Method and apparatus for firing multisection perforating guns

The method of providing the detonation of shaped charges disposed in a plurality of vertically stacked perforating gun sections for a subterannean well, comprises the steps of:

• (1) running a primer cord through each gun section adjacent the ignition end of each shaped charge container in the section;
• (2) securing a booster charge to the top and bottom ends of each primer cord to transmit a detonating force from the bottom of one gun section to the top of the next gun section;
• (3) positioning a low-deflagration rate detonation-transmitting element in each gun section in parallel relationship to at least a portion of said primer cord with the upper end of said detonation-transmitting element disposed in proximity to the lower booster charge of the upwardly adjacent gun section;
• and
• (4) connecting the lower end of said detonation-transmitting element to a charge disposed adjacent the booster charge at the bottom of the section containing the respective detonation-transmitting element.

The method of providing the detonation of shaped charges in a plurality of vertically stacked perforating gun sections for a subterranean well, comprising the steps of:

• (1) running a primer cord through each gun section adjacent the ignition end of each shaped charge container in the section;
• (2) securing a booster charge to the top and bottom ends of each primer cord to transmit a detonating force from the bottom of one gun section to the top of the next gun section;
• (3) positioning a low-deflagration rate transmitting element adjacent to the bottom booster charge in one gun section and extending said element downwardly into the medial portion of the next lower gun section;
• and
• (4) securing a charge between the bottom end of said transmitting element and the medial portion of the primer cord in said next lower gun section thereby providing a backup detonation of the primer cord in the said next lower gun section.

The method of providing the detonation of shaped charges in a plurality of vertically stacked perforating gun sections for a subterranean well, comprising the steps of:

• (1) running a primer cord through each gun section adjacent the ignition end of each shaped charge container in the section;
• (2) securing a booster charge to the top and bottom ends of each primer cord to transmit a detonating force from the bottom of one gun section to the top of the next gun section;
• (3) positioning a low-deflagration rate detonation-transmitting element adjacent to the bottom booster charge in one gun section and extending said element downwardly into the next lower gun section in generally parallel relationship to the said primer cord in such lower section;
• (4) securing a charge to the bottom end of said detonation transmitting element;
• and
• (5) positioning said charge in adjacent relationship to one of said primer cord and said bottom booster charge of said next lower gun section.

In a multisection perforating gun for perforating an extended length of a subterranean well, each gun section having a plurality of vertically spaced, shaped charge containers;

• a length of primer cord traversing the length of each gun section and lying adjacent the ignition end of each shaped charge container in the respective gun section, and a booster charge on each of the top and bottom ends of the primer cord positioned to transmit a detonating force from the bottom end of a primer cord length to the top end of the primer cord length in the next lower gun section;
• the improvement comprising:
• a detonation-transmitting element mounted in each gun section in parallel relationship to said primer cord and with the upper end thereof disposed in proximity to the bottom booster charge of the upwardly adjacent gun section;
• a charge secured to the bottom end of said detonation-transmitting element and positioned at the lower end of said gun section in adjacent relationship to both said bottom booster charge of the respective gun section and the upper booster charge of the next lower gun section.

In a multisection perforating gun for perforating an extended length of a subterranean well, each gun section having a plurality of vertically spaced, shaped charge containers;

• a length of primer cord traversing the length of each gun section and lying adjacent the ignition end of each shaped charge container in the respective gun section;
• and a booster charge on each of the top and bottom ends of the primer cord positioned to transmit a detonating force from the bottom end of a primer cord length to the top end of the primer cord length in the next lower gun section, the improvement comprising:
• a detonation transmitting element having its top end positioned adjacent said bottom booster charge in an upper gun section and extending to a medial portion of the said primer cord in the next lower gun section;
• and a booster charge interconnecting said bottom end of said detonation transmitting element and said medial portion of said primer cord in the next lower gun section.