Power charge adapter
An apparatus and methods for setting a plug in a well may comprise a power charge adapter comprising a housing, a switch and igniter disposed within the housing, and a zero-tension connector configured to provide a reliable electrical connection to the switch. The switch may be an addressable switch. The power charge adapter may include an adapter comprising a substantially cylindrical body that may be configured to engage a downhole end of the housing and an uphole end of a power charge.
1 . A power charge adapter comprising:
a first substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a cap coupled to the first end of the first housing and comprising a recessed region;
an adapter comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a first end configured to engage an outer surface of the second end of the first housing and a second end configured to engage an external power charge;
a switch disposed within the cavity of the first housing;
an igniter disposed within the throughbore of the second end of the first housing;
a zero-tension connector disposed within the recessed region of the cap and comprising:
a second substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a sliding contact disposed within the cavity of the second housing, wherein the sliding contact comprises a body with a first end opposite a second end, and wherein a portion of the first end of the sliding contact is exposed at the first end of the second housing;
a first spring provided within the cavity of the second housing and configured to bias the sliding contact against the first end of the second housing; and
an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the throughbore of the second end of the second housing and comprising:
a first end connected to the second end of the sliding contact; and
a second end connected to the switch.
2 . The power charge adapter of claim 1 , wherein the switch is addressable.
3 . The power charge adapter of claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises:
an interface (I/O) configured to connect to a surface controller along a telemetry system; and
a processor connected to the interface (I/O) and configured to:
receive a command from the surface controller, along the telemetry system, to change a first value of a mode status variable to a desired second value, wherein the first value is associated with a first operating mode of the switch and the second value is associated with a second operating mode, which is different from the first operating mode;
change the first value to the second value; and
store in a non-volatile memory the second value of the mode status variable.
4 . The power charge adapter of claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second operating modes is one of a standard operating mode and a set/fire operating mode.
5 . A downhole tool comprising:
a tandem sub comprising a first threaded surface and an electrical contact;
a firing head comprising a throughbore and second threaded surface configured to engage the first threaded surface;
a power charge adapter disposed within the throughbore of the firing head and comprising:
a first substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a cap coupled to the first end of the first housing and comprising a recessed region;
an adapter comprising a substantially cylindrical body configured to engage an outer surface of the second end of the first housing;
a switch disposed within the cavity of the first housing;
an igniter disposed within the throughbore of the second end of the first housing;
a zero-tension connector disposed within the recessed region of the cap and comprising:
a second substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a sliding contact disposed within the cavity of the second housing, wherein the sliding contact comprises a body with a first end opposite a second end, and wherein a portion of the first end of the sliding contact is connected to the electrical contact of the tandem sub;
a first spring provided within the cavity of the second housing and configured to bias the sliding contact against the first end of the second housing; and
an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the throughbore of the second end of the second housing and comprising:
a first end connected to the second end of the sliding contact; and
a second end connected to the switch; and
a second spring compressed by the tandem sub and configured to bias the zero-tension connector towards the recessed region of the cap of the power charge adapter.
6 . The downhole tool of claim 5 , wherein the switch is addressable.
7 . The downhole tool of claim 5 , wherein the switch comprises:
an interface (I/O) configured to connect to a surface controller along a telemetry system; and
a processor connected to the interface (I/O) and configured to:
receive a command from the surface controller, along the telemetry system, to change a first value of a mode status variable to a desired second value, wherein the first value is associated with a first operating mode of the switch and the second value is associated with a second operating mode, which is different from the first operating mode;
change the first value to the second value; and
store in a non-volatile memory the second value of the mode status variable.
8 . The downhole tool of claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second operating modes is one of a standard operating mode and a set/fire operating mode.
