Method of perforating including an automatic release apparatus suspending by wireline or coiled tubing in a wellbore for perforating a long length interval of the wellbore in a single run using a gun string longer than a wellhead lubricator

An automatic release apparatus adapted to be connected between a first part of a gun string and a second part of a gun string in a wellbore, comprising:

• an outer housing including a first outer housing adapted to be connected to said first part of said gun string and a second outer housing adapted to be connected to said second part of said gun string, said second outer housing being adapted to separate from said first outer housing;
• a frangible member having a hollow interior disposed within said outer housing;
• a detonating cord adapted for conducting a detonation wave disposed within the hollow interior of said frangible member;
• and
• connection maintaining means supported by said frangible member for maintaining a connection between said first outer housing and said second outer housing,
• said detonation wave conducting in said detonating cord shattering said frangible member when said detonation wave conducts within the hollow interior of said frangible member,
• the connection maintaining means releasing said connection between said first outer housing and said second outer housing when said frangible member shatters,
• said first outer housing separating from said second outer housing when said connection maintaining means releases said connection between said first outer housing and said second outer housing.

A method of operating a long tool suing in a wellbore where the tool string is longer than a wellhead lubricator, comprising the steps of:

• (a) lowering the tool string into a wellbore, said tool string including a release apparatus, a first part connected to said release apparatus and located above the release apparatus when the tool suing is disposed in the wellbore, and a second part connected to said release apparatus and located below the release apparatus when the tool suing is disposed in the wellbore, said second part including a perforating gun, said first part including another perforating gun, said release apparatus including a frangible member;
• (b) initiating activation of said release apparatus, the initiating step including the step of shattering said frangible member;
• (c) initiating a disconnection of said second part from said first part of said tool string in response to the shattering step;
• (d) detonating said perforating gun of said second pan and simultaneously completing the disconnection Of said perforating gun of said second part from said first part in response to the initiating step (c), and dropping said perforating gun into said wellbore in response to the completing step;
• (e) detonating said another perforating gun of said first part;
• and
• (f) raising said another perforating gun of said first part to a surface of the wellbore while dropping said perforating gun of said second pan into said wellbore.

A release apparatus adapted to be connected between a first part of a tool string and a second part of a tool string in a wellbore, comprising:

• an outer housing including a first outer housing adapted to be connected to said first part of said tool string and a second outer housing adapted to be connected to said second part of said tool string, said second outer housing being adapted to separate from said first outer housing;
• a frangible member having a hollow interior disposed within said outer housing;
• means for conducting a detonation wave disposed within the hollow interior of said frangible member;
• and
• connection maintaining means supported by said frangible member for maintaining a connection between said first outer housing and said second outer housing,
• said detonation wave conducting in said means for conducting shattering said frangible member when said detonation wave conducts within the hollow interior of said frangible member,
• the connection maintaining means releasing said connection between said first outer housing and said second outer housing when said frangible member shatters,
• said first outer housing separating from said second outer housing when said connection maintaining means releases said connection between said first outer housing and said second outer housing.

A method of perforating a long length interval of a formation penetrated by a wellbore where the long length interval is longer in length than a length of a wellhead lubricator, comprising the steps of:

• connecting an apparatus to a conveyor and lowering said apparatus while suspending from said conveyor into said wellbore until said apparatus is adjacent said long length interval of said formation, said apparatus being longer in length than a length of a wellhead lubricator and including a first perforating gun, a second perforating gun, and a release apparatus connected between said first perforating gun and said second perforating gun;
• detonating said first perforating gun, initiating activation of said release apparatus, and detonating said second perforating gun;
• dropping said second perforating gun into said wellbore in response to the initiating step when the second perforating gun is detonated;
• and
• raising said first perforating gun to a surface of said wellbore in response to the initiating step when the first perforating gun is detonated.

An apparatus adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, comprising:

• a first part adapted to be connected to a conveyor, said first part including a perforating gun;
• a second part, said second pan including a perforating gun;
• and
• a release apparatus interconnected between said first pan and said second part,
• said first part, said release apparatus, and said second pan suspending from said conveyor in said wellbore when said first pan is connected to said conveyor and said first pan, said release apparatus and said second part are lowered into said wellbore to a particular position in said wellbore,
• said first part, said release apparatus, and said second pan being disposed adjacent a long length interval of a formation penetrated by said wellbore when lowered to said particular position in said wellbore, said long length interval of said formation being longer in length than a length of a wellhead lubricator,
• said first part, said release apparatus, and said second pan having a length which is longer than said length of said wellhead lubricator.