Timed Self-Sealing Threads for Perforating Gun Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing perforating gun systems for subterranean wells face challenges in aligning and sealing perforating charges efficiently, leading to potential misalignment and pressure leaks during the perforation process.
Innovation Solution
The use of timed male and female threads with self-sealing tapered designs and positive stops, such as 45-degree angled faces, allows for precise alignment and sealing of perforating guns without the need for additional alignment subs or o-rings, providing a pressure seal and simplifying manufacturing and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional alignment subs and o-rings are used for connecting perforating guns, then sealing and alignment functions are provided, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the alignment sub and o-ring seal into an integrated threaded connection system. The tapered threads themselves provide both the alignment function (through their geometric configuration) and the sealing function (through the tapered contact surfaces), eliminating the need for separate alignment subs and o-rings. This merging of functions directly reduces device complexity while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded connection system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: alignment of perforating charges, sealing of pressure-containing surfaces, and mechanical connection of gun components. The tapered threads serve as a multi-functional element that replaces multiple specialized components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining all necessary functions.
2Reliability
If additional alignment subs and o-rings are used, then sealing is improved, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment sub and o-ring seal are merged into a single integrated threaded connection structure. The tapered threads provide both alignment and sealing functions through their geometric design, eliminating the need for separate sealed components. This reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, inventoried, and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing and assembly costs while maintaining pressure sealing capability.
3Ease of operation
If conventional threading is used for connecting guns, then assembly is simple, but alignment precision of perforating charges deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric tapered thread geometry that provides built-in alignment features. The specific angle and configuration of the tapered threads create a self-aligning mechanism that ensures precise orientation of perforating charges during assembly. This asymmetric design maintains ease of assembly through straightforward threading while achieving superior alignment precision compared to conventional symmetric threading.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded connection is designed with pre-configured alignment geometry that automatically aligns the perforating charges as the guns are being assembled. The tapered threads perform the alignment action during the assembly process itself, eliminating the need for separate alignment steps or additional alignment components, thereby maintaining assembly simplicity while achieving precise charge alignment.
4Reliability
If tapered self-sealing threads are used, then sealing and alignment are improved, but thread design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies standard thread parameters (taper angle, pitch, profile) to create self-sealing tapered threads that provide both sealing and alignment functions. By changing the geometric parameters of the threads, the design achieves improved reliability without fundamentally altering the basic threaded connection concept. The parameter changes are sufficient to provide the desired functionality while remaining within the realm of conventional thread design, thus limiting the increase in design complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Using timed or clocked threads to seal a first perforating gun to a second perforating gun that aligns the scallops of both perforating guns in a desired configuration when the threads are fully engaged, such as in at least one example, using a positive stop that resist rotation of the threads beyond a predetermined point of thread engagement.