Initiator assemblies for perforating gun systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12378848-B2
Application number	US-202318503267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2023
Priority date	Jul 15, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A perforating gun system includes an outer housing, a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly includes a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier, and an annular initiator assembly connectable to the charge carrier assembly, wherein the initiator assembly has a central opening whereby a central axis of the initiator assembly extends centrally through the central opening and parallel with the central axis of the charge carrier, wherein the initiator assembly is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A perforating gun system, comprising:
an outer housing;
a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly comprises a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier; and
an annular initiator assembly comprising an electrical switch and connectable to the charge carrier assembly, wherein the initiator assembly has a central opening whereby a central axis of the initiator assembly extends centrally through the central opening and parallel with the central axis of the charge carrier, wherein the central opening is entirely externally accessible along the central axis of the initiator assembly between opposing ends of the central opening whereby the electrical switch does not radially overlap the central opening;
wherein the initiator assembly is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal.

2. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the charge carrier assembly comprises an electrical connector in signal communication with the initiator assembly, and wherein the electrical connector extends through the central opening of the initiator assembly.

3. The perforating gun system of claim 2 , wherein the initiator assembly is connected to the electrical connector by an electrical signal path extending into an interior of the charge carrier.

4. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the initiator assembly comprises an annular outer housing having an annular interior, and the electrical switch which comprises an annular electrical switch positioned in the annular interior of the outer housing.

5. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical switch has a maximum length extending in a direction parallel to the central axis of the charge carrier that is less than a maximum width of the electrical switch extending in an orthogonal direction relative to the central axis of the charge carrier.

6. The perforating gun system of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the maximum length to the maximum width of the electrical switch is less than 1:1.

7. The perforating gun system of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the maximum length to the maximum width of the electrical switch is less than 1:3.

8. The perforating gun system of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the maximum length to the maximum width of the electrical switch is less than 1:6.

9. A perforating gun system, comprising:
an outer housing;
a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly comprises a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier; and
an initiator assembly connectable to the charge carrier assembly, wherein the initiator assembly extends circumferentially only partially around a central opening of the initiator assembly;
wherein the initiator assembly is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal.

10. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the initiator assembly extends circumferentially between a first arcuate end and an opposing second arcuate end that is circumferentially spaced from the first arcuate end whereby an arcuate gap is formed between the first arcuate end and the second arcuate end.

11. The perforating gun system of claim 10 , wherein the initiator assembly has a central passage that is contiguous with the arcuate gap.

12. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the charge carrier assembly comprises an electrical connector in signal communication with the initiator assembly, and wherein the electrical connector extends through the central opening of the initiator assembly.

13. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the initiator assembly comprises an electrical switch having a maximum length extending in a direction parallel to the central axis of the charge carrier that is less than a maximum width of the electrical switch extending in an orthogonal direction relative to the central axis of the charge carrier.

14. The perforating gun system of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the maximum length to the maximum width of the electrical switch is less than 1:1.

15. The perforating gun system of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the maximum length to the maximum width of the electrical switch is less than 1:3.

16. The perforating gun system of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the maximum length to the maximum width of the electrical switch is less than 1:6.

17. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the initiator assembly extends between a first end, and a second end opposite the first end and that is circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the initiator assembly from the first end.

18. A perforating gun system, comprising:
an outer housing;
a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly comprises a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier; and
an initiator assembly connectable to the charge carrier assembly and having an externally accessible central opening in which the charge carrier assembly is at least partially receivable, wherein the initiator assembly comprises an annular outer housing having an annular interior, and an annular electrical switch positioned in the annular interior of the outer housing;
wherein the electrical switch is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal.

19. The perforating gun system of claim 18 , wherein the electrical switch comprises a digitally addressable switch.

20. The perforating gun system of claim 18 , wherein the electrical switch comprises an annular printed circuit board and a plurality of electronic components positioned on the printed circuit board.

21. The perforating gun system of claim 18 , wherein both the outer housing and the electrical switch of the initiator assembly are arcuate in shape.

22. The perforating gun system of claim 18 , wherein the electrical switch extends between a first end, and a second end opposite the first end and that is circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the initiator assembly from the first end.

23. The perforating gun system of claim 18 , wherein the electrical switch has a maximum length extending in a direction parallel to the central axis of the charge carrier that is less than a maximum width of the electrical switch extending in an orthogonal direction relative to the central axis of the charge carrier.

24. A perforating gun system, comprising:
an outer housing;
a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly comprises a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier;
an initiator assembly connectable to the second endplate of the charge carrier assembly, wherein the initiator assembly is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal; and
an interrupter

Assignees

• G&H Diversified Mfg Lp

Inventors

• Kash James Edward
• Knight Benjamin Vascal
• Ward Ryan
• Lee Timmothy
• Levine Charles

Classifications

• E21B43/117

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

• F42D1/043 Primary

  Connectors for detonating cords and ignition tubes, e.g. Nonel tubes (mounting of detonators in blasting cartridges F42B3/26) · CPC title

• F42D1/05

  Electric circuits for blasting · CPC title

• E21B43/1185 Primary

  Ignition systems · CPC title