Device and method for positioning a detonator within a perforating gun assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US10507433B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Device and method for positioning a detonator within a perforating gun assembly",
  "abstract": "A detonator positioning device for use with a wireless detonator in a perforating gun assembly includes a single mechanism for physical electrical connection, while the remaining electrical connections are made via electrically contactable components.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A detonator positioning device for positioning a wireless detonator in a perforating gun assembly, the device comprising: a cylindrical body comprising an open end, a closed end, and a central bore adapted for receiving the detonator, the central bore including an enlarged bore portion adjacent the open end of the cylindrical body; a plurality of arms extending toward the open end of the cylindrical body and at least partially enclosing the enlarged bore portion of the central bore, each of the plurality of arms adapted to retain a detonator head of the detonator when the detonator is positioned within the enlarged bore portion of the central bore; and a plurality of legs extending from the cylindrical body, each of the plurality of legs adapted to position the cylindrical body in the perforating gun assembly, wherein the cylindrical body is configured for being secured within an end plate of the perforating gun assembly, and a grounding rib is configured for being attached to the end plate to complete a ground loop.",
    "2. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein the grounding rib is configured for being attached to the end plate by a securing mechanism.",
    "3. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein the end plate comprises an exterior surface, and the grounding rib is attached to the exterior surface.",
    "4. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein the grounding rib comprises an electrically conductive material.",
    "5. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the grounding rib is curved, flexible and resilient.",
    "6. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein the grounding rib completes the ground loop upon positioning of the perforating gun assembly in a perforating gun housing of the perforating gun assembly.",
    "7. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of arms and the plurality of legs are flexible such that insertion of the detonator within the central bore and insertion of the cylindrical body within the perforating gun assembly is accomplished with a snap fit.",
    "8. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body, the plurality of arms and the plurality of legs are made from plastic and formed as a unitary member.",
    "9. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein the enlarged bore portion is positioned within a first portion of the cylindrical body and the central bore extends along at least a portion of a length of the cylindrical body.",
    "10. The detonator positioning device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is a multi-part cylindrical body, the multi-part cylindrical body comprising: at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is removably connected to the second part of the cylindrical body to form an assembled cylindrical body, each of the first part and the second part comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, and each of the plurality of legs comprising a protrusion extending away from the assembled cylindrical body and adapted for positioning the assembled cylindrical body in the perforating gun assembly.",
    "11. A perforating gun assembly comprising: a wireless detonator comprising a detonator head; an end plate; and a detonator positioning device comprising: a cylindrical body comprising an open end, a closed end, and a central bore extending between the open end and the closed end, wherein the central bore comprises an enlarged bore portion adjacent the open end of the cylindrical body and the detonator head is position in the enlarged bore portion, a plurality of arms extending toward the open end of the cylindrical body and at least partially enclosing the enlarged bore portion of the central bore, each of the plurality of arms retaining the detonator head within the enlarged bore portion of the central bore, and a plurality of legs extending from the cylindrical body, wherein the plurality of legs secure the wireless detonator within the cylindrical body and secure the detonator positioning device to the end plate, wherein the wireless detonator is received within the central bore of the cylindrical body in electrical contact therewith, the detonator positioning device is secured within the end plate, and a grounding rib is attached to the end plate.",
    "12. The perforating gun assembly of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical body is a multi-part cylindrical body comprising: at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is removably connected to the second part of the cylindrical body to form an assembled cylindrical body, each of the first part and the second part including at least a first portion and a second portion, and the assembled cylindrical body comprises the open end, the closed end, and the central bore.",
    "13. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of legs comprises a protrusion extending away from the assembled cylindrical body.",
    "14. The perforating gun assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the first part and the second part further comprise: a third portion, wherein the third portion extends circumferentially from an outer surface of the second portion, and the third portion comprises a forward face and a rearward face, and the plurality of legs extend from the rearward face of the third portion.",
