Reusable switch module for gun system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12196064-B2
Application number	US-202217940839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2022
Priority date	Sep 8, 2022
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A housing for an electrical component of a gun system is disclosed. The housing includes a housing body, an uphole bulkhead, and a downhole bulkhead. The housing body defines a cavity. The uphole bulkhead is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The downhole bulkhead is disposed at least partially within the cavity and opposite to the uphole bulkhead. The downhole bulkhead includes an electrical contact extending between a first end and a second end of the downhole bulkhead. The cavity, the uphole bulkhead, and the second end of the downhole bulkhead define a sealed volume configured to receive and isolate the electrical component. The electrical contact is configured to be electrically connected to the electrical component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gun system housing comprising:
a housing body defining a cavity and comprising an uphole end and a downhole end;
an uphole bulkhead disposed proximate to the uphole end of the housing and configured to sealingly engage an inner surface of the housing;
a downhole bulkhead disposed proximate to the downhole end of the housing and configured to sealingly engage the inner surface of the housing;
an electrical contact disposed within the downhole bulkhead, comprising an uphole end and a downhole end, and extending between a first end and a second end of the downhole bulkhead;
a first electrical component disposed within the cavity between the uphole bulkhead and downhole bulkhead and configured to be electrically connected to the uphole end of the electrical contact; and
a second electrical component disposed within the housing and configured to be electrically connected to the downhole end of the electrical contact.

2. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing body comprises a tandem sub configured to attach to a gun carrier.

3. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the housing body comprises a gun carrier.

4. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact comprises a conductive pin.

5. The housing of claim 4 , wherein a first end of the conductive pin extends away from the first end of the downhole bulkhead and a second end of the conductive pin extends away from the second end of the downhole bulkhead and into the cavity.

6. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the downhole bulkhead comprises an outer bulkhead that sealingly engages the inner surface of the housing and an inner bulkhead that sealingly engages an inner surface of the outer bulkhead, and the electrical contact extends through the inner bulkhead.

7. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the uphole bulkhead comprises an uphole electrical contact configured to be electrically connected to the electrical component.

8. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the electrical component comprises an addressable switch.

9. The housing of claim 1 , wherein the second electrical component comprises a detonator or ignitor.

10. The housing of claim 1 , further comprising a pass-through component comprising:
a pass-through electrical connection electrically connected to the downhole end of the electrical contact; and
a movable electrical contact electrically connected to the pass-through electrical connection via a conductor, wherein the movable electrical contact is movable relative to the pass-through electrical connection.

11. The housing of claim 10 , wherein the pass-through component further comprises a biasing member coupled to the movable electrical contact and configured to urge the movable electrical contact in a downhole direction.

12. A switch module for a gun system, the switch module comprising:
a tandem sub having a first end and a second end defining a cavity therebetween, wherein the first end and the second end are each configured to couple to components of the gun system;
an uphole bulkhead disposed at the first end of the tandem sub and at least partially within the cavity;
a downhole bulkhead disposed at least partially within the cavity, the downhole bulkhead comprising an electrical contact extending through the downhole bulkhead, wherein the cavity, the uphole bulkhead, and the downhole bulkhead define a sealed volume; and
an addressable controller disposed within the sealed volume, electrically connected to the electrical contact, and configured to selectively send an electrical signal via the electrical contact; and
a pass-through component comprising:
a pass-through electrical connection electrically connected to the electrical contact of the downhole bulkhead; and
a movable electrical contact electrically connected to the pass-through electrical connection via a conductor, wherein the movable electrical contact is movable relative to the tandem sub.

13. The switch module of claim 12 , wherein a first end of the electrical contact extends toward a first end of the tandem sub and into the sealed volume and a second end of the electrical contact extends toward the second end of the tandem sub.

14. The switch module of claim 12 , wherein the downhole bulkhead comprises an outer bulkhead sealingly engaged with an inner surface of the tandem sub and an inner bulkhead sealingly engaged with an inner surface of the outer bulkhead, and the electrical contact extends through the inner bulkhead.

15. The switch module of claim 12 , wherein the pass-through component further comprises a biasing member coupled to the movable electrical contact and configured to urge the movable electrical contact toward the second end of the tandem sub.

16. A gun system comprising:
a perforating gun comprising:
a gun carrier;
a charge disposed within the gun carrier; and
a detonating cord coupled to the charge;

a tandem sub having a first end and a second end defining a cavity therebetween, wherein the second end of the tandem sub is coupled to the gun carrier;
an uphole bulkhead disposed at the first end of the tandem sub and at least partially within the cavity;
a downhole bulkhead disposed at least partially within the cavity, the downhole bulkhead comprising an electrical contact extending through the downhole bulkhead, wherein the cavity, the uphole bulkhead, and the downhole bulkhead define a sealed volume;
a pass-through component electrically connected to the electrical contact and disposed between the downhole bulkhead and the detonator, the pass-through component comprising:
a pass-through electrical connection electrically connected to the electrical contact of the downhole bulkhead; and
a movable electrical contact electrically connected to the pass-through electrical connection via a conductor, wherein the movable electrical contact is movable relative to the downhole bulkhead;

an addressable switch electrically connected to a first end of the electrical contact and disposed within the sealed volume; and
a detonator coupled to the detonating cord, electrically connected to a second end of the electrical contact, and disposed between the downhole bulkhead and the gun carrier, wherein the addressable switch is configured to selectively send an electrical signal to the detonator and detonate the charge.

17. The gun system of claim 16 , wherein the pass-through component further comprises a biasing member coupled to the movable electrical contact and configured to urge the movable electrical contact in contact with the detonator.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Wroblicky Michael
• Brooks Carson
• Powers Seth
• Sampson Timothy Wayne

Classifications

• E21B43/119

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

• E21B43/1185 Primary

  Ignition systems · CPC title