IP Library Granted Patent US 11,732,554
Granted Patent B2
US 11,732,554 · App. 17/819,568 · Granted Aug 22, 2023

Universal plug and play perforating gun tandem

Inventors: Adam Dyess (Houston, TX); Jason Hoang Mai (Houston, TX); Richard Wayne Bradley (Magnolia, TX); Joshua Blake Howk (Kingwood, TX)
Assignee: Hunting Titan, Inc.
E21B43/1185E21B43/119F42B3/103F42D1/05
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,732,554
App. No.
17/819,568
Granted
Aug 22, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a universal plug in cartridge detonator capability in box-by-box perforating guns.

Claims (36)

1. A tandem sub for connecting one or more perforating guns comprising:

a body with a first end, a second end, and a hollow inner bore;

wherein the first end is a pinned end adapted to couple to a box end of a First perforating gun housing;

wherein the second end is a pinned end adapted to couple to a box end of a second perforating gun housing; and

wherein the inner bore is adapted to contain a plug and play cartridge detonator assembly that can detonate a detonating cord upon receiving an electrical command from a wire; and

a cartridge detonator assembly disposed within the hollow inner bore, the cartridge detonator further comprising a body housing, an electrical switch and circuit board, a distal end having a detonator, and an electrical contact for electrically coupling the detonator assembly to a signal wire.

2. The tandem sub of claim 1 further comprising a feed thru puck coupled to a feed thru body, disposed within the hollow inner core.

3. The tandem sub of claim 2 wherein the feed thru puck having a thru hole for an electrical wire.

4. The tandem sub of claim 3 wherein the feed thru body having a means for coupling the electrical wire to the puck, thereby electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body.

5. The tandem sub of claim 4 , wherein the electrical contact is coupled to the feed thru body.

6. The tandem sub of claim 5 , wherein the feed thru body has a hollow thru bore adapted for containing a booster and the detonator adjacent to each other.

7. The tandem sub of claim 4 wherein the means for electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body is a radial wire groove on the feed thru body that an exposed end of the wire wraps around.

8. The tandem sub of claim 4 wherein the means for electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body is a tangential thru hole that an exposed end of the wire wraps through and around.

9. The tandem sub of claim 4 wherein the means for electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body is a metal screw that clamps an exposed end of the wire against a metal insert that is further coupled to the electrical contact.

10. A perforating gun string comprising:

a first perforating gun with an uphole box end, a downhole box end, a plurality of shaped charges connected together with a detonating cord, and a wire disposed therein, traveling from the uphole end to the downhole end;

a first tandem sub for connecting one or more perforating guns coupled to the downhole end of the first perforating gun further comprising:

a body with a first end, a second end, and a hollow inner bore;

wherein the first end is a pinned end adapted to couple to a box end of the first perforating gun housing;

wherein the second end is a pinned end adapted to couple to a box end of a second perforating gun housing;

wherein the inner bore is adapted to contain a plug and play cartridge detonator assembly that can detonate the detonating cord of the first perforating gun upon receiving an electrical command from the wire; and

a cartridge detonator assembly disposed within the hollow inner bore, the cartridge detonator further comprising a body housing, an electrical switch and circuit board, a distal end having a detonator, and an electrical contact for electrically coupling the detonator assembly to a signal wire.

11. The tandem sub of claim 10 further comprising a feed thru puck coupled to a feed thru body, disposed within the hollow inner core.

12. The tandem sub of claim 11 wherein the feed thru puck having a thru hole for an electrical wire.

13. The tandem sub of claim 12 wherein the feed thru body having a means for coupling the electrical wire to the puck, thereby electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body.

14. The tandem sub of claim 13 , wherein the electrical contact is coupled to the feed thru body.

15. The tandem sub of claim 14 , wherein the feed thru body has a hollow thru bore adapted for containing a booster and the detonator adjacent to each other.

16. The tandem sub of claim 13 wherein the means for electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body is a radial wire groove on the feed thru body that an exposed end of the wire wraps around.

17. The tandem sub of claim 13 wherein the means for electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body is a tangential thru hole that an exposed end of the wire wraps through and around.

18. The tandem sub of claim 13 wherein the means for electrically coupling the electrical wire with the feed thru body is a metal screw that clamps an exposed end of the wire against a metal insert that is further coupled to the electrical contact.

19. The perforating gun string of claim 10 further comprising a second perforating gun an uphole box end, a downhole box end, a plurality of shaped charges connected together with a second detonating cord, and a second wire disposed therein, traveling from the uphole end to the downhole end.

20. The perforating gun string of claim 19 further comprising a second tandem sub coupled to the downhole end of the second perforating gun, the second tandem sub further comprising:

a body with a first end, a second end, and a hollow inner bore;

wherein the first end is a pinned end adapted to couple to the box end of the second perforating gun housing;

wherein the second end is a pinned end adapted to couple to a box end of a third perforating gun housing; and

wherein the inner bore is adapted to contain a plug and play cartridge detonator assembly that can detonate a detonating cord upon receiving an electrical command from the second wire.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2023
From: BRADLEY, RICHARD WAYNE; DYESS, ADAM; HOWK, JOSHUA BLAKE; MAI, JASON HOANG
To: HUNTING TITAN, INC.
Reel/Frame 063421/0645 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: BRADLEY, RICHARD WAYNE; DYESS, ADAM; HOWK, JOSHUA BLAKE; MAI, JASON HOANG
To: HUNTING TITAN, INC.
Reel/Frame 063008/0437 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17059992
Provisional Application 62773044 · Nov 29, 2018
Related Publication 20220381118A1 · Dec 1, 2022