Perforating Gun and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A perforating gun includes a gun assembly and a gun barrel. The gun assembly includes a charge tube comprising at least one shaped charge. A pin contact assembly is operably attached to a first end of the charge tube and includes a contact spacer and a through pin configured to provide electrical communication between respective perforating guns. An addressable switch assembly is attached to a second end of the charge tube and comprises an addressable switch and a detonator. The gun assembly is situated within the gun barrel and is configured to self-orient inside the gun barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A perforating gun, comprising:
 a gun assembly, comprising:
 a charge tube comprising at least one shaped charge; 
 a pin contact assembly operably attached to a first end of the charge tube, the pin contact assembly comprising a contact spacer and a through pin configured to provide electrical communication between perforating guns; and 
 an addressable switch assembly attached to a second end of the charge tube, the addressable switch assembly comprising an addressable switch and a detonator; and 
   a gun barrel;   wherein the gun assembly is situated within and configured to self-orient inside the gun barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein the through pin is configured to freely rotate while the pin contact spacer remains stationary. 
     
     
         3 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein the charge tube comprises at least one weight attached to an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The perforating gun of  claim 3 , wherein a thickness of the at least one weight is such that the weight does not extend past outermost surfaces of the pin contact assembly and the addressable switch assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The perforating gun of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one weight is secured to the charge tube with a rivet. 
     
     
         6 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein the charge tube comprises a plurality of cutout sections on a top side thereof, and wherein the cutout sections are not cutout sections for receiving the shaped charges. 
     
     
         7 . The perforating gun of  claim 1 , wherein the charge tube comprises a plurality of first cutouts, each of the plurality of first cutouts being configured to receive a respective shaped charge, and a plurality of second cutouts distributed along a length of the charge tube, wherein the plurality of second cutouts are located on a top side of the charge tube thereby reducing an amount of material on the top side of the charge tube. 
     
     
         8 . A perforating gun, comprising:
 a gun assembly, comprising:
 a charge tube comprising at least one shaped charge; 
 a pin contact assembly operably attached to a first end of the charge tube, the pin contact assembly comprising a contact spacer and a through pin configured to provide electrical communication between perforating guns, wherein the contact spacer comprises a roller bearing and the through pin is operably associated with the roller bearing such that the through pin can freely rotate along an axis of the gun assembly; and 
 an addressable switch assembly attached to a second end of the charge tube, the addressable switch assembly comprising an addressable switch and a detonator; and 
   a gun barrel;   wherein the gun assembly is situated within and is configured to self-orient inside the gun barrel.   
     
     
         9 . The perforating gun of  claim 8 , wherein the charge tube comprises at least one weight attached to an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The perforating gun of  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the at least one weight is such that the weight does not extend past outermost surfaces of the pin contact assembly and the addressable switch assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The perforating gun of  claim 9 , wherein the weight is secured to the charge tube via at least one rivet. 
     
     
         12 . The perforating gun of  claim 8 , wherein the charge tube comprises a plurality of cutout sections on a top side thereof, and wherein the cutout sections are not cutout sections for receiving the shaped charges. 
     
     
         13 . The perforating gun of  claim 8 , wherein the charge tube comprises a plurality of first cutouts, each of the plurality of first cutouts being configured to receive a respective shaped charge, and a plurality of second cutouts distributed along a length of the charge tube, wherein the plurality of second cutouts are located on a top side of the charge tube thereby reducing an amount of material on the top side of the charge tube. 
     
     
         14 . The perforating gun of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one grounding spring extending from the charge tube, wherein the grounding spring contacts an inner surface of the barrel when the charge tube is installed in the barrel. 
     
     
         15 . The perforating gun of  claim 14 , wherein the grounding spring is a coil spring. 
     
     
         16 . A perforating gun, comprising:
 a gun assembly, comprising a charge tube comprising at least one shaped charge; and   a gun barrel;   wherein the gun assembly is situated within and is configured to self-orient inside the gun barrel.   
     
     
         17 . The perforating gun of  claim 16 , wherein the charge tube comprises at least one weight attached to an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The perforating gun of  claim 17 , wherein the weight attached to the outer surface of the charge tube has substantially no contact with an inside surface of the gun barrel when the charge tube is installed therein. 
     
     
         19 . The perforating gun of  claim 16 , wherein the charge tube comprises at least one grounding spring, and wherein the grounding spring contacts an inside surface of the gun barrel when the charge tube is installed therein. 
     
     
         20 . The perforating gun of  claim 16 , wherein the charge tube comprises a plurality of first cutouts, each of the plurality of first cutouts being configured to receive a respective shaped charge, and a plurality of second cutouts distributed along a length of the charge tube, wherein the plurality of second cutouts are located on a top side of the charge tube thereby reducing an amount of material on the top side of the charge tube.