# US 2021/0172298 A1 · Modular perforating gun systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0172298 A1 - Document ID: US20210172298A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/118,293 - Filed: 2020-12-10 - Published: 2021-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-10 - Assignees: G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP - Applicants: G&H Diversified Manufacturing LP - Inventors: Benjamin Vascal Knight; James Edward Kash; Ryan Ward - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210172298A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/117: Shaped-charge perforators (E21B43/118 takes precedence) - E21B 43/116: Gun or shaped-charge perforators - E21B 43/1185: Ignition systems - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore includes an outer sleeve including a central passage, and a plurality of separate perforating modules receivable in the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules includes a carrier and a charge tube assembly received in the carrier, wherein the charge tube assembly incudes a shaped charge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore, comprising: an outer sleeve comprising a central passage; and a plurality of separate perforating modules receivable in the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a carrier and a charge tube assembly received in the carrier, wherein the charge tube assembly comprises a shaped charge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The perforating gun of claim 1, wherein the plurality of perforating modules are rotationally locked together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The perforating gun of claim 1, wherein the carrier of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a radial lock and a radial receptacle, wherein the radial lock of a first of the plurality of perforating modules is receivable in the radial receptacle of a second of the plurality of perforating modules to rotationally lock the first of the plurality of perforating modules with the second of the plurality of perforating modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The perforating gun of claim 1, wherein the charge tube assembly of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises an individually addressable switch assembly configured to selectably fire the shaped charge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The perforating gun of claim 4, wherein the charge tube assembly of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a charge tube receiving the shaped charge, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge tube, and a second endplate coupled to the second end of the charge tube, wherein the switch assembly is coupled to the second endplate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The perforating gun of claim 5, wherein the second endplate of the charge tube assembly of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a detonator holder comprising a receptacle which receives a detonator coupled to the switch assembly, wherein the detonator extends into the charge tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The perforating gun of claim 6, wherein the second endplate of the charge tube assembly of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a detonator cord receptacle which receives a detonator cord ballistically coupling the detonator with the shaped charge, and a wiring harness electrically connected to an electrical connector assembly of the first endplate, an electrical connector assembly of the second endplate, and to the switch assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The perforating gun of claim 1, further comprising: a first pressure bulkhead receivable in the outer sleeve and connectable to a first of the plurality of perforating modules, wherein the first pressure bulkhead is configured to electrically connect to the first of the plurality of perforating modules when the first pressure bulkhead is connected to the first of the plurality of perforating modules; and a second pressure bulkhead receivable in the outer sleeve and connectable to a second of the plurality of perforating modules, wherein the second pressure bulkhead is configured to electrically connect to the second of the plurality of perforating modules when the second pressure bulkhead is connected to the second of the plurality of perforating modules. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The perforating gun of claim 1, wherein the plurality of perforating modules are each isolated from a load path extending from a first end of the outer sleeve to a second end of the outer sleeve, the load path being associated with an axially directed compressive or tensile load applied to an end of the outer sleeve. ### Claim 10 A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore, comprising: an outer sleeve comprising a central passage; and a plurality of separate perforating modules receivable in the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a shaped charge and an individually addressable switch assembly configured to selectably fire the shaped charge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The perforating gun of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a carrier and a charge tube assembly received in the carrier, wherein the charge tube assembly comprises the shaped charge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The perforating gun of claim 11, wherein the charge tube assembly of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a charge tube receiving the shaped charge, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge tube, and a second endplate coupled to the second end of the charge tube, wherein the switch assembly is coupled to the second endplate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The perforating gun of claim 12, wherein the second endplate of the charge tube assembly of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a detonator holder comprising a receptacle which receives a detonator coupled to the switch assembly, wherein the detonator extends into the charge tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The perforating gun of claim 13, wherein the second endplate of the charge tube assembly of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a detonator cord receptacle which receives a detonator cord ballistically coupling the detonator with the shaped charge, and a wiring harness electrically connected to an electrical connector assembly of the first endplate, an electrical connector assembly of the second endplate, and to the switch assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The perforating gun of claim 10, wherein the plurality of perforating modules are rotationally locked together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The perforating gun of claim 10, wherein the carrier of each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises a radial lock and a radial receptacle, wherein the radial lock of a first of the plurality of perforating modules is receivable in the radial receptacle of a second of the plurality of perforating modules to rotationally lock the first of the plurality of perforating modules with the second of the plurality of perforating modules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The perforating gun of claim 10, further comprising: a first pressure bulkhead receivable in the outer sleeve and connectable to a first of the plurality of perforating modules, wherein the first pressure bulkhead is configured to electrically connect to the first of the plurality of perforating modules when the first pressure bulkhead is connected to the first of the plurality of perforating modules; and a second pressure bulkhead receivable in the outer sleeve and connectable to a second of the plurality of perforating modules, wherein the second pressure bulkhead is configured to electrically connect to the second of the plurality of perforating modules when the second pressure bulkhead is connected to the second of the plurality of perforating modules. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The perforating gun of claim 10, wherein the perforating module is isolated from a load path extending from a first end of the outer sleeve to a second end of the outer sleeve, the load path being associated with an axially directed compressive or tensile load applied to an end of the outer sleeve. ### Claim 19 A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore, comprising: an outer sleeve comprising a central passage; and a perforating module receivable in the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein the perforating module comprises a shaped charge and wherein an interior of the perforating module is sealed from the central passage of the outer sleeve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The perforating gun of claim 19, wherein the perforating module is isolated from a load path extending from a first end of the outer sleeve to a second end of the outer sleeve, the load path being associated with an axially directed compressive or tensile load applied to an end of the outer sleeve. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The perforating gun of claim 19, wherein the perforating module comprises a carrier and a charge tube assembly received in the carrier, wherein the charge tube assembly comprises the shaped charge. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The perforating gun of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of the perforating modules receivable in the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules comprises an individually addressable switch assembly configured to selectably fire the shaped charge.