초록 ▼

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for reliably communicating a detonation signal and perforating oil and/or gas well casings. Particularly, at least one embodiment includes a pass-through bulkhead connection switch that can reliably withstand high operati

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for reliably communicating a detonation signal and perforating oil and/or gas well casings. Particularly, at least one embodiment includes a pass-through bulkhead connection switch that can reliably withstand high operating temperatures and pressures. Such pass-through bulkhead connection switch can be used in perforating gun assemblies and can eliminate or reduce incidents of failed detonations.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pass-through bulkhead connection switch for use in connection with a well perforation system, the well perforation system including a detonation controller located at ground level and a perforating gun assembly configured to be positioned in a well and utilized for perforating a well casing, th

1. A pass-through bulkhead connection switch for use in connection with a well perforation system, the well perforation system including a detonation controller located at ground level and a perforating gun assembly configured to be positioned in a well and utilized for perforating a well casing, the perforating gun assembly including an isolation subassembly having a detonation mechanism, the pass-through bulkhead connection switch being configured to provide a reliable connection for transmitting a detonation signal from the detonation controller to the detonation mechanism, the pass-through bulkhead connection switch comprising: an insulating body comprising an electrically insulating material, the insulating body being sized and configured to be secured within an opening of the isolation subassembly of the perforating gun assembly, the insulating body having at least one O-ring grove in an outer surface thereof, and the insulating body having an aperture passing therethrough, the aperture having a first internal diameter in a first portion thereof, a second internal diameter in a second portion thereof, and a shoulder formed between the first internal diameter and the second internal diameter; anda conductive pin having a front portion, a back portion, a center portion, and a transition shoulder between the back portion and the center portion, the center portion having a cross-sectional dimension that is different than one or more of the front portion and the back portion, at least a portion of the back portion having an outer diameter that generally corresponds to the first internal diameter of the aperture, at least a portion of the center portion having an outer diameter that generally corresponds to the second internal diameter of the aperture, the transition shoulder of the aperture and the shoulder of the conductive pin being configured to create a seal between the conductive pin and the insulating body and to limit axial movement of the conductive pin relative to the insulating body, the center portion of the conductive pin being secured within the aperture of the insulating body, the conductive pin being configured to transmit the detonation signal to the perforating gun assembly located in the well. 2. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the insulating material is configured to insulate the center portion of the conductive pin at operating pressures of up to 30,000 psi. 3. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 2, wherein the insulating material is configured to insulate the center portion of the conductive pin at operating temperatures of up to 480° F. 4. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive pin is press-fitted into the aperture in the insulating body. 5. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the insulating body is overmolded about the conductive pin. 6. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 5, wherein the insulating body encapsulates the front portion of the conductive pin. 7. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulating sleeve fitted over the front portion of the conductive pin, the electrically insulating sleeve being configured to electrically insulate the front portion of the conductive pin. 8. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising a contactor tip located on a proximal end of the conductive pin, the contactor tip being separated from the front portion of the conductive pin by a groove. 9. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 1, wherein shoulder in the insulating body is an angled shoulder. 10. The pass-through bulkhead connection switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the shoulder in the insulating body forms a right angle with the first and second portions of the aperture. 11. A system for making perforations in a well casing at multiple depth locations in a sequential or non-sequential manner, the perforations being configured to access one or more of oil and gas deposits disposed within a rock layer below ground and to channel the same into the well, the system comprising: a first perforating gun assembly comprising a first plurality of charges and a first detonation mechanism configured to detonate the first plurality of charges; anda second perforating gun assembly comprising a second plurality of charges, an isolation subassembly, and a second detonation mechanism located in the isolation subassembly, the second detonation mechanism being configured to detonate the second plurality of charges; anda pass-through bulkhead connection switch in electrical communication with the first detonation mechanism and with the second detonation mechanism, the pass-through bulkhead connection switch including an