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. An addressable switch for a perforating gun system comprising:
an electronic switch having an onboard accelerometer and coupled to a detonator located proximate with the distal end of a detonator cord, wherein the switch selectively addresses, initiates a downhole ballistic device, and provides orientation data for at least one shaped charge, wherein the electronic switch engages a software safety in the electronic switch to prevent firing the detonator when an undesirable orientation is detected by the accelerometer and wherein the electronic switch disengages the software safety to allow the firing of the detonator when a desirable orientation is detected by the accelerometer.
2. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the onboard accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.
3. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the onboard accelerometer is a 2-axis accelerometer.
4. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the onboard accelerometer is a single-axis accelerometer.
5. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic switch independently provides orientation data for each shaped charge in a gun string.
6. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the switch signals to a surface controller that a perforating gun casing is in the horizontal section of a wellbore.
7. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the undesirable orientation is a vertical orientation of the perforating gun.
8. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the desirable orientation is a horizontal orientation.
9. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one shaped charge is a plurality of shaped charges in a single plane.
10. An addressable switch for a perforating gun system comprising:
an electronic switch having an onboard 3-axis accelerometer and coupled to a detonator located proximate with the distal end of a detonator cord, wherein the switch selectively addresses, initiates a downhole ballistic device, and provides orientation data for at least one shaped charge, wherein the electronic switch engages a software safety in the perforating gun to prevent firing the detonator when an undesirable orientation is detected and wherein the electronic switch disengages the software safety to allow the firing of the detonator when a desirable orientation is detected.
11. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 10 , wherein the electronic switch independently provides orientation data for each shaped charge in a gun string.
12. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 10 , wherein the switch signals to a surface controller that a perforating gun casing is in the horizontal section of a wellbore.
13. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 10 , wherein the undesirable orientation is a vertical orientation.
14. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 10 , wherein the desirable orientation is a horizontal orientation.
15. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one shaped charge is a plurality of shaped charges in a single plane.
16. An addressable switch for a perforating gun system comprising:
an electronic switch having an onboard single-axis accelerometer and coupled to a detonator located proximate with the distal end of a detonator cord, wherein the switch selectively addresses, initiates a downhole ballistic device, and provides orientation data for at least one shaped charge, wherein the electronic switch engages a software safety in the perforating gun to prevent firing the detonator when an undesirable orientation is detected by the accelerometer and wherein the electronic switch disengages the software safety to allow the firing of the detonator when a desirable orientation is detected by the accelerometer.
17. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 16 , wherein the electronic switch independently provides orientation data for each shaped charge in a gun string.
18. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 16 , wherein the switch signals to a surface controller that a perforating gun casing is in the horizontal section of a wellbore.
19. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 16 , wherein the undesirable orientation is correlated with a vertical well deviation.
20. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 16 , wherein the desirable orientation is correlated with a horizontal well deviation.
21. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one shaped charge is a plurality of shaped charges in a single plane.
22. An addressable switch for a perforating gun system comprising:
an electronic switch having an onboard 2-axis accelerometer and coupled to a detonator located proximate with the distal end of a detonator cord, wherein the switch selectively addresses, initiates a downhole ballistic device, and provides orientation data for at least one shaped charge, wherein the electronic switch engages a software safety in the perforating gun to prevent firing the detonator when an undesirable orientation is detected by the accelerometer and wherein the electronic switch disengages the software safety to allow the firing of the detonator when a desirable orientation is detected by the accelerometer.
23. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 22 , wherein the onboard accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.
24. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 22 , wherein the onboard accelerometer is a single-axis accelerometer.
25. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 22 , wherein the electronic switch independently provides orientation data for each shaped charge in a gun string.
26. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 22 , wherein the switch signals to a surface controller that a perforating gun casing is in the horizontal section of a wellbore.
27. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 22 , wherein the undesirable orientation is in a vertical wellbore.
28. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 22 , wherein the desirable orientation is in a horizontal wellbore.
29. The addressable switch for a perforating gun system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one shaped charge is a plurality of shaped charges in a single plane.