Reusable perforating gun system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12252965-B2
Application number	US-202318506438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2023
Priority date	Feb 8, 2019
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A tool string includes a perforating gun, a first electrical connector defining a receptacle and includes a first electrical contact positioned in the receptacle, and a sub including a sub housing including first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a central passage extending between the first end and the second end, and a bulkhead connector positionable in the central passage to form a pressure barrier along the central passage, the bulkhead connector including an outer housing defining a radially outer periphery of the bulkhead connector, and a second electrical contact positioned along the outer periphery of the bulkhead connector and configured to establish radially directed electrical contact with the first electrical contact of the first electrical connector irrespective of the angular orientation of the second electrical contact relative to the first electrical contact.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool string for perforating a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, comprising:
a perforating gun configured to selectably form perforations in the tubular string;
a first electrical connector configured to couple with the perforating gun, wherein the first electrical connector defines a receptacle and comprises a first electrical contact positioned in the receptacle;
a sub configured to couple with the perforating gun, wherein the sub comprises:
a sub housing comprising first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a central passage extending between the first end and the second end; and
a bulkhead connector positionable in the central passage to form a pressure barrier along the central passage, the bulkhead connector comprising an outer housing defining a radially outer periphery of the bulkhead connector, and a second electrical contact positioned along the outer periphery of the bulkhead connector and configured to establish radially directed electrical contact with the first electrical contact of the first electrical connector irrespective of the angular orientation of the second electrical contact relative to the first electrical contact.

2. The tool string of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact comprises an annular electrical contact extending circumferentially around the outer periphery of the bulkhead connector when the bulkhead connector is electrically connected to the first electrical connector.

3. The tool string of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector is receivable in the receptacle of the first electrical connector to establish electrical contact between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

4. The tool string of claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead connector comprises one or more annular seal assemblies are positioned along the outer periphery thereof to seal against an inner surface of the sub defining the central passage thereof.

5. The tool string of claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead connector comprises a third electrical contact located at a longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector.

6. The tool string of claim 5 , wherein the third electrical contact is positioned along a longitudinal axis of the bulkhead connector.

7. The tool string of claim 5 , wherein the bulkhead connector comprises a fourth electrical contact located at an opposing longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector and which is electrically connected to the third electrical contact.

8. The tool string of claim 7 , wherein the second electrical contact is positioned longitudinally between the third electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact.

9. The tool string of claim 5 , further comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector and configured to couple with the perforating gun and comprising a fourth electrical contact electrically connectable to the third electrical contact of the bulkhead connector.

10. The tool string of claim 9 , wherein the second electrical connector is releasably connectable to the longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector.

11. A tool string for perforating a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, comprising:
a perforating gun configured to selectably form perforations in the tubular string;
a first electrical connector configured to couple with the perforating gun, wherein the first electrical connector defines a receptacle and comprises an annular first electrical contact positioned in the receptacle;
a sub configured to couple with the perforating gun, wherein the sub comprises:
a sub housing comprising first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a central passage extending between the first end and the second end; and
a bulkhead connector positionable in the central passage to form a pressure barrier along the central passage, the bulkhead connector comprising an outer housing defining a radially outer periphery of the bulkhead connector, a second electrical contact positioned along the outer periphery of the bulkhead connector and configured to establish radially directed electrical contact with the first electrical contact with the first electrical contact extending circumferentially around the outer periphery of the bulkhead connector.

12. The tool string of claim 11 , wherein the second electrical contact projects radially outwards from the outer housing of the bulkhead connector.

13. The tool string of claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector is receivable in the receptacle of the first electrical connector to establish electrical contact between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

14. The tool string of claim 11 , wherein the bulkhead connector comprises one or more annular seal assemblies are positioned along the outer periphery thereof to seal against an inner surface of the sub defining the central passage thereof.

15. The tool string of claim 11 , wherein the bulkhead connector comprises a third electrical contact located at a longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector.

16. The tool string of claim 11 , further comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector and configured to couple with the perforating gun and comprising a fourth electrical contact electrically connectable to the third electrical contact of the bulkhead connector.

17. A tool string for perforating a tubular string positioned in a wellbore, comprising:
a perforating gun configured to selectably form perforations in the tubular string;
a first electrical connector configured to couple with the perforating gun, wherein the first electrical connector defines a receptacle and comprises an annular first electrical contact positioned in the receptacle;
a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector and configured to couple with the perforating gun and comprising a second electrical contact;
a sub configured to couple with the perforating gun, wherein the sub comprises:
a sub housing comprising first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a central passage extending between the first end and the second end; and
a bulkhead connector positionable in the central passage to form a pressure barrier along the central passage, the bulkhead connector comprising an outer housing defining a radially outer periphery of the bulkhead connector, a third electrical contact positioned along the outer periphery of the bulkhead connector and configured to establish radially directed electrical contact with the first electrical contact, and a fourth electrical contact positioned at a longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector and configured to establish longitudinally directed electrical contact with the second electrical contact.

18. The tool string of claim 17 , wherein the fourth electrical contact is spaced radially inwards from the radially outer periphery of the bulkhead connector.

19. The tool string of claim 17 , wherein the bulkhead connector comprises a fifth electrical contact positioned at an opposing longitudinal end of the bulkhead connector and electrically connected to the fourth electrical contact.

20. The tool string of claim 19 , wherein the third electrical contact is located longitudinally between the fourth electrical contact and the fifth electrical contact.

21. The tool string of claim 17 , wherein the fourth electrical contact is positioned along a longitudinal axis of the bulkhead connector.

22. The tool string of

Assignees

• G&H Diversified Mfg Lp

Inventors

• Knight Benjamin Vascal
• Kash James Edward
• Wells Joe Noel

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

• E21B23/065

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

• E21B23/00

  Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) · CPC title

• F42D1/05

  Electric circuits for blasting · CPC title