# US 11,078,738 B2 · Hydraulically activated setting tool and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,738 B2 - Document ID: US11078738B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/675,649 - Filed: 2019-11-06 - Published: 2020-03-05 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-02 - Assignees: Geodynamics, Inc. - Applicants: Geodynamics, Inc. - Inventors: Robert Davis; Wayne Rosenthal; Kevin George; David Wesson; Michael Wroblicky; Jeremy Castaneda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078738B2 ## CPC - E21B 23/0412: {characterised by pressure chambers, e.g. vacuum chambers} - E21B 43/119: Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction - E21B 23/00: Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells (setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10) - E21B 23/042: {using a single piston or multiple mechanically interconnected pistons} - E21B 23/0421: {using multiple hydraulically interconnected pistons} - E21B 23/06: for setting packers - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A sub connects a gun string to a hydraulically activated setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in a well. The sub includes a housing that prevents a well fluid from entering inside the housing; a plug that covers a hole made in a wall of the housing; and an explosive mechanism located inside the housing and configured to break the plug to open the hole to achieve fluid communication between an outside and the inside of the sub. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sub that connects a gun string to a hydraulically activated setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in a well, the sub comprising: a housing that prevents a well fluid from entering inside the housing; a plug that covers a hole made in a wall of the housing; and an explosive mechanism located inside the housing and configured to break the plug to open the hole to achieve fluid communication between an outside and the inside of the sub, wherein the housing has a first end configured to be attached to the gun string, which has plural shaped charges, and a second end configured to be attached to the hydraulically activated setting tool. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sub of claim 1, wherein there are no other explosive mechanisms inside the sub. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sub of claim 1, wherein the explosive mechanism includes a detonator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sub of claim 3, wherein the detonator is sized to break the plug but not to make a hole through a casing of the well. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The sub of claim 3, further comprising: a switch located within the housing and configured to detonate the detonator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sub of claim 5, wherein the switch is electrically controlled. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sub of claim 1, wherein the explosive mechanism includes a detonator and an explosive charge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sub of claim 7, wherein the detonator is configured to detonate the explosive charge and the explosive charge is sized to break the plug but not to make a hole through a casing of the well. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The sub of claim 7, wherein the explosive charge is placed next to the plug formed in the wall of the housing so that the explosive charge directly blows the plug when detonated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sub of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to fluidly communicate through a communication passage with an interior of the hydraulically activated setting tool. ### Claim 11 A gun assembly for use in a well, the gun assembly comprising: a gun string having plural shaped charges; a sub connected with one end to the gun string; and a hydraulically activated setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in the well, the hydraulically activated setting tool being attached to a second end of the sub, wherein the sub includes, a housing that prevents a well fluid from the well from entering inside the housing, a plug that covers a hole made in a wall of the housing, and an explosive mechanism located inside the housing and configured to break the plug to open the hole to achieve fluid communication between the well and the inside of the sub. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gun assembly of claim 11, wherein there are no other explosive mechanisms inside the sub. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The gun assembly of claim 11, wherein the explosive mechanism includes a detonator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gun assembly of claim 13, wherein the detonator is sized to break the plug but not to make a hole through a casing of the well. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The gun assembly of claim 13, wherein the sub further comprises: a switch located within the housing and configured to detonate the detonator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The gun assembly of claim 15, wherein the switch is electrically controlled. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The gun assembly of claim 11, wherein the explosive mechanism includes a detonator and an explosive charge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The gun assembly of claim 17, wherein the explosive charge is sized to break the plug but not to make a hole through a casing of the well. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The gun assembly of claim 11, wherein the hydraulically actuated setting tool comprises: a housing; a floating piston placed inside the housing and closing an end of a pressure chamber; an attached piston placed inside the housing and configured to actuate the auxiliary tool; a fluid chamber located between the floating piston and the attached piston, wherein the fluid chamber holds a fluid; and a communication passage between the housing and the housing of the sub that establishes a fluid communication between an outside and an inside of the setting tool, wherein the fluid communication makes a well fluid in the well to directly act on the floating piston. ### Claim 20 A tool for use in a well, the tool comprising: a sub configured to be connected with one end to a gun string; and a hydraulically activated setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in the well, the hydraulically activated setting tool being attached to a second end of the sub, wherein the sub includes, a housing that prevents a well fluid from the well from entering inside the housing, a plug that covers a hole made in a wall of the housing, and an explosive mechanism located inside the housing and configured to break the plug to open the hole to achieve fluid communication between the well and the inside of the sub. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The tool of claim 20, wherein the explosive mechanism includes a detonator but no other explosive material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The tool of claim 20, wherein the explosive mechanism includes a detonator and an explosive charge. ### Claim 23 A sub that connects a gun string to a hydraulically activated setting tool for setting an auxiliary tool in a well, the sub comprising: a housing that prevents a well fluid from entering inside the housing; a plug that covers a hole made in a wall of the housing; and an explosive mechanism located inside the housing and configured to break the plug to open the hole to achieve fluid communication between an outside and the inside of the sub, wherein the explosive mechanism includes a detonator; and a switch located within the housing and configured to detonate the detonator, wherein the switch is electrically controlled.