Detonator For A Perforating Gun Assembly

A method of firing charges into a wellbore casing, the wellbore casing residing within the horizontal portion of a wellbore, and the method comprising:

• providing a perforating gun assembly, the perforating gun assembly comprising a gun barrel housing, a charge tube residing within the gun barrel housing, a plurality of charges residing along the charge tube, a detonator cord extending to each of the charges within the charge tube, and an addressable switch;
• providing a detonator comprising:
• a tubular body having an upper end and a lower end, with the tubular body being fabricated from a conductive metal;
• a terminal residing at the upper end, with the terminal also being fabricated from a conductive metal;
• a lower bore within the tubular body housing an explosive charge material proximate the lower end;
• and
• an initiator in contact with the explosive material;
• and
• placing the detonator into a compartment within the charge tube, wherein:
• the terminal is configured to be placed in electrical communication with the addressable switch;
• the compartment comprises a ground terminal;
• and
• placement of the detonator into the compartment places the tubular body in contact with the ground terminal.

An end plate comprising:

• a first end defining a first face, with the first face abutting a charge tube of a perforating gun;
• a second end opposite the first end, and defining a second face;
• an opening along the second face configured to receive an end of a ground pin;
• a first through-opening and a second through-opening;
• a first bulkhead residing in the first through-opening configured to closely receive a signal transmission pin, wherein the signal transmission pin is configured to transmit electrical signals from the perforating gun, through the end plate, and to an addressable switch;
• a second bulkhead residing in the second through-opening configured to closely receive a detonator pin, wherein the detonator pin is configured to transmit a detonation signal from the addressable switch, back up through the end plate, and to a detonator;
• and wherein:
• the addressable switch comprises a first leg wire and a second leg wire;
• and
• the detonator is received within a compartment of the charge tube within the perforating gun.

A method of preparing a perforating gun assembly, comprising:

• providing a perforating gun assembly, the perforating gun assembly comprising a gun barrel housing, a charge tube residing within the gun barrel housing, a plurality of charges residing along the charge tube, a detonator cord extending to each of the charges within the charge tube, an addressable switch, and a compartment within the charge tube;
• providing a detonator comprising:
• a tubular body having an upper end and a lower end;
• a terminal residing at the upper end;
• a lower bore within the tubular body housing an explosive charge material proximate the lower end;
• and
• an initiator in contact with the explosive material;
• placing a first leg wire of an addressable switch in electrical communication with the terminal;
• placing a second leg wire of the addressable switch in electrical communication with the tubular body;
• transporting the perforating gun assembly to a well site;
• and
• after the perforating gun assembly has arrived at the well site, placing the detonator into the compartment within the charge tube.

A method of preparing a perforating gun assembly, comprising:

• providing a perforating gun assembly, the perforating gun assembly comprising a gun barrel housing, a charge tube residing within the gun barrel housing, a plurality of charges residing along the charge tube, a detonator cord extending to each of the charges within the charge tube, an addressable switch, a detonation pin in electrical communication with the addressable switch, and a compartment within the charge tube;
• providing a detonator comprising:
• a tubular body having an upper end and a lower end;
• a terminal residing at the upper end;
• a lower bore within the tubular body housing an explosive charge material proximate the lower end;
• and
• an initiator in contact with the explosive material;
• transporting the perforating gun assembly to a well site;
• and
• after the perforating gun assembly has arrived at the well site, placing the detonator into the compartment within the charge tube such that the terminal is in contact with an end of the detonation pin.