초록 ▼

An initiator for initiating detonation in a detonation cord of a perforating system, where the initiator comprises a modular electronic igniter that quick connects into a portion of high explosive. The high explosive is disposed in a housing having an end of detonation cord crimped therein. The elec

An initiator for initiating detonation in a detonation cord of a perforating system, where the initiator comprises a modular electronic igniter that quick connects into a portion of high explosive. The high explosive is disposed in a housing having an end of detonation cord crimped therein. The electronic igniter may be shipped to the field and/or stored separate from the high explosive then the two may be assembled just prior to deploying the perforating gun assembly in a wellbore. Various methods of quick connecting the electronic igniter to the high explosive may be used.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A perforating gun initiator comprising: a housing;an amount of explosive disposed in the housing and proximate to an end of a detonating cord;an explosive free modular electronic initiator comprising;electrically conducting leads and disintegratable bridge wire for initiating high explosive deton

1. A perforating gun initiator comprising: a housing;an amount of explosive disposed in the housing and proximate to an end of a detonating cord;an explosive free modular electronic initiator comprising;electrically conducting leads and disintegratable bridge wire for initiating high explosive detonation when a designated electrical current is applied through the leads;a coupling for selectively connecting the housing and electronic initiator so that when the housing and electronic initiator are connected by the coupling and the designated electrical current applied through the leads, the exploding bridge wire initiates detonation of the explosive; anda space between the exploding bridge wire and the explosive when the housing and electronic initiator are connected by the coupling. 2. The perforating gun initiator of claim 1, wherein the explosive is disposed within a perforating gun and the electronic initiator is outside and separate from the explosive when the electronic initiator is in a shipping configuration. 3. The perforating gun initiator of claim 1 further comprising a bore formed in the explosive. 4. The perforating gun initiator of claim 3 wherein the electronic initiator further comprises an end cap, where the electrical contact leads axially extending through the end cap; and an annular insert extending from the end cap, the annular insert housing the bridge element and a portion of the contact leads, wherein the bore is configured to receive therein the annular insert. 5. The perforating gun initiator of claim 1, wherein the coupling comprises a quick connect assembly in coupling engagement between the electronic igniter and the explosive. 6. The perforating gun initiator of claim 5 wherein the quick connect assembly comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, each of which are affixable to one of the electronic igniter or explosive, snap members extending from the upper portion, and receptacles formed in the lower portion formed to receive the snap members. 7. The perforating gun initiator of claim 5, further comprising a collar on the outer circumference of the explosive, ball bearings set in a groove on the outer surface of the collar, an overshot skirt extending from the outer radius of the electronic igniter having indentations on an inner lateral surface, so that when the collar is inserted into the overshot skirt, the overshot skirt circumscribes the collar. 8. The perforating gun initiator of claim 5 wherein the quick connect assembly comprises a series of hooks and loops. 9. The perforating gun initiator of claim 5, further comprising an annular insert extending from the electronic igniter, a bore in the explosive formed to receive the annular insert therein, and wherein the quick connect assembly comprises a corresponding lip and groove on one of the annular insert outer surface and bore inner surface. 10. A perforating system comprising: a perforating gun having a shipping configuration, an assembled configuration, anda deployed configuration;a shaped charge disposed in the gun; andan initiator comprising: explosive in a housing coupled to a detonating cord that is in explosive communication with the shaped charge;a modular electrical igniter separate from the explosive and outside the perforating gun when the perforating gun is in the shipping configuration and coupled to the explosive when the perforating gun is in the assembled configuration and the deployed configuration, a disintegratable bridge wire connected to electrical leads for igniting the explosive when a designated electrical current is applied to the electrical leads, and a space between the disintegratable bridge wire and explosive when in the assembled configuration; anda connector for selectively attaching the electrical igniter to the housing so the exploding bridge wire is facing the explosive when the perforating gun is in the assembled configuration and the igniter is attached to the housing. 11. The perforating system of claim 10 wherein the electronic igniter contains no explosive. 12. The perforating system of claim 10, further comprising a quick connect assembly having a snap member mechanically coupled with the bridge member, and a receptacle affixed to the explosive, wherein the receptacle is formed to receive the snap member therein and form a quick connect therebetween. 13. The perforating system of claim 12, wherein the quick connect assembly comprises an overshot skirt mechanically coupled with the bridge member and circumscribing a portion of the bridge member, a collar formed to quick connect with the overshot inner circumference, and a groove formed on the outer surface of the explosive formed to receive the collar thereon. 14. A method of perforating in a wellbore comprising: providing a perforating system comprising a perforating gun, shaped charges in the perforating gun, and a detonating cord in explosive communication with the shaped charges;providing an amount of explosive in a housing to define an explosive portion of an initiator, so that when the explosive is ignited while disposed adjacent the detonating cord, a detonation wave is formed in the detonation cord;providing an electronic portion of an initiator comprising an exploding bridge connected to electrical leads and a connector for selectively attaching the electronic portion to the explosive portion;separately shipping the electronic portion and the explosive portion to the wellbore;releasably connecting the electronic portion to the explosive portion so that the exploding bridge is spaced apart and proximate to the explosive; anddelivering an electrical detonating signal through the electrical lead to the bridge member to initiate detonation of the explosive thereby detonating the detonating cord and detonating the shaped charges. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of separately shipping the electronic portion and explosive portion enables shipping and storage without regulation. 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising disposing the perforating gun within a wellbore, lowering the perforating gun proximate to a location to be perforated prior to supplying the electrical detonation signal to the bridge member thereby disintegrating the bridge member to create a source of ignition of the explosive. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the perforating system is assembled at an assembly site, and the explosive and electronic igniter are separately shipped to the assembly site. 18. The perforating gun initiator of claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the modular initiator is substantially the same as the outer periphery of the housing. 19. The perforating gun initiator of claim 1, further comprising a communication module in electrical communication between the electrically conducting leads and wherein the electrically conducting leads, communication module, and modular initiator form a portion of a circuit, so that when a signal is sent to the communication module through one of the electrically conducting leads, the communication module selectively opens or closes the circuit.