Addressable switch assembly for wellbore systems and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12366143-B2
Application number	US-202117462392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2021
Priority date	Jan 23, 2018
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A downhole system including a gun string configured to be deployed into a wellbore, the gun string including plural gun assemblies. A detonator block attached to a given gun assembly of the plural gun assemblies. The detonator block includes a switch assembly. The switch assembly includes a communication unit (CU) configured to receive, from an external controller, a fire command to activate a detonator associated with the detonator block, a measuring unit configured to measure a parameter (V) at the switch assembly, and a computing core (CC) configured to locally make a decision whether to activate or not the detonator, after the fire command is received from the external controller, based on whether a voltage measured by the measuring unit at the switch assembly is larger or not than a threshold voltage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A downhole system comprising:
a gun string configured to be deployed into a wellbore, the gun string including plural gun assemblies; and
a detonator block attached to a given gun assembly of the plural gun assemblies,
wherein the detonator block includes a switch assembly, and
wherein the switch assembly includes,
a communication unit (CU) configured to receive, from an external controller, a fire command to activate a detonator associated with the detonator block,
a measuring unit configured to measure a voltage (V) at the switch assembly, and
a computing core (CC) is configured to close a switch resulting in the activation of the detonator, after the fire command is received from the external controller, based on whether the voltage measured by the measuring unit at the switch assembly is larger or not than a baseline voltage that is lower than the increased voltage.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a thru-line switch connected to a thru-line that extends to an external controller.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detonator is a gun detonator of the given gun assembly or a setting tool detonator associated with a setting tool.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switch assembly further comprises:
a permanent memory that stores a unique digital address.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the switch assembly further comprises:
a first timer which is started upon receiving the fire command,
wherein the first timer counts a given first time period.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the switch assembly further comprises:
a second timer which is also started upon receiving the fire command,
wherein the second timer counts a given second time period, which is shorter than the given first time period.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sub connected to an end of the detonator block, which is opposite to the given gun assembly.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detonator block is located within a housing of the given gun assembly.

9. A downhole system comprising:
a gun string configured to be deployed into a wellbore, the gun string including plural gun assemblies; and
a detonator block attached to a given gun assembly of the plural gun assemblies,
wherein the detonator block includes a switch assembly, and the switch assembly includes,
a communication unit (CU) configured to receive, from an external controller, a command to selectively activate one of a corresponding gun assembly detonator and a setting tool detonator;
a first switch electrically connected to the gun assembly detonator;
a second switch electrically connected to the setting tool detonator; and
a computing core (CC) configured to close either the first switch or the second switch, resulting in the activation of the corresponding gun assembly detonator or the setting tool detonator, based on (i) a measured amplitude of a parameter (V), (ii) a baseline value of the measured amplitude of the parameter (V), (iii) an increased value of the measured amplitude of the parameter (V); and (iv) the received command.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a thru-line that electrically connects the external controller to the switch assembly.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a thru-line switch electrically connected to the thru-line.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a voltage measurement unit for measuring the parameter.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the detonator is a gun detonator of the given gun assembly or a setting tool detonator associated with a setting tool.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the switch assembly further comprises: a permanent memory that stores a unique digital address.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the switch assembly further comprises:
a first timer which is started upon receiving the command,
wherein the first timer counts a given first time period.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the switch assembly further comprises:
a second timer which is also started upon receiving the command,
wherein the second timer counts a given second time period, which is shorter than the given first time period.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the switch assembly is an addressable switch assembly.

18. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a sub connected to an end of the detonator block, which is opposite to the given gun assembly.

19. The system of claim 9 , wherein the detonator block is located within a housing of the given gun assembly.

20. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board disposed within the detonator block.

21. The system of claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts attached to the printed circuit board.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are spring-loaded.

23. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a printed circuit board disposed within the detonator block.

24. The system of claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of electrical contacts attached to the printed circuit board.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are spring-loaded.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Phelps Phillip
• Perry Brad
• Wallace Rick

Classifications

• F42D1/055

  specially adapted for firing multiple charges with a time delay · CPC title

• H01H9/02

  Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) · CPC title

• H01H1/24

  with resilient mounting · CPC title

• H01H1/18

  with subsequent sliding · CPC title

• F42D1/05

  Electric circuits for blasting · CPC title