Orientation detecting switch and perforating gun
A method and apparatus for detecting the orientation of each perforating gun in a wellbore and using that information in arming and firing each perforating gun in a perforating gun string.
1. A perforating gun system comprising:
a perforating gun string having at least one perforating gun, the perforating gun further comprising:
a housing, a charge tube, a plurality of shaped charges, a detonator cord having a distal end and further coupled to the plurality of shaped charges, a detonator located proximate to the distal end of the detonator cord, an electronic switch having an onboard 3-axis accelerometer, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively address and initiate the shaped charges and activate and disarm a safety to disable detonator initiation based on orientation of the perforating gun detected by the accelerometer.
2. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the switch provides orientation data for at least one shaped charge.
3. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the switch independently provides orientation data for each shaped charge in a gun string.
4. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the switch signals to the surface that the perforating gun casing is in the horizontal section of a wellbore.
5. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical orienting tool above the gun string with the ability to rotate at least one downhole gun.
6. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic switch activates the safety to prevent firing the detonator when a vertical orientation of the perforating gun is detected by the accelerometer.
7. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic switch disarms the safety to allow the firing of the detonator when a horizontal orientation of the perforating gun is detected by the accelerometer.
8. The perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the shaped charges are in a single plane.
9. A perforating gun system comprising:
a perforating gun string having at least one perforating gun, the perforating gun further comprising:
a housing, a charge tube, a plurality of shaped charges, a detonator cord having a distal end and further coupled to the plurality of shaped charges, a detonator located proximate with the distal end of the detonator cord, an electronic switch having an onboard 2-axis accelerometer, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively address and initiate the shaped charges and activate and disarm a safety to disable detonator initiation based on orientation of the perforating gun detected by the accelerometer.
10. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the switch provides orientation data for at least one shaped charge.
11. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the switch independently provides orientation data for each shaped charge in a gun string.
12. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the switch signals to the surface that the perforating gun casing is in the horizontal section of a wellbore.
13. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , further comprising a mechanical orienting tool above the gun string with the ability to rotate at least one downhole gun.
14. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic switch activates the safety to prevent firing the detonator when a vertical orientation of the perforating gun is detected by the accelerometer.
15. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic switch disarms the safety to allow the firing of the detonator when a horizontal orientation of the perforating gun is detected by the accelerometer.
16. The perforating gun system of claim 9 , wherein the shaped charges are in a single plane.
17. A perforating gun system comprising:
a perforating gun string having at least one perforating gun, the perforating gun further comprising:
a housing, a charge tube, a plurality of shaped charges, a detonator cord having a distal end and further coupled to the plurality of shaped charges, a detonator located proximate with the distal end of the detonator cord, an electronic switch having an onboard single-axis accelerometer, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively address and initiate the shaped charges and activate and disarm a safety to disable detonator initiation based on orientation of the perforating gun detected by the accelerometer.
18. The perforating gun system of claim 17 , wherein the switch provides orientation data for at least one shaped charge.
19. The perforating gun system of claim 17 , wherein the switch independently provides orientation data for each shaped charge in a gun string.
20. The perforating gun system of claim 17 , wherein the switch signals to the surface that the perforating gun casing is in the horizontal section of a wellbore.
21. The perforating gun system of claim 17 , further comprising a mechanical orienting tool above the gun string with the ability to rotate at least one downhole gun.
22. The perforating gun system of claim 17 , wherein the electronic switch activates the safety to prevent firing the detonator when a vertical orientation of the perforating gun is detected by the accelerometer.
23. The perforating gun system of claim 17 , wherein the electronic switch disarms the safety to allow the firing of the detonator when a horizontal orientation of the perforating gun is detected by the accelerometer.
24. The perforating gun system of claim 17 , wherein the shaped charges are in a single plane.