Electric and ballistic connection through a field joint

A perforating system comprising:

• a first perforating string member comprising:
• a first annular contact comprising a first contact body that is threadingly attached to threads formed on an inner surface of the first perforating string member, and a first ring on the first contact body having a portion protruding from a surface of the first contact body;
• a first signal member in communication with the first annular contact and in signal communication with a wireline;
• an end having a first connection fitting;
• a second perforating string member comprising:
• a second annular contact comprising a tiered second contact body on an end of the second perforating string member proximate the first perforating string member, and a second ring on the second contact body that has a portion protruding from a surface of the second contact body;
• a second signal member in communication with the second annular contact;
• and an end having a second connection fitting selectively in a configuration attached with the end having a first connection fitting, so that when the end having a second connection fitting is attached to the end having the first connection fitting, the first and second annular contacts are contacting and the first and second signal members are in signal communication;
• detonating cord disposed in the first and second perforating string members;
• and threads on the end of the second perforating string member engageable with the threads on the first perforating string member, so that when the first and second perforating string members are engaged, the first ring contacts the second ring.

A method of perforating comprising:

• providing first and second perforating string members each having a detonation cord, annular ring and sleeve contacts coaxially disposed respectively in the first and second perforating string members, a first signal member in communication with the ring contact and in signal communication with a wireline, a second signal member in communication with the sleeve contact, a detonation assembly in communication with the second signal member, a portion of the detonation assembly circumscribed by the ring contact, and shaped charges detonatable in response to activation of the detonation assembly;
• orienting the first and second perforating string members so they are on about the same axis;
• and
• urging the first and second perforating string members in an axial direction and into connection, which also contacts together the strategically located ring and sleeve contacts into an interference fit to provide communication between the first and second signal members via contact between the ring and sleeve contacts.

A connector assembly for use in transferring signals between adjacent members of a perforating string, the connector assembly comprising:

• an electrically conductive annular sleeve coupled to a first member of the perforating string;
• an electrical signal member connected to the annular sleeve;
• a resilient ring connector coupled to a second member of the perforating string coaxially disposed in an interference fit with the annular sleeve and in electrical contact;
• a wiring harness connected to the ring connector and in electrical communication with the electrical signal member via coupling between the annular sleeve and resilient ring;
• a first body circumscribing the annular sleeve, a bore axially formed through the body;
• a centralizer circumscribing a portion of the body;
• and
• a booster charge in the centralizer aligned with the bore, and a detonating cord operatively coupled with the booster charge.