US 11,078,762 B2 · Downhole perforating gun tube and components

Abstract

A gun tube for a downhole perforating gun assembly includes a body having a cavity and one or more weights in the cavity. Gravity acts on the weights, which causes the tube body to rotate around its longitudinal axis so the weights are adjacent the lower part of the wellbore in which the gun assembly is positioned when oriented horizontally. This positions shape charges in the gun tube in a desired position prior to the shape charges being fired. The gun tube may also include one or more end connectors with electrical contacts having a first, extended position, and a second, contracted position, and/or end connectors that can be assembled by hand without the use of tools.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A downhole perforating gun system, comprising:

an outer casing having a longitudinal center axis;
a gun body having a longitudinal center axis, wherein the gun body is concentrically disposed in the outer casing such that the longitudinal center axis of the gun body is aligned with the longitudinal center axis of the outer casing;
one or more explosive charges coupled to the gun body;
a collar;
a bearing assembly at least partially disposed in the collar such that the gun body is rotatable relative to the outer casing;
and
one or more weights, wherein the gun body is rotatable by the weights via the bearing assembly based on gravity acting on the one or more weights.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Downhole perforating gun tube and components

Life of this patent

Downhole perforating gun tube and components

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38