Wells – Means for perforating – weakening – bending or separating pipe... – Perforating or splitting cutter
Utility Patent
1999-06-18
2001-01-02
Bagnell, David (Department: 3672)
Wells
Means for perforating, weakening, bending or separating pipe...
Perforating or splitting cutter
C166S241500, C102S310000, C089S001150
Utility Patent
active
06167957
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to perforating guns for use in forming underground openings, and more particularly to a means for making helical underground openings.
2. Description of Related Art
Perforating guns are commonly used in underground wells. The guns typically carry charges which perforate the well casing and surrounding earth upon detonating. The resulting perforations facilitate exploitation of mineral and hydrocarbons deposits.
One such perforating gun is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,901 to Shirley et al. The gun of Shirely includes an elongated spiral strip to which a series of explosive charges are mounted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,458 to Langer discloses a spring bow centralizer. The centralizer of Langer further includes reduction members for affecting the angle of contact between the bow and the adjacent well opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,480 to Owen discloses a perforating gun composed of two or more nonfrangible regions which are connected together by a frangible region.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,234 to Lowell discloses a perforating gun with a penetration pattern. The pattern is dispersed longitudinally along the gun and rotatively around the circumference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,744 to Rytlewski discloses a gun with a charge supporting base strip of an angular cross section.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,413 to Christopher discloses a gun formed by a wire carriage. The wire carriage functions in supporting various charges.
One disadvantage with the majority of the aforementioned known gun designs is that none of them create a multi strand helical perforation pattern, while at the same time using the spring bow staves for containing the charges and centering the gun within the well. Such an arrangement improves the performance of the charges.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a self centering perforating gun which carries charges in a straight or helical configuration.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a perforating gun with a guiding element and a rearward conveyancing element. The gun further includes a number of bow springs which extend inbetween and interconnect the guiding element and conveyancing element. Each of the bow springs includes a rearward end secured to the conveyancing element and a forward end secured to the guiding element. Each of the bow springs has a plurality of threaded apertures formed through its thickness, with each successive aperture being in alignment with the adjacent aperture. A plurality of explosive encapsuated perforating charges are included on each of the springs. Each charge, or cap, has a threaded end portion which is threadably secured within one of the threaded openings of the bow spring.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a perforation gun with a series charge carrying bow springs.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a perforating gun with bow springs with either a right or left handed spiral configuration.
It is a further object of the present invention to create a well perforating device which is self centering and which carries charges in a helical configuration.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a perforating system wherein the charges are removably interconnected to a number of bow springs.
A further object of this invention is to use several of these bow guns in tandem to perforate a limited length of hydrocarbons or minerals.
Further object of this invention to cause each charge to be contacted with the casing to cause the ideal performance from each explosive charge contained on the bow spring stave.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a perforating gun for use in supporting and detonating explosives within a borehole for the purpose of exploiting hydrocarbons and mineral deposits. The bow gun comprises a guiding element having a lower frustro conical extent and an upper collar. A rearward conveyancing element is included which has an upper extent with a perforation formed therethrough and a lower collar. A plurality of bow springs are included which extend inbetween and interconnect the collar of the guiding element and the collar of the conveyancing element. Each of the bow springs includes a rearward end secured to the collar of the conveyancing element and a forward end secured to the collar of the guiding element. Each of the bow springs is defined by a width and a length. The width of each bow spring is twisted along its length, and each of the bow springs has a plurality of threaded apertures formed through its thickness, with each successive aperture being in alignment with the adjacent aperture. A plurality of explosive encapsulate charges are included with each explosive cap having a threaded end portion and an upper coupling means. Each of the encapsulated charges is threadably secured within one of the threaded openings of the bow springs. Detonating cords are provided with each of the detonating cords positioned along an associated bow spring. Each of the detonating cords is secured to the upper coupling means of the plurality of explosive caps. A bow spring detonation cord is included having a distal end adapted to be interconnected with a detonation means and a proximate end which is adapted to be positioned through the slot of the conveyancing element. The proximate end of the bow spring detonation cord is also interconnected to the detonating cords associated with each of the bow springs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4501327 (1985-02-01), Retz
patent: 5638901 (1997-06-01), Shirley et al.
Bagnell David
Hawkins Jennifer M
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