Perforating gun and alignment assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12326069-B2
Application number	US-202118249645-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2021
Priority date	Oct 20, 2020
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A perforating gun and alignment assembly includes a perforating gun housing formed from a singular and monolithic piece of metal material, and an alignment ring rotatably secured to the housing. A shaped charge positioning device is positioned in a chamber of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A perforating gun and alignment assembly comprising:
a perforating gun housing formed from a singular and monolithic piece of metal material, the perforating gun housing comprising:
a first housing end portion comprising an internal thread;
a second housing end portion comprising a threaded end portion including an external thread, a friction reduction portion spaced apart from the threaded end portion, and a sealing portion extending between the threaded end portion and the friction reduction portion; and
a chamber extending from the first housing end portion towards the second housing end portion,
wherein the friction reduction portion comprises a channel positioned between a first protrusion and a second protrusion;

an alignment assembly rotatably secured to the second end portion of the perforating gun housing, the alignment assembly comprising an alignment ring coupled to the second housing end portion;
a gap extends between an inner surface of the alignment ring and an outer surface of the second end portion of the perforating gun housing; and
a retention ring threadingly connected to the outer surface of the second housing end portion,
wherein a portion of the retention ring is positioned in the gap.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are circumferentially disposed around the second housing end portion.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the alignment ring is disposed around the friction reduction portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the alignment ring comprises:
a first end including a threaded exterior portion;
a second end; and
a cavity extending between the first end and the second end.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cavity of the alignment ring comprises:
an upper portion;
a lower portion;
a medial channel extending between the upper portion and the lower portion,
wherein the upper portion is adjacent the friction reduction portion of the perforating gun housing.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention ring comprises:
an end wall;
a centrally-oriented opening extending through the end wall;
a hole extending through the end wall, wherein the hole is space apart from the centrally-oriented opening; and
a side wall extending from the end wall, and including a threaded inner surface.

7. A perforating gun and alignment assembly comprising:
a perforating gun housing formed from a singular and monolithic piece of metal material, the perforating gun housing comprising:
a first housing end portion comprising an internal thread;
a second housing end portion comprising a friction reduction portion; and
a chamber extending from the first housing end portion towards the second housing end portion;

an alignment assembly rotatably secured to the second housing end portion of the perforating gun housing, the alignment assembly comprising an alignment ring disposed around the friction reduction portion, wherein the alignment ring is coupled to the second housing end portion;
a shaped charge positioning device positioned in the chamber of the perforating gun housing, wherein the shaped charge positioning device comprises a shaped charge holder portion for housing a shaped charge;
a gap extends between an inner surface of the alignment ring and an outer surface of the second end portion of the perforating gun housing; and
a retention ring threadingly connected to the outer surface of the second housing end portion, wherein:
the friction reduction portion comprises a circumferential channel positioned between a first protrusion and a second protrusion;
a portion of the retention ring is positioned in the gap; and
the retention ring comprises:
an end wall;
a centrally-oriented opening extending through the end wall; and
a side wall extending from the end wall, and including a threaded inner surface.

8. A perforating gun and alignment assembly comprising:
a perforating gun housing formed from a singular and monolithic piece of metal material, the perforating gun housing comprising:
a first housing end portion comprising an internal thread;
a second housing end portion comprising a threaded end portion including an external thread, and a friction reduction portion spaced apart from the threaded end portion; and
a chamber extending from the first housing end portion towards the second housing end portion;

a single shaped charge positioning device positioned in the chamber, wherein the single shaped charge positioning device comprises a shaped charge holder portion for housing a shaped charge;
an electrically contactable bulkhead assembly sealingly secured in the second housing end portion;
a retention collar positioned adjacent the electrically contactable bulkhead assembly, wherein a bulkhead body of the electrically contactable bulkhead assembly is retained by an upper wall of the retention collar; and
an alignment assembly secured to the second end portion of the perforating gun housing, wherein the alignment assembly is movable between a rotatable position and a non-rotatable position, wherein:
the alignment assembly comprises:
an alignment ring disposed around the friction reduction portion, wherein the alignment ring comprises:
a first end;
a second end; and
a cavity extending between the first end and the second end and comprising:
an upper portion;
a lower portion; and
a medial channel extending between the upper portion and the lower portion,
wherein the upper portion is adjacent the friction reduction portion of the perforating gun housing.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the friction reduction portion comprises:
a channel positioned between a first protrusion and a second protrusion.

10. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein
a gap extends between an inner surface of the alignment ring and an outer surface of the second end portion of the perforating gun housing, and
a portion of a retention ring is positioned in the gap and is threadingly connected to the outer surface of the second housing end portion.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the retention ring comprises:
an end wall;
a centrally-oriented opening extending through the end wall;
a hole extending through the end wall, wherein the hole is space apart from the centrally-oriented opening; and
a side wall extending from the end wall, and including a threaded inner surface.

Assignees

• DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH

Inventors

• Eitschberger Christian
• Scharf Thilo
• Burmeister Gernot Uwe

Classifications

• E21B43/119

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

• E21B43/117 Primary

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