Selectable switch to set a downhole tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10151181-B2
Application number	US-201615190888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2016
Priority date	Jun 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A perforating gun includes a carrier, an explosive charge positioned within the carrier, a detonator positioned within the carrier, and a switch positioned within the carrier. The detonator detonates the explosive charge when the detonator receives power. The switch actuates between at least a first position and a second position. The switch transmits power to the detonator when the switch is in the first position, and the switch transmits power to a pyrotechnic device when the switch is in the second position. The pyrotechnic device detonates or deflagrates when the pyrotechnic device receives power.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A perforating gun, comprising:
a carrier;
an explosive charge positioned within the carrier;
a detonator positioned within the carrier, wherein the detonator detonates the explosive charge when the detonator receives power; and
a switch positioned within the carrier and configured to actuate between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the switch transmits power to the detonator when the switch is in the first position, wherein the switch transmits power to a pyrotechnic device when the switch is in the second position, and wherein the pyrotechnic device detonates or deflagrates when the pyrotechnic device receives power,
wherein the pyrotechnic device comprises an ignitor that causes a plug to actuate from a first state to a second state in response to the ignitor deflagrating.

2. The perforating gun of claim 1 , wherein the switch is also configured to actuate into a third position.

3. The perforating gun of claim 2 , wherein the switch does not transmit power to the detonator or the pyrotechnic device when the switch is in the third position.

4. The perforating gun of claim 2 , wherein the switch transmits power to a motor, a release mechanism, or a measurement tool when the switch is in the third position.

5. The perforating gun of claim 1 , further comprising a body configured to be inserted into the carrier, wherein the switch and the detonator are positioned within the body.

6. The perforating gun of claim 1 , wherein the power is transmitted from the switch in the second position to the pyrotechnic device without passing through an intermediate switch.

7. The perforating gun of claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic device is not positioned within the carrier.

8. The perforating gun of claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic device is different from the detonator and the explosive charge.

9. A downhole tool, comprising:
a first perforating gun comprising:
a carrier;
an explosive charge positioned within the carrier;
a detonator positioned within the carrier, wherein the detonator detonates the explosive charge when the detonator receives power; and
a switch positioned within the carrier and configured to actuate between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the switch transmits power to the detonator when the switch is in the first position, wherein the switch transmits power to an ignitor when the switch is in the second position;

a setting tool coupled the first perforating gun, wherein the setting tool has the ignitor positioned therein; and
a plug coupled to the setting tool, wherein the ignitor causes the plug to actuate from a first state to a second state when the ignitor receives power.

10. The downhole tool of claim 9 , further comprising a second perforating gun comprising:
a carrier;
an explosive charge positioned within the carrier;
a detonator positioned within the carrier, wherein the detonator detonates the explosive charge when the detonator receives power; and
a switch positioned within the carrier and configured to actuate between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the switch transmits power to the detonator when the switch is in the first position, wherein switch connects a computing system at the surface to the first perforating gun when the switch is in the second position.

11. The downhole tool of claim 10 , wherein the first perforating gun is positioned between the second perforating gun and the plug.

12. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein the switch in the first perforating gun is also configured to actuate into a third position, and wherein the switch in the first perforating gun does not transmit power to the detonator or the ignitor when the switch in the first perforating gun is in the third position.

13. The downhole tool of claim 9 , wherein the power is transmitted from the switch of the first perforating gun to the ignitor without passing through an intermediate switch.

14. A method for operating a downhole tool, comprising:
running a downhole tool into a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool comprises:
a first perforating gun;
a setting tool; and
a plug;

transmitting a first signal from a computing system to a first switch in the first perforating gun, wherein the first switch actuates into a first position that transmits power to a first pyrotechnic device in response to receiving the first signal, and wherein the first pyrotechnic device causes the plug to actuate from a first state to a second state when the first pyrotechnic device receives power; and
transmitting a second signal from the computing system to the first switch in the first perforating gun, wherein the first switch actuates into a second position that transmits power to a second pyrotechnic device in response to receiving the second signal, and wherein the second pyrotechnic device causes a charge in the first perforating gun to explode when the second pyrotechnic device receives power.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first pyrotechnic device comprises an ignitor, and the second pyrotechnic device comprises a detonator.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the ignitor is positioned in the setting tool, and the detonator is positioned in the first perforating gun.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the downhole tool further comprises a second perforating gun positioned above the first perforating gun, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a third signal from the computing system to a second switch in the second perforating gun before the first signal is transmitted to the first switch in the first perforating gun, wherein the second switch actuates into a first position that places the computing system in communication with the first switch in response to receiving the third signal.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transmitting a fourth signal from the computing system to the second switch after the second signal is transmitted to the first switch, wherein the second switch actuates into a second position that transmits power to a detonator in the second perforating gun in response to receiving the fourth signal, and wherein the detonator in the second perforating gun causes a charge in the second perforating gun to explode when the detonator in the second perforating gun receives power.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Lopez Pedro Alejandro Hernandez
• Goodman Kenneth Randall

Classifications

• E21B23/065

  setting tool actuated by explosion or gas generating means · CPC title

• E21B43/1185 Primary

  Ignition systems · CPC title

• E21B33/12

  Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16) · CPC title