Socket driver, and method of connecting perforating guns
AssigneeXConnect, LLC
InventorShelby L. Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A socket driver for a perforating gun assembly. The socket driver includes a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The second end defines an inner diameter that has a length to extend over a threaded end of the tandem sub. The socket driver is configured to mate with a shoulder along the tandem sub of the perforating gun assembly. Specifically, the socket driver includes a radial notched profile. The notched profile is configured to mate with a radial pattern of slots along the shoulder of the tandem sub. In one aspect, the socket driver is between 3 and 8 inches in length. In one aspect, the first end of the socket driver comprises an opening configured to receive a torque tool. A method of connecting ends of perforating guns using the socket driver is also provided herein.
Claims25
A socket driver configured to mate with a shoulder along a tandem sub for a perforating gun assembly, comprising:
- an elongated and non-threaded tubular body defining a wall;
- a first end;
- a second end opposite the first end and having a second inner diameter;
- and
- a radial notched profile placed at the second end and configured to mate with a radial notched profile along the shoulder of the tandem sub such that when the socket driver is rotated, torque is applied to the tandem sub;
- and wherein:
- the tandem sub comprises:
- a first end defining first end threads configured to threadedly connect to an end of a first gun barrel housing,
- a second end defining second end threads configured to threadedly connect to an end of a second gun barrel housing, and
- a bore extending from the first end to the second end;
- the shoulder of the tandem sub resides intermediate the first and second ends;
- and
- the second inner diameter is dimensioned to slide over the first end or the second end of the tandem sub.
A method of connecting ends of perforating guns, comprising:
- providing a tandem sub, the tandem sub having:
- a first end defining first end threads,
- a second end defining second end threads,
- a bore within at least the second end, and
- an enlarged shoulder intermediate the first and second ends, the shoulder having slots forming a radial pattern;
- providing a first perforating gun, the first perforating gun comprising:
- a gun barrel housing,
- a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing, and
- a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube;
- providing a second perforating gun, the second perforating gun also comprising:
- a gun barrel housing,
- a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing, and
- a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube;
- providing a socket driver comprising:
- an elongated tubular body defining a wall;
- a first end,
- a second end opposite the first end and having a second inner diameter, and
- a radial notched profile configured to mate with the radial pattern of slots along the shoulder of the tandem sub;
- sliding the first end threads of the tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the first perforating gun;
- sliding the second end of the socket driver over the second end threads of the tandem sub to engage the notched profile of the socket driver with the slots along the shoulder of the tandem sub;
- applying rotation of the socket driver relative to the first perforating gun to make a threaded connection between the tandem sub and the first perforating gun.
A method of connecting ends of perforating guns, comprising:
- providing a tandem sub, the tandem sub having:
- a first end defining first end threads,
- a second end defining second end threads,
- a bore extending from the first end to the second end, and
- an enlarged shoulder intermediate the first and second ends;
- providing a first perforating gun, the first perforating gun comprising:
- a gun barrel housing,
- a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing, and
- a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube;
- providing a second perforating gun, the second perforating gun also comprising:
- a gun barrel housing having a first end and a second end,
- a carrier tube residing within the gun barrel housing,
- a plurality of shape charges residing along the carrier tube, and
- a shoulder formed around an outer diameter of the second end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun, with the shoulder having slots forming a radial pattern;
- providing a socket driver comprising:
- an elongated tubular body defining a wall;
- a first end,
- a second end opposite the first end and having a second inner diameter, and
- a radial notched profile configured to mate with the radial pattern of slots along the shoulder of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun;
- sliding the first end threads of the tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the first perforating gun;
- sliding the second end threads of the tandem sub into a first end of the gun barrel housing of the second perforating gun;
- engaging the notched profile of the socket driver with the slots along the shoulder of the second perforating gun;
- rotationally fixing the first perforating gun;
- applying rotation of the socket driver relative to the first perforating gun to make a threaded connection between the tandem sub and the first perforating gun.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.