Method and apparatus for orienting perforating devices
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsRobert A. Parrott, Dave Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method of orienting perforating gun strings conveyed on a tool string. One embodiment of the present invention provides an orienting weight provided in a portion of the perforating device, such as the shaped charge, the loading tube or the gun housing. An adapter is provided intermediate the tool string that facilitates conveyance of the gun string downhole. Additionally, the adapter enables the gun string to rotate independent of the tool string.
Claims35
A method of conveying and orienting shaped charges, comprising:
- weighting one or more gun string components eccentrically to orient the shaped charges in the desired direction;
- conveying the one or more gun string components downhole on a tool string;
- and
- providing an adapter intermediate the one or more gun string components and the tool string, the adapter having wheels to facilitate conveyance of the one or more gun string components and having a rotating cage to enable the one or more gun string components to rotate independently of the tool string.
An oriented perforating gun affixed to a tool string, comprising:
- one or more gun string components, comprising:
- one or more shaped charges having a charge case;
- a gun carrier;
- and
- a loading tube;
- an adapter intermediate the one or more gun string components and the tool string, the adapter having roller wheels to facilitate conveyance of the one or more gun string components downhole and having a rotating housing to enable the one or more gun string components to rotate independently from the rotating housing;
- and
- wherein at least one of the one or more gun string components are eccentrically weighted to orient the shaped charges in a desired direction.
A perforating system, comprising:
- means for mapping the desired orientation;
- means for conveying the perforating system;
- means for orienting the perforating system;
- means for enabling the perforating system to orient independent of the conveyance means;
- and
- means for confirming the correct orientation at the time of detonation.
A method of perforating, comprising:
- mapping the wellbore to avoid perforating selected downhole components;
- providing a tool string to convey the perforating system;
- providing an adapter intermediate the tool string and the perforating system that enables independent orientation;
- orienting the perforating system;
- and
- confirming the correct orientation at the time of detonation.
An oriented perforating system, comprising:
- a gun string adapted for downhole orientation;
- a tool string adapted to convey the gun string downhole;
- and
- an adapter provided intermediate the gun string and the tool string, the adapter having roller wheels adapted to facilitate conveyance of the tool string downhole, the adapter having a rotating housing adapted to enable the gun string to rotate independent of the tool string.
An oriented perforating gun affixed to a tool string, comprising:
- one or more eccentrically weighted gun string components;
- a swivel intermediate the one or more gun string components and the tool string, the swivel enabling the one or more gun string components to rotate independently from the tool string, the swivel comprising:
- a thrust bearing;
- and
- a bearing floater adapted to reduce the load applied to the thrust bearing upon application of a tensile load to the swivel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.