Modular perforating gun systems and methods

Abstract

A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore as part of a tool string includes an outer sleeve including a generally tubular wall structure having an outer peripheral surface, opposite ends thereof and a central passage therethrough extending from one end to the other end and further including a connection at each end to connect to other tools in the tool string, and a plurality of separate perforating module installed within the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each perforating module includes a shaped charge and a uniquely addressable switch configured to detonate the shaped charge in response to receiving a firing signal addressed to the switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore as part of a tool string, the perforating gun comprising:
 an outer sleeve comprising a generally tubular wall structure having an outer peripheral surface, opposite ends thereof and a central passage therethrough extending from one end to the other end and further including a connection at each end to connect to other tools in the tool string; and   a plurality of separate perforating module installed within the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each perforating module comprises a shaped charge and a uniquely addressable switch configured to detonate the shaped charge in response to receiving a firing signal addressed to the switch.   
     
     
         2 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a detonator in signal communication with the switch of the perforating module and ballistically connected to the shaped charge of the perforating module. 
     
     
         3 . The perforating gun of  claim 2 , wherein the switch of the perforating module is configured to transmit a detonation signal to the detonator in response to receiving the firing signal addressed to the switch. 
     
     
         4 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a plurality of the shaped charges, and wherein the switch of the perforating module is configured to detonate each of the plurality of shaped charges in response to receiving the firing signal addressed to the switch. 
     
     
         5 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein the switch of each of the plurality of perforating modules has a length extending in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the perforating gun that is less than a width of the switch extending in a direction orthogonal with the longitudinal axis of the perforating gun. 
     
     
         6 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein the switch of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises an opening at least partially surrounded by an outer periphery of the switch. 
     
     
         7 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 ,wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules are pressure isolated from one another. 
     
     
         8 . A method for deploying a perforating gun in a wellbore as part of a tool string, the method comprising:
 (a) lowering the perforating gun from a terranean surface into the wellbore, the perforating gun comprising an outer sleeve and a plurality of separate perforating modules installed within the outer sleeve;   (b) transmitting a first firing signal from the surface to a first perforating module of the perforating gun;   (c) detonating a first shaped charge of the first perforating module in response to the first perforating module receiving the first firing signal from the surface;   (d) transmitting a second firing signal from the surface to a second perforating module of the perforating gun that is separate from the first perforating module; and   (e) detonating a second shaped charge of the second perforating module in response to the second perforating module receiving the second firing signal from the surface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 (c) comprises detonating the first shaped charge of the first perforating module within the outer sleeve of the perforating gun; and   (e) comprises detonating the second shaped charge of the second perforating module within the outer sleeve of the perforating gun.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 (c) comprises detonating a plurality of the first shaped charges of the first perforating module in response to the first perforating module receiving the first firing signal from the surface; and   (e) comprises detonating a plurality of the second shaped charges of the second perforating module in response to the second perforating module receiving the second firing signal from the surface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first firing signal is addressed uniquely to the first perforating module and the second firing signal is addressed uniquely to the second perforating module. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first firing signal is addressed uniquely to a first switch of the first perforating module and the second firing signal is addressed uniquely to a second switch of the second perforating module. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first switch and the second switch each has a length extending in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the perforating gun that is less than a width of the switch extending in a direction orthogonal with the longitudinal axis of the perforating gun. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein (d) occurs at a later point in time than (c). 
     
     
         15 . A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore as part of a tool string, the perforating gun comprising:
 an outer sleeve comprising a generally tubular wall structure having a peripheral outer surface, opposite ends thereof and a central passage therethrough extending from one end to the other end and further including a connection at each end to connect to other tools in the tool string; and   a plurality of separate perforating module installed within the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each perforating module comprises a shaped charge and a switch configured to detonate the shaped charge in response to receiving a firing signal;   wherein the switch of each of the plurality of perforating modules has a length extending in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the perforating gun that is less than a width of the switch extending in a direction orthogonal with the longitudinal axis of the perforating gun.   
     
     
         16 . The perforating gun of  claim 15 , wherein the switch of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises an opening at least partially surrounded by an outer periphery of the switch. 
     
     
         17 . The perforating gun of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules are pressure isolated from one another. 
     
     
         18 . The perforating gun of  claim 15 , wherein the switch of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a digitally addressable switch. 
     
     
         19 . The perforating gun of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a plurality of the shaped charges, and wherein the switch of the perforating module is configured to detonate each of the plurality of shaped charges in response to receiving the firing signal addressed to the switch. 
     
     
         20 . The perforating gun of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a detonator in signal communication with the switch of the perforating module and ballistically connected to the shaped charge of the perforating module.