IP Library Granted Patent US 11,965,393
Granted Patent B2
US 11,965,393 · App. 17/742,185 · Granted Apr 23, 2024

Downhole setting assembly with switch module

Inventors: Benjamin Vascal Knight (Katy, TX); Charles Levine (Waxahachie, TX); Joe Noel Wells (Lindale, TX); Timmothy Alain Lee (Tomball, TX); Ryan Ward (Tomball, TX); William Caruana (Cypress, TX)
Assignee: G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP
E21B33/13E21B23/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,965,393
App. No.
17/742,185
Granted
Apr 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A setting tool includes a housing having an initiator compartment to receive an initiator for initiating combustion of a combustible element, a combustion compartment to receive the combustible element, and a switch compartment to at least partially receive a switch circuit for activating the initiator, a piston configured to impart a setting force against the plug in response to combustion of the combustible element, and an interrupt flowpath configured to connect at least one of the combustion compartment and the initiator compartment with the switch compartment whereby combustion products that may be created in the initiator compartment or combustion compartment would be circulated from the at least one of the combustion compartment and the initiator compartment to the switch compartment to disconnect the switch circuit in response to the activation of the initiator charge.

Claims (37)

1. A system for plugging a wellbore extending from the surface and into a subterranean earthen formation, the system comprising:

a plug comprising an annular sealing element and having an initial configuration configured to permit fluid flow around the plug in the wellbore and a set configuration configured to plug the wellbore whereby fluid flow around the plug in the wellbore is restricted;

a setting tool configured to couple with the plug and comprising an energetic element, the setting tool configured to shift the plug from the initial configuration to the set configuration in response to ignition of the energetic element; and

a setting tool initiator comprising an igniter switch and an igniter, wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to ignite the energetic element of the setting tool in response to ignition of the igniter;

wherein the igniter switch has an operational state in which the igniter switch is configured to receive electrical signals from the surface and an inoperable state in which the igniter switch is not configured receive electrical signals from the surface, and wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to shift the igniter switch from the operational state to the inoperable state in response to the ignition of the igniter;

wherein the setting tool initiator comprises an initiator housing having a switch compartment in which the igniter switch is positioned, and an igniter compartment in which the igniter is located, and wherein a fluid flowpath extends from the igniter compartment to the switch compartment.

2. The plugging system according to claim 1 , wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to physically disable the igniter switch in response to the ignition of the igniter.

3. The plugging system according to claim 1 , wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to expose the igniter switch to combustion products generated by the igniter in response to the ignition of the igniter.

4. The plugging system according to claim 1 , wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to permanently shift the igniter switch from the operational state to the inoperable state.

5. The plugging system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid flowpath is configured to expose the switch compartment to combustion products from the igniter compartment in response to the ignition of the igniter.

6. The plugging system according to claim 1 , further comprising a surface controller in signal communication with the igniter switch when the igniter switch is in the operational state and not in signal communication with the igniter switch when the igniter switch is in the inoperable state.

7. A system for plugging a wellbore extending from the surface and into a subterranean earthen formation, the system comprising:

a plug comprising an annular sealing element and having an initial configuration configured to permit fluid flow around the plug in the wellbore and a set configuration configured to plug the wellbore whereby fluid flow around the plug in the wellbore is restricted;

a setting tool configured to couple with the plug and comprising an energetic element, the setting tool configured to shift the plug from the initial configuration to the set configuration in response to ignition of the energetic element; and

a setting tool initiator comprising an igniter switch and an igniter, wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to ignite the energetic element of the setting tool in response to ignition of the igniter;

wherein the igniter switch has an operational state in which the igniter switch is configured to receive electrical signals from the surface and an inoperable state in which the igniter switch is not configured receive electrical signals from the surface, and wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to shift the igniter switch from the operational state to the inoperable state in response to the ignition of the igniter;

wherein the setting tool initiator further comprises:

a switch chassis having an interior in which the igniter switch is positioned; and

an igniter adapter coupled to the switch chassis and having an interior in which the igniter is positioned.

8. The plugging system according to claim 7 , wherein the switch chassis positions the igniter switch at a predefined distance from the igniter.

9. The plugging system according to claim 7 , wherein the setting tool initiator further comprises an igniter spring positioned in the interior of the igniter adapter, wherein the igniter spring electrically connects the igniter switch with the igniter.

10. A setting tool initiator for actuating a setting tool of a plugging system, the setting tool initiator comprising:

an igniter switch having an operational state in which the igniter switch is configured to receive and transmit electrical signals and an inoperable state in which the igniter switch is not configured to transmit or receive electrical signals; and

an igniter ignitable by the igniter switch and configured to actuate the setting tool in response to ignition of the igniter when the setting tool initiator is connected to the setting tool, wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to shift the igniter switch from the operational state to the inoperable state in response to the ignition of the igniter;

an initiator housing in which the igniter switch and the igniter are received;

a switch chassis positioned in the initiator housing and having an interior in which the igniter switch is positioned; and

an igniter adapter positioned in the initiator housing and coupled to the switch chassis, wherein the igniter adapter has an interior in which the igniter is positioned.

11. The setting tool initiator according to claim 10 , wherein the switch chassis positions the igniter switch at a predefined distance from the igniter.

12. The setting tool initiator according to claim 11 , wherein the predefined distance is 1.75 inches or less.

13. The setting tool initiator according to claim 10 , wherein the setting tool initiator further comprises an igniter spring positioned in the interior of the igniter adapter, wherein the igniter spring electrically connects the igniter switch with the igniter.

14. A setting tool initiator for actuating a setting tool of a plugging system, the setting tool initiator comprising:

an igniter switch having an operational state in which the igniter switch is configured to receive and transmit electrical signals and an inoperable state in which the igniter switch is not configured to transmit or receive electrical signals; and

an igniter ignitable by the igniter switch and configured to actuate the setting tool in response to ignition of the igniter when the setting tool initiator is connected to the setting tool, wherein the setting tool initiator is configured to shift the igniter switch from the operational state to the inoperable state in response to the ignition of the igniter;

an initiator housing in which the igniter switch and the igniter are received, and wherein the initiator housing defines an igniter compartment in which the igniter is positioned and a switch compartment in which the igniter is positioned;

wherein a fluid flowpath is formed extending through the initiator housing from the igniter compartment to the switch compartment.

15. The setting tool initiator according to claim 14 , wherein the initiator housing has a maximum length of 6.5 inches or less.

16. The setting tool initiator according to claim 14 , wherein the switch compartment has a maximum inner diameter of 1.50 inches or less.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: G & H DIVERSIFIED MFG., L.P.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 071758/0583 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2022
From: KNIGHT, BENJAMIN VASCAL; LEVINE, CHARLES; WELLS, JOE NOEL; LEE, TIMMOTHY ALAIN; WARD, RYAN; CARUANA, WILLIAM
To: G&H DIVERSIFIED MANUFACTURING LP
Reel/Frame 060023/0253 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63187145 · May 11, 2021
Related Publication 20220364430A1 · Nov 17, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,571,274 US 12,631,078