    "15. The perforating gun assembly of claim 14, wherein the third portion is discontinuous about the outer surface of the second portion to form a plurality of sections.",
    "16. The perforating gun assembly of claim 14, wherein the third portion comprises a circumferentially-extending lip at a distal end thereof, the distal end being positioned opposite the plurality of legs, wherein the lip, in combination with the plurality of legs, hold the detonator positioning device in place against an outer surface of the end plate.",
    "17. The perforating gun assembly of claim 11, wherein the grounding rib completes a ground loop upon positioning of the perforating gun assembly in a perforating gun.",
    "18. The perforating gun assembly of claim 11, wherein the grounding rib comprises an electrically conductive material, wherein at least a portion of the grounding rib is curved, flexible and resilient.",
    "19. The perforating gun assembly of claim 11, further comprising: a securing mechanism, wherein the securing mechanism attaches the grounding rib to an exterior surface of the end plate.",
    "20. The perforating gun assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of arms and the plurality of legs are flexible such that the detonator positioning device is secured within the end plate with a snap fit connection."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "A device and method for positioning a detonator within a perforating gun assembly is generally described.\n\nHydrocarbons, such as fossil fuels (e.g. oil) and natural gas, are extracted from underground wellbores extending deeply below the surface using complex machinery and explosive devices. Once the wellbore is established by placement of cases after drilling, a perforating gun assembly, or train or string of multiple perforating gun assemblies, are lowered into the wellbore, and positioned adjacent one or more hydrocarbon reservoirs in underground formations. The perforating gun has explosive charges, typically shaped, hollow or projectile charges, which are ignited to create holes in the casing and to blast through the formation so that the hydrocarbons can flow through the casing. Once the perforating gun(s) is properly positioned, a surface signal actuates an ignition of a fuse, which in turn initiates a detonating cord, which detonates the shaped charges to penetrate/perforate the casing and thereby allow formation fluids to flow through the perforations thus formed and into a production string. The surface signal typically travels from the surface along electrical wires that run from the surface to one or more detonators positioned within the perforating gun assembly.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01D 65/08",
    "B01D 2313/02",
    "B01D 2313/025",
    "B01D 2313/20",
    "B01D 2313/21",
    "B01D 2313/26",
    "B01D 2313/44",
    "B01D 2313/54",
    "B01D 2313/56",
    "B01D 2315/06",
    "B01D 2317/04",
    "B01D 2321/185",
    "B01D 61/20",
    "B01D 63/021",
    "B01D 63/046",
    "B01D 65/00",
    "E21B 43/117",
    "E21B 43/1185",
    "E21B 43/119",
    "F42B 3/10"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01D 61/20",
    "B01D 63/02",
    "B01D 63/04",
    "B01D 65/00",
    "B01D 65/08",
    "E21B 43/117",
    "E21B 43/119"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "DynaEnergetics GmbH and Co KG",
    "DynaEnergetics US Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Christian Eitschberger",
    "Gernot Uwe Burmeister",
    "Thomas Keller Bradfield",
    "Frank Haron Preiss",
    "Thilo Scharf",
    "Liam Mcnelis"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-07-03",
  "publication_date": "2019-12-17",
  "grant_date": "2019-12-17",
  "priority_date": "2014-03-07",
  "application_number": "US-201816026431-A",
  "family_id": "52697548",
  "cited_by_count": 31,
  "citations": [
    "US1757288A",
    "US2358466A",
    "US2687092A",
    "US2889775A",
    "US3116690A",
    "US3170400A",
    "US3246707A",
    "US3357355A",
    "US4058061A",
    "US3374735A",
    "US3504723A",
    "US3859921A",
    "US4100978A",
    "US4007796A",
    "US4007790A",
    "US4182216A",
    "US4496008A",
    "US4598775A",
    "US4491185A",
    "US4574892A",
    "CN85107897A",
    "US4747201A",
    "US4776393A",
    "US4790383A",
    "US4889183A",
    "US5027708A",
    "US5105742A",
    "US5052489A",
    "US5088413A",
    "US5237136A",
    "US5060573A",
    "US5322019A",
    "US5159145A",
    "US5347929A",
    "US5436791A",
    "US6112666A",
    "US6739265B1",
    "US5703319A",
    "US6085659A",
    "US5775426A",
    "US6354374B1",
    "US5816343A",
    "US6012525A",
    "US6006833A",
    "US6305287B1",
    "US7347278B2",
    "US20020062991A1",
    "US6418853B1",
    "US6651747B2",
    "WO2001059401A1",
    "US20020020320A1",
    "US20080264639A1",
    "US20030001753A1",
    "US20030000411A1",
    "US6742602B2",
    "US20050178282A1",
    "US7193527B2",
    "US7461580B2",
    "US20050194146A1",
    "US8069789B2",
    "US7278491B2",
    "US7810430B2",
    "US7929270B2",
    "US7568429B2",
    "US20070158071A1",
    "US7778006B2",
    "US8395878B2",
    "US7762172B2",
    "US7823508B2",
    "US20080173204A1",
    "US20100107917A1",
    "US8182212B2",
    "US20080149338A1",
    "US20100230104A1",
    "US8074737B2",
    "WO2009091422A2",
    "US20090050322A1",
    "CN101397890A",
    "US8157022B2",
    "US7908970B1",
    "US8256337B2",
    "US7762351B2",
    "US8066083B2",
    "US20120242135A1",
    "CN201620848U",
    "US8661978B2",
    "US20120199031A1",
    "US20120247771A1",
    "US20120247769A1",
    "US9689223B2",
    "US20140053750A1",
    "US8881816B2",
    "US20120298361A1",
    "US20130008639A1",
    "US8875787B2",
    "US20130118342A1",
    "US8943943B2",
    "US8863665B2",
    "US9181790B2",
    "CA2821506A1",
    "US20160168961A1",
    "US9494021B2",
    "WO2015006869A1",
    "US20160061572A1",
    "US20170030693A1",
    "US9581422B2",
    "US9605937B2",
    "US20150226044A1",
    "RU2633904C1"
  ]
}