Tandem sub for self-orienting perforating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11959367-B2
Application number	US-202318310352-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2023
Priority date	Jan 21, 2022
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A method and apparatus for using a tandem sub to connect one or more perforating gun assemblies, having a rotational bearing mechanism lining the inner diameter in both ends to allow the charge tube assembly to rotate within the gun body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tandem sub, used to connect one or more perforating gun assemblies, comprising:
a first rotational mechanism located at a first end, wherein the first rotational mechanism is adapted to engage with a first charge tube in a first perforating gun and allow the first charge tube to rotate freely;
a second rotational mechanism located at a second end, wherein the second rotational mechanism is adapted to engage with a second charge tube in a second perforating gun and allow the second charge tube to rotate freely; and
an outer tandem housing, wherein the outer housing is adapted to engage a first outer gun housing of the first perforating gun and engage a second outer gun housing of the second perforating gun.

2. The tandem sub of claim 1 further comprising a feed through bulkhead installed within a through passage, wherein the feed through bulkhead provides an electric contact between the first perforating gun and the second perforating gun while further providing a pressure seal between the first perforating gun and the second perforating gun.

3. The tandem sub of claim 1 further comprising a first retainer coupled to the first rotation mechanism, wherein the first retainer retains and protects the first rotational mechanism.

4. The tandem sub of claim 1 further comprising a second retainer coupled to the second rotation mechanism, wherein the second retainer retains and protects the first rotational mechanisms.

5. The tandem sub of claim 1 wherein the first rotation mechanism is a needle bearing.

6. The tandem sub of claim 1 wherein the second rotation mechanism is a needle bearing.

7. A perforating gun system comprising:
a first perforating gun with a first charge tube;
a second perforating gun with a second charge tube;
a first tandem sub, used to connect one or more perforating gun assemblies, further comprising:
a first rotational mechanism located at a first end, wherein the first rotational mechanism is coupled with the first charge tube in the first perforating gun; and
a second rotational mechanism located at a second end, wherein the second rotational mechanism is coupled with the second charge tube in the second perforating gun.

8. The perforating gun system of claim 7 further comprising a feed through bulkhead installed within a through passage in the first tandem sub, wherein the feed through bulkhead provides an electric contact between the first perforating gun and the second perforating gun while further providing a pressure seal between the first perforating gun and the second perforating gun.

9. The perforating gun system of claim 8 , further comprising a top end fitting coupling a first end of the first charge tube to the first rotational mechanism, wherein the top end fitting is made of non-conductive material.

10. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , further comprising an electrical contact protruding outward from the top end fitting into the feed through bulkhead.

11. The perforating gun system of claim 10 , further comprising a wired connection connecting the top end fitting electrical contact to the input wire of a controller switch contained within the top end fitting.

12. The perforating gun system of claim of claim 11 , further comprising a through wire running the length of the first charge tube connecting an output wire of the controller switch to the electrical contact on a bottom end fitting.

13. The perforating gun system of claim of claim 9 , further comprising a bottom end fitting on a second end of the charge tube.

14. The perforating gun system of claim of claim 13 , wherein the bottom end fitting is composed of non-conductive material with an electrical contact protruding outward from the center of the bottom end fitting body.

15. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the top end fitting of the first charge tube assembly is supported by the first rotational mechanisms in the first tandem sub.

16. The perforating gun system of claim 7 , further comprising the first tandem sub having an outer tandem housing, wherein the outer housing is adapted to engage a first outer gun housing of the first perforating gun and engage a second outer gun housing of the second perforating gun.

17. The perforating gun system of claim 7 , wherein the first charge tube is weighted and freely rotates within the first perforating gun.

18. The perforating gun system of claim 7 , wherein the second charge tube is weighted and freely rotates within the second perforating gun.

19. A perforating gun system comprising:
a first perforating gun having a charge tube containing one or more perforating charges and a weight;
a first tandem sub further comprising:
a first rotational mechanism located at a first end, wherein the first rotational mechanism is coupled to a first end of the first perforating gun; and
a second rotational mechanism located at a second end;

a second tandem sub further comprising:
a first rotational mechanism located at a first end; and
a second rotational mechanism located at a second end, wherein the second rotational mechanism is coupled to a second end of the first perforating gun.

20. The perforating gun system of claim 19 further comprising a first feed through bulkhead installed within a through passage in the first tandem sub and a second feed through bulkhead installed within a through passage in the second tandem sub.

21. The perforating gun system of claim 20 , further comprising a top end fitting coupling a first end of the first perforating gun to the first rotational mechanism, wherein the top end fitting is made of non-conductive material.

22. The perforating gun system of claim 21 , further comprising an electrical contact protruding outward from the top end fitting into the feed through bulkhead.

23. The perforating gun system of claim 22 , further comprising a wired connection connecting the top end fitting electrical contact to the input wire of a controller switch contained within the top end fitting.

24. The perforating gun system of claim of claim 23 , further comprising a through wire running the length of the first perforating gun connecting an output wire of the controller switch to the electrical contact on a bottom end fitting.

25. The perforating gun system of claim of claim 21 , further comprising a bottom end fitting on a second end of the first perforating gun.

26. The perforating gun system of claim of claim 25 , wherein the bottom end fitting is composed of non-conductive material with an electrical contact protruding outward from the center of the bottom end fitting body.

27. The perforating gun system of claim 21 , wherein the top end fitting of the first perforating gun is supported by the first rotational mechanisms in the first tandem sub.

28. The perforating gun system of claim 24 , wherein the bottom end fitting of the first perforating gun is supported by the second rotational mechanisms in the second tandem sub.

29. The perforating gun system of claim 26 , wherein the center contacts in the top end fitting and bottom end fitting of first perforating gun electrically couple the first bulkhead feed through with the second bulkhead feed through.

30. The perforating gun system of claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of shape charges, each contained in a shaped charge holder that snaps into a set

Assignees

• Hunting Titan Inc

Inventors

• Bradley Ryan
• Veliz Julio Cesar

Classifications

• E21B43/119 Primary

  Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction · CPC title

• E21B43/117

  Shaped-charge perforators (E21B43/118 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B3/02

  adapted to be united into assemblies · CPC title

• F42B3/103 Primary

  Mounting initiator heads in initiators; Sealing-plugs · CPC title