Perforating gun and detonator assembly

Abstract

According to an aspect, a perforating gun assembly and a detonator assembly are provided. The detonator assembly includes at least a shell, and more than one electrically contactable component that is configured for being electrically contactably received by the perforating gun assembly without using a wired electrical connection, but rather forms the electrical connection merely by contact with at least one of the more than one electrically contactable components. According to an aspect, the detonator assembly includes a selective detonator assembly. A method of assembling the perforating gun assembly including the detonator assembly is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless detonator assembly configured for being electrically contactably received within a perforating gun assembly without using a wired electrical connection, comprising:
 a shell configured for housing components of the detonator assembly;   more than one electrical contact component, wherein at least one of the electrical contact components extends from the shell and further wherein the electrical contact component comprises an electrically contactable line-in portion, an electrically contactable line-out portion and an electrically contactable ground portion, the ground portion in combination with the line-in portion and the line-out portion being configured to replace the wired electrical connection to complete an electrical connection merely by contact;   an insulator positioned between the line-in portion and the line-out portion, wherein the insulator electrically isolates the line-in portion from the line-out portion; and   means for selective detonation housed within the shell,   wherein the detonator assembly is configured for electrically contactably forming the electrical connection merely by the contact.   
     
     
       2. The wireless detonator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the means for selective detonation further comprise an electronic circuit board and means for receiving an ignition signal. 
     
     
       3. The wireless detonator assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a capacitor positioned on the electronic circuit board, the capacitor configured to be discharged to initiate the detonator assembly upon receipt of a digital firing sequence via an ignition signal, the ignition signal being electrically relayed directly through the line-in portion and the line-out portion. 
     
     
       4. The wireless detonator assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising means for ensuring immunity to stray current or voltage or radio frequency signals, such that the detonator assembly is not unintentionally armed or initiated. 
     
     
       5. A perforating gun assembly, comprising:
 a wirelessly-connectable selective detonator assembly configured for being electrically contactably received within the perforating gun assembly without using a wired electrical connection, the detonator assembly comprising:   a shell configured for housing components of the detonator assembly;   more than one electrically contactable component, wherein at least one of the electrical contact components extends from the shell and further wherein the electrical contact component comprises an electrically contactable line-in portion, an electrically contactable line-out portion, and an electrically contactable ground portion, the ground portion in combination with the line-in portion and the line-out portion being configured to replace the wired electrical connection to complete an electrical connection merely by contact;   an insulator positioned between the line-in portion and the line-out portion, wherein the insulator electrically isolates the line-in portion from the line-out portion; and   means for selective detonation of the detonator assembly,   wherein the means for selective detonation is housed within the shell, and the detonator assembly configured for electrically contactably forming the electrical connection merely by the contact and without the need of manually and physically connecting wires.   
     
     
       6. The perforating gun assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the means for selective detonation further comprise an electronic circuit board and means for receiving an ignition signal. 
     
     
       7. The perforating gun assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a capacitor positioned on the electronic circuit board, the capacitor being configured to be discharged to initiate the detonator assembly upon receipt of a digital firing sequence via an ignition signal, and the ignition signal being electrically relayed directly through the line-in portion and the line-out portion. 
     
     
       8. The perforating gun assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a detonating cord positioned within the perforating gun assembly such that at least a portion of the detonating cord is in contact with the detonator assembly. 
     
     
       9. The perforating gun assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the detonator assembly is configured for initiating the detonating cord without the detonating cord having to be attached to the detonator assembly. 
     
     
       10. The perforating gun assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the detonating cord is positioned in side-by-side contact with at least a portion of the shell. 
     
     
       11. The perforating gun assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising means for ensuring immunity to stray current or voltage or radio frequency signals, such that the detonator assembly is not unintentionally armed or initiated. 
     
