used to provide power to detonators in each charge segment, then electrical power can be delivered to each charge, but the wires are prone to damage during assembly, handling, and conveyance, leading to open connections and charge failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wire component entirely from the system. Instead of using separate wires to connect power to each detonator, the electrical contacts are integrated directly into the charge segment housing through molding. This extraction of the wire element eliminates the complexity of wire routing, connection, and protection while maintaining reliable electrical power delivery to each detonator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the electrical contact function with the charge segment housing structure. The electrical contacts are molded as integral parts of the plastic housing, merging two previously separate components (housing and electrical connector) into a single unified component. This integration eliminates the need for separate wire connections and simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wires are used to power multiple detonators in a gun string, then each charge can be independently fired, but the wires are susceptible to damage during assembly, handling, and conveyance into the wellbore
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerable wire element from the system and replaces it with integrated electrical contacts molded into each charge segment. This elimination of wires removes the source of handling damage while preserving the select-fire capability through the integrated contact design that allows individual charge activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated electrical contacts are designed as single-use, non-repairable components molded into each charge segment. Rather than using durable but complex wire assemblies that require careful handling and protection, the patent employs simple, disposable integrated contacts that are replaced with each charge segment, eliminating the need for wire protection during handling and conveyance.
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations include a modular gun system for use in a wellbore comprising one or more charge segments each including a first electrical conductor having a first set of integrated electrical contacts.