uninterrupted electrically conductive pin and an electrically insulating body at least partially surrounding and electrically insulating the conductive pin, the pass-through bulkhead switch being configured to communicate a detonation signal to the first detonation mechanism and to prevent or reduce increase of pressure about the second detonation mechanism from a blast wave formed after the detonation of the first plurality of charges, wherein: the conductive pin comprises a front portion, a back portion, a center portion, and a transition shoulder between the back portion and the center portion, at least a portion of the back portion having a first outer diameter, at least a portion of the center portion having a second outer diameter that is different from the first outer diameter; andthe insulating body comprises an aperture passing therethrough, the aperture having a first internal diameter in a first portion thereof, the first internal diameter generally corresponding to the first outer diameter of the back portion, a second internal diameter in a second portion thereof, the second internal diameter generally corresponding to the second outer diameter of the center portion, and a shoulder formed between the first internal diameter and the second internal diameter, the shoulder in the aperture and the transition shoulder of the conductive pin being configured to cooperate to create a seal between the conductive pin and the insulating body and to limit axial movement of the conductive pin relative to the insulating body. 12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the isolation subassembly comprises a first isolation chamber and a second isolation chamber, the second isolation chamber housing the second detonation mechanism, and the second isolation chamber being isolated from the first isolation chamber by the pass-through bulkhead connection switch. 13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the pass-through bulkhead connection switch is at least partially secured within the isolation subassembly by an at least partially insulated retention nut. 14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the pass-through bulkhead connection switch comprises insulating material configured to maintain isolation of the second isolation chamber at operating pressures of up to 30,000 psi. 15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the pass-through bulkhead connection switch comprises insulating material configured to maintain isolation of the second isolation chamber at operating temperatures of up to 480° F. 16. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the pass-through bulkhead connection switch comprises a conductive pin secured within an insulating body. 17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive pin transmits the detonation signal from the second perforating gun assembly to the first perforating gun assembly. 18. A method of reliably sequentially transmitting detonation signals to detonation mechanisms of multiple perforating gun assemblies and detonating explosive charges housed in the perforating gun assemblies, the method comprising: isolating a first detonation mechanism in a first isolation chamber of a first perforating gun assembly by sealing the first isolation chamber with a pass-through bulkhead connection switch that includes an uninterrupted electrically conductive pin and an electrically insulating body at least partially surrounding and electrically insulating the conductive pin, the conductive pin comprising a front portion, a back portion having a first outer diameter, a center portion having a second outer diameter, and a transition shoulder between the back portion and the center portion, the insulating body comprising an aperture passing therethrough that has a first internal diameter in a first portion thereof, a second internal diameter in a second portion thereof, and a shoulder formed between the first internal diameter and the second internal diameter, the first internal diameter generally corresponding to the first outer diameter of the back portion and the second internal diameter generally corresponding to the second outer diameter of the center portion, the shoulder in the aperture and the transition shoulder of the conductive pin being configured to cooperate to create a seal between the conductive pin and the insulating body and to limit axial movement of the conductive pin relative to the insulating body during a detonation, the first detonation mechanism being in electrical communication with the pass-through bulkhead connection switch, and the pass-through bulkhead connection switch being in electrical communication with a second detonation mechanism; anddetonating a second plurality of charges located in a second perforating gun assembly by sending a detonation signal through the pass-through bulkhead connection switch to the second detonation mechanism, wherein the pass-through bulkhead connection switch is configured to at least partially block a blast wave generated by the detonation of the second plurality of charges. 19. The method of as recited in claim 18, wherein the pass-through bulkhead connection switch is configured to at least partially block the blast wave that creates a localized pressure about the pass-through bulkhead connection switch of up to 30,000 psi. 20. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising detonating a first plurality of charges located in the first perforating gun assembly. 21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the first plurality of charges is detonated after detonating the second plurality of charges. 22. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising at least partially insulating the detonation signal passing through the pass-through bulkhead connection switch.