     
       12. A method of assembling a perforating gun assembly without using a wired electrical connection, comprising:
 positioning a wirelessly-connectable selective detonator assembly within the perforating gun assembly, wherein the detonator assembly comprises:   a shell configured for housing components of the detonator assembly;   more than one electrically contactable component, wherein at least one of the electrical contact components extends from the shell and further wherein the electrical contact component comprises an electrically contactable line-in portion, an electrically contactable line-out portion, and an electrically contactable ground portion, the ground portion in combination with the line-in portion and the line-out portion being configured to replace the wired electrical connection to complete a wireless electrical connection merely by contact;   an insulator positioned between the line-in portion and the line-out portion, wherein the insulator electrically isolates the line-in portion from the line-out portion; and   means for selective detonation of the detonator assembly,   electrically contactingly connecting the detonator assembly such that the detonator assembly electrically contactably forms the wireless electrical connection merely by the contact and without the need of manually and physically connecting wires.   
     
     
       13. The method of assembling the perforating gun assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 positioning a detonator positioning assembly within the perforating gun assembly; and   positioning the wirelessly-connectable selective detonator assembly within the detonator positioning assembly.   
     
     
       14. The method of assembling the perforating gun assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 positioning a detonating cord within the perforating gun assembly such that at least a portion of the detonating cord is in contact with the detonator assembly.   
     
     
       15. The method of assembling the perforating gun assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 initiating the detonating cord without the detonating cord having to be attached to the detonator assembly.   
     
     
       16. A perforating gun, comprising:
 a perforating gun housing;   a tandem seal adapter, wherein the perforating gun housing is connected at a first end to the tandem seal adapter and the tandem seal adapter is configured for sealing an interior of the perforating gun housing from an interior of an adjacent perforating gun housing and for being positioned between the interior of the perforating gun housing and the interior of the adjacent perforating gun housing;   a carrying device positioned within the perforating gun housing and configured for holding at least one shaped charge; and   a wirelessly-connectable selective detonator assembly contained entirely within the perforating gun housing and configured for being electrically contactably received within the perforating gun housing without using a wired electrical connection, the detonator assembly comprising:   a shell configured for housing components of the detonator assembly;   more than one electrically contactable component, wherein at least one of the electrically contactable components extends from the shell and further wherein the more than one electrically contactable component comprises an electrically contactable line-in portion, an electrically contactable line-out portion, and an electrically contactable ground portion, the ground portion in combination with the line-in portion and the line-out portion being configured to replace a wired electrical connection to complete an electrical connection within the perforating gun housing merely by contact;   an insulator positioned between the line-in portion and the line-out portion, wherein the insulator electrically isolates the line-in portion from the line-out portion; and   an electronic circuit board configured to allow for selective detonation of the detonator assembly,   wherein the electronic circuit board is housed within the shell, and the detonator assembly is configured for electrically contactably forming the electrical connection within the perforating gun housing merely by the contact and without the need of manually and physically connecting wires.   
     
     
       17. The perforating gun of  claim 16 , wherein the electronic circuit board is in electrical communication with the line-in portion. 
     
     
       18. The perforating gun of  claim 17 , further comprising a capacitor positioned on the electronic circuit board, the capacitor being configured to be discharged to initiate the detonator assembly upon receipt of an ignition signal, and the ignition signal being electrically relayed directly through the line-in portion and the line-out portion. 
     
     
       19. The perforating gun of  claim 16 , further comprising a detonating cord positioned within the perforating gun housing such that at least a portion of the detonating cord is in contact with the detonator assembly. 
     
     
       20. The perforating gun of  claim 16 , wherein the detonator assembly is configured for initiating a detonating cord positioned within the perforating gun housing without the detonating cord having to be attached to the detonator assembly. 
     
     
       21. The perforating gun of  claim 19 , wherein the detonating cord is positioned in side-by-side contact with at least a portion of the shell. 
     
     
       22. The perforating gun of  claim 16 , wherein the detonator assembly is configured for preventing initiation in response to stray current or voltage or radio frequency signals. 
     
