Orienting perforation gun assembly
A self-orienting internal assembly for use in a perforating gun housing may include a charge carrier and a first rotation assembly coupled to the charge carrier. The charge carrier may include a shaped charge holder configured to hold a shaped charge and a detonator holder configured to receive a detonator therein and coupled to a first end of the shaped charge holder. The first rotation assembly being configured to contact an interior surface of the perforating gun housing.
1 . A self-orienting internal assembly for use in a perforating gun housing, the self-orienting internal assembly comprising:
a charge carrier comprising:
a shaped charge holder configured to hold a shaped charge; and
a detonator holder configured to receive a detonator therein and coupled to a first end of the shaped charge holder, the detonator holder comprising a detonator bore configured to axially receive and surround an end of the detonator therein; and
a first rotation assembly coupled to the charge carrier, the first rotation assembly being configured to contact an interior surface of the perforating gun housing.
2 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second rotation assembly;
wherein the first rotation assembly is coupled to the detonator holder;
the charge carrier further comprises an end connector coupled to a second end of the shaped charge holder opposite the first end; and
the second rotation assembly is coupled to the end connector and configured to contact the interior surface of the perforating gun housing.
3 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a relay signal wire;
wherein a first end of the relay signal wire is connected to the detonator holder; and
a second send of the relay signal wire is connected to the end connector.
4 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the first rotation assembly is a first bearing assembly;
an inner bearing ring of the first bearing assembly is in contact with the detonator holder; and
an outer bearing ring of the first bearing assembly is in contact with the interior surface of the perforating gun housing.
5 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
the detonator disposed in the detonator holder;
wherein the detonator is in a fixed rotational relationship with the shaped charge holder.
6 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 5 , wherein the detonator further comprises an orientation sensor configured to detect a rotational orientation of the detonator.
7 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the detonator is in electrical communication with the first rotational assembly; and
the detonator is electrically grounded through the first rotational assembly.
8 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a weight in a fixed rotational relationship with the shaped charge holder.
9 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the charge carrier is configured to rotate around a central axis with respect to the perforating gun housing.
10 . The self-orienting internal assembly of claim 9 , wherein a center of gravity of the charge carrier is radially offset from the central axis.
11 . A perforating gun comprising:
a perforating gun housing;
a charge carrier disposed in the perforating gun housing, the charge carrier comprising:
a shaped charge holder;
a shaped charge disposed in the shaped charge holder; and
a detonator holder configured to receive a detonator therein and coupled to a first end of the shaped charge holder, the detonator holder comprising a detonator bore configured to axially receive and surround an end of the detonator therein; and
a first rotation assembly coupled to the charge carrier and in contact with an interior surface of the perforating gun housing.
12 . The perforating gun of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second rotation assembly;
wherein the first rotation assembly is coupled to the detonator holder;
the charge carrier further comprises an end connector coupled to a second end of the shaped charge holder opposite the first end; and
the second rotation assembly is coupled to the end connector and in contact with the interior surface of the perforating gun housing.
13 . The perforating gun of claim 12 , further comprising:
a relay signal wire;
wherein a first end of the relay signal wire is connected to the detonator holder; and
a second send of the relay signal wire is connected to the end connector.
14 . The perforating gun of claim 11 , wherein:
the first rotation assembly is a first bearing assembly;
an inner bearing ring of the first bearing assembly is in contact with the detonator holder; and
an outer bearing ring of the first bearing assembly is in contact with the interior surface of the perforating gun housing.
15 . The perforating gun of claim 11 , further comprising:
the detonator disposed in the detonator holder;
wherein the detonator is in a fixed rotational relationship with the shaped charge holder.
16 . The perforating gun of claim 15 , wherein the detonator further comprises an orientation sensor configured to detect a rotational orientation of the detonator.
17 . The perforating gun of claim 15 , wherein:
the detonator is in electrical communication with the first rotational assembly; and
the detonator is electrically grounded through the first rotational assembly.
18 . The perforating gun of claim 11 , further comprising a weight in a fixed rotational relationship with the shaped charge holder.
19 . The perforating gun of claim 11 , wherein the charge carrier is configured to rotate around a central axis with respect to the perforating gun housing.
20 . The perforating gun of claim 19 , wherein a center of gravity of the charge carrier is radially offset from the central axis.