9 . A downhole system comprising:
a tandem sub comprising a first threaded surface and an electrical contact;
a firing head comprising a throughbore and second threaded surface configured to engage the first threaded surface;
a power charge adapter disposed within the throughbore of the firing head and comprising:
a first substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a cap coupled to the first end of the first housing and comprising a recessed region;
an adapter comprising a substantially cylindrical body configured to engage an outer surface of the second end of the first housing;
a switch disposed within the cavity of the first housing;
an igniter disposed within the throughbore of the second end of the first housing;
a zero-tension connector disposed within the recessed region of the cap and comprising:
a second substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a sliding contact disposed within the cavity of the second housing, wherein the sliding contact comprises a body with a first end opposite a second end, and wherein a portion of the first end of the sliding contact is connected to the electrical contact of the tandem sub;
a first spring provided within the cavity of the second housing and configured to bias the sliding contact against the first end of the second housing; and
an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the throughbore of the second end of the second housing and comprising:
a first end connected to second end of the sliding contact; and
a second end connected to the switch;
a second spring compressed by the tandem sub and configured to bias the zero-tension connector towards the recessed region of the cap of the power charge adapter; and
a setting tool configured to engage the firing head and comprising a power charge,
wherein the body of the adapter is configured to engage an outer surface of the power charge, such that the igniter is disposed in proximity to the power charge.
10 . The downhole system of claim 9 , wherein the switch is addressable.
11 . The downhole system of claim 9 , wherein the switch comprises:
an interface (I/O) configured to connect to a surface controller along a telemetry system; and
a processor connected to the interface (I/O) and configured to:
receive a command from the surface controller, along the telemetry system, to change a first value of a mode status variable to a desired second value, wherein the first value is associated with a first operating mode of the switch and the second value is associated with a second operating mode, which is different from the first operating mode;
change the first value to the second value; and
store in a non-volatile memory the second value of the mode status variable.
12 . The downhole tool of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second operating modes is one of a standard operating mode and a set/fire operating mode.
13 . A method of setting a downhole plug comprising:
connecting a downhole end of a tandem sub to an uphole end of a firing head;
connecting a downhole end of the firing head to an uphole end of a setting tool;
and sending a signal configured to activate a switch,
wherein:
the tandem sub comprises an electrical contact;
the firing head comprises a throughbore;
a power charge adapter is disposed within the throughbore of the firing head and comprises:
a first substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a cap coupled to the first end of the first housing and comprising a recessed region;
an adapter comprising a substantially cylindrical body configured to engage an outer surface of the second end of the first housing;
the switch, which is disposed within the cavity of the first housing;
an igniter disposed within the throughbore of the second end of the first housing;
a zero-tension connector disposed within the recessed region of the cap and comprising:
a second substantially cylindrical housing comprising:
a first end;
a second end comprising a throughbore; and
an internal cavity;
a sliding contact disposed within the cavity of the second housing, wherein the sliding contact comprises a body with a first end opposite a second end, and wherein a portion of the first end of the sliding contact is connected to the electrical contact of the tandem sub;
a first spring provided within the cavity of the second housing and configured to bias the sliding contact against the first end of the second housing; and
an electrical contact disposed at least partially within the throughbore of the second end of the second housing and comprising:
a first end connected to the second end of the sliding contact; and
a second end connected to the switch;
a second spring compressed by the tandem sub and configured to bias the zero-tension connector towards the recessed region of the cap of the power charge adapter; and
a setting tool configured to engage the firing head and comprising a power charge,
wherein the body of the adapter is configured to engage an outer surface of the power charge, such that the igniter is disposed in proximity to the power charge and the step of sending a signal configured to activate a switch results in ignition of the power charge.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the switch is addressable.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
sending a command from a surface controller to an interface within the switch to change a first value of a mode status variable to a desired second value, wherein the first value is associated with a first operating mode of the switch and the second value is associated with a second operating mode, which is different from the first operating mode;
changing the first value to the second value; and
storing in a non-volatile memory in the switch the second value of the mode status variable.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the steps of changing and storing take place while the switch assembly is located at the surface.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second operating modes is one of a standard operating mode and a set/fire operating mode.