     
       23. A wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and detonator positioning assembly for orienting the wirelessly connectable detonator assembly in a perforating gun, comprising:
 the wirelessly connectable detonator assembly, wherein the wirelessly connectable detonator assembly comprises
 a shell containing detonator components; 
 an electrically contactable line-in portion in electrical communication with the detonator components; 
 an electrically contactable line-out portion in electrical communication with the line-in portion; and, 
 an electrical ground connection; and, 
   the detonator positioning assembly, wherein the detonator positioning assembly is configured for receiving the wirelessly connectable detonator assembly in the perforating gun, and the detonator positioning assembly includes a contactable ground portion.   
     
     
       24. The wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and detonator positioning assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the detonator components comprise an electronic circuit board, wherein the electronic circuit board is configured to initiate explosive components in response to receipt of an ignition signal. 
     
     
       25. The wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and detonator positioning assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the shell and the detonator assembly positioner are positioned in a gun carrier, and the gun carrier is in electrical communication with the contactable ground portion. 
     
     
       26. The wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and detonator positioning assembly of  claim 24 , further wherein the detonator positioning assembly aligns the shell such that the explosive components are ballistically connected with a detonating cord. 
     
     
       27. An arrangement of wirelessly connectable perforating guns, comprising:
 a first wirelessly connectable perforating gun comprising a first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and a first detonator positioning assembly for receiving the first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly in the first wirelessly connectable perforating gun, wherein   the first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly includes
 a first shell containing detonator components, 
 a first electrically contactable line-in portion in electrical communication with the detonator components in the first shell, 
 a first electrically contactable line-out portion in electrical communication with the first electrically contactable line-in portion, and 
 a first electrical ground connection, wherein 
 the first detonator positioning assembly receives the first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly in the first wirelessly connectable perforating gun, and the first detonator positioning assembly positioner includes a contactable ground portion configured for electrically contacting the first electrical ground connection of the first detonator assembly; 
   a second wirelessly connectable perforating gun comprising a second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and a second detonator positioning assembly for receiving the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly in the second wirelessly connectable perforating gun, wherein   the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly includes
 a second shell comprising detonator components, 
 a second electrically contactable line-in portion in electrical communication with the detonator components in the second shell, and 
 a second electrical ground connection, 
 wherein the first electrically contactable line-out portion of the first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly is in electrical communication with the second electrically contactable line-in portion of the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly, and 
   the second detonator positioning assembly receives the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly in the second wirelessly connectable perforating gun, and includes a contactable ground portion;   a seal adapter positioned between the first wirelessly connectable perforating gun and the second wireless connectable perforating gun; and   a line-in contact initiating pin positioned in the seal adapter, the line-in contact initiating pin in electrical contact with the second electrically contactable line-in portion of the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly without the use of a wired electrical connection, such that the line-in contact initiating pin relays an ignition signal from the first electrically contactable line-out portion of the first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly to the second electrically contactable line-in portion of the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly.   
     
     
       28. The arrangement of wirelessly connectable perforating guns of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the detonator components of the first shell comprise a first electronic circuit board, wherein the first electronic circuit board is configured to selectively detonate a first explosive component in response to the ignition signal; and   the detonator components of the second shell comprise a second electronic circuit board, wherein the second electronic circuit board is configured to selectively detonate a second explosive component in response to receipt of the ignition signal.   
     
     
       29. The arrangement of wirelessly connectable perforating guns of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a through wire in electrical contact with the first electrically contactable line-out portion of the first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and the second electrically connectable line-in portion of the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly.   
     
     
       30. The arrangement of wirelessly connectable perforating guns of  claim 29 , wherein the through wire extends between the first electrically connectable line-out portion of the first wirelessly connectable detonator assembly and the line-in contact initiating pin. 
     
     
       31. The arrangement of wirelessly connectable perforating guns of  claim 27 , wherein the second shell defines a central axis and the line-in contact initiating pin contacts the second electrically connectable line-in portion of the second wirelessly connectable detonator assembly at a point on the central axis. 
     
     
       32. The arrangement of wirelessly connectable perforating guns of  claim 27 , wherein the first shell and the second shell are each shaped as a hollow cylinder.