METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTING STANDARD END CAP ASSEMBLIES OF A PERFORATING GUN TO FUNCTION AS TUBING CONVEYED PERFORATING END CAP ASSEMBLIES

Abstract

Method and apparatus for adapting a Standard End Cap assembly of a perforating gun to function as a Tubing Conveyed Perforating end cap assembly of a perforating gun. The method includes inserting an inner end cap into an opening of a Standard End Cap, and positioning the inner end cap such that the inner end cap and Standard End Cap become interlocked without the need of a snap ring. The apparatus includes an inner end cap that may include anchors or receivers, and a Standard End Cap that may include anchors or receivers, such that the anchors in one component correspond to the receivers in the other component to facilitate the interlocking of the two components.

Claims

1. A method of adapting a Standard End Cap assembly of a perforating gun to function as a Tubing Conveyed Perforating end cap assembly of a perforating gun, comprising: a) a Standard End Cap that includes at least one receiver; b) an inner end cap that includes at least one anchor; c) whereby the inner end cap is inserted into an opening of the Standard End Cap; and d) wherein the at least one anchor on the inner end cap interlocks with the at least one receiver on the Standard End Cap.

2. The method of adapting a Standard End Cap assembly of a perforating gun to function as a Tubing Conveyed Perforating end cap assembly of a perforating gun claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver is included on the inner ring of the Standard End Cap and the at least one anchor is included on the outer circumference of the inner end cap.

3. A method of adapting a Standard End Cap assembly of a perforating gun to function as a Tubing Conveyed Perforating end cap assembly of a perforating gun, comprising: a) an inner end cap that includes at least one receiver; b) a Standard End Cap that includes at least one anchor; c) whereby the inner end cap is inserted into an opening of the Standard End Cap; and d) wherein the at least one anchor on the Standard End Cap interlocks with the at least one receiver on the inner end cap.

4. The method of adapting a Standard End Cap assembly of a perforating gun to function as a Tubing Conveyed Perforating end cap assembly of a perforating gun claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one receiver is included on the outer circumference of the inner end cap and the at least one anchor is included on the inner ring of the Standard End Cap.

5. An apparatus for adapting a Standard End Cap assembly of a perforating gun to function as a Tubing Conveyed Perforating end cap assembly of a perforating gun, comprising: a) an inner end cap; b) a Standard End Cap; and c) whereby the inner end cap is able to interlock with the Standard End Cap when the inner end cap is inserted into an opening of the Standard End Cap.

6. The apparatus claimed in claim 5, wherein: a) the Standard End Cap includes at least one receiver; and b) the inner end cap includes at least one anchor.

7. The apparatus claimed in claim 5, wherein: a) the Standard End Cap includes at least one anchor; and b) the inner end cap includes at least one receiver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The drawings included herewith are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention disclosed herein. The drawings are merely included to clarify and exemplify the invention as disclosed and claimed herein.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a standard perforating gun with standard circular-shaped scallops and a cross-sectional view of the same.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional and standard view of a perforating gun with charges loaded below circular scallops.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a standard charge that may be loaded beneath a scallop in a perforating gun.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a comparative view of a perforating gun with elliptical shaped scallops and a perforating gun with circular shaped scallops.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows the milling of a scallop in a perforating gun using the industry's current method, which does not create scallops of substantially uniform thickness.

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a scallop created using the industry's current method.

[0032] FIG. 7 shows an example of the method of creating scallops of substantially uniform thickness.

[0033] FIG. 8 shows a scallop created of substantially uniform thickness.

[0034] FIG. 9 shows a perforating gun that includes pliable arms to hold charges in place and pliable tabs to hold primer cord in place.

[0035] FIG. 10 shows a string of perforating guns.

[0036] FIG. 11 shows a Standard End Cap assembly.

[0037] FIG. 12 shows a TCP end cap assembly.

[0038] FIG. 13 shows a snap ring assembly used to adapt a Standard End Cap into a TCP end cap assembly.

[0039] FIG. 14 shows the present invention for adapting a Standard End Cap into a TCP end cap assembly using an inner end cap with anchors and a Standard End Cap with receivers.

[0040] FIG. 15 shows an alternative version of the present invention for adapting a Standard End Cap into a TCP end cap assembly where the inner end cap includes receivers and the Standard End Cap includes anchors.

[0041] FIG. 16 shows generally how perforating guns are used to create subterranean fissures that facilitate the extraction of energy resources.

[0042] FIG. 17 shows generally how perforating guns are used to create subterranean fissures that facilitate the extraction of energy resources.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The present invention comprises a two-piece assembly that allows a user to adapt a Standard End Cap into a TCP End Cap. Referring to FIG. 14, one embodiment of the present invention includes an inner end cap 15 that includes anchors 14. As can be seen in FIG. 14, the anchors 14 are discrete raised surfaces (such as a bumps, wedges, arms, etc.) that are included on the inner end cap. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the anchors 14 are included on the outer circumference 15 of the inner end cap. As also can be seen in FIG. 14, the inner ring of the Standard End Cap 3 includes receivers 20, which are indentations in the Standard End Cap that correspond in shape and size to the anchors 14 on the inner end cap. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the receivers 20 are included on the inner ring of the Standard End Cap 3.

[0044] The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 14 works to secure the inner end cap 15 within the opening of the Standard End Cap 3 as follows: [0045] An inner end cap 15 with an anchor 14 is placed into the opening of a Standard End Cap 3 with a receiver 20. [0046] The inner end cap 15 is then rotated until the anchor 14 is forced into the receiver 20. [0047] When the anchor 14 is forced into the receiver 20, the inner end cap 15 and the Standard End Cap 3 become interlocked, resulting in a snug fit without needing an additional part in the form of a snap ring.

[0048] It should be noted that, within the industry, inner end caps are manufactured to fit relatively snugly within the opening of a Standard End Cap.

[0049] It should also be noted that the invention disclosed herein can function by placing the anchor(s) on the Standard End Cap and the receiver(s) on the inner end cap. FIG. 15 depicts this type of alternative assembly, where the inner end cap 29 includes a receiver 30 and the inner ring of the Standard End Cap includes an anchor 28. Thus, any configuration by which an inner end cap is held within the opening of a Standard End Cap by creating a raised surface on one of the components that interlocks with a recessed portion on the other component, as such interlocking is described herein, should be considered within the scope of the invention disclosed herein.

[0050] It should also be noted that multiple anchors and receivers may be used in a single assembly. Thus, a single inner end cap or Standard End Cap may have one or more anchors intended to respectively interlock with one or more receivers on a corresponding Standard End Cap or inner end cap.

[0051] Those with skill in the art will recognize that the anchors can be any shape or size that can be included on the inner end cap or Standard End Cap and that can interlock with the receivers included on a corresponding Standard End Cap or inner end cap. Those with skill in the art will also recognize that receivers can be any shape or size that can be included on the Standard End Cap or inner end cap and that can interlock with the anchors included on a corresponding inner end cap or Standard End Cap. Thus, the essence of the invention is including on either an inner end cap or a Standard End Cap any raised or recessed feature that can interlock with a corresponding raised or recessed feature on a corresponding Standard End Cap or inner end cap, so as to create a substantially voidless, snug fit between the inner end cap and the Standard End Cap without needing an additional part in the form of a snap ring.

[0052] In addition, the anchors and receivers may be included, respectively, on other surfaces of the inner end cap and the Standard End Cap. The only requirement of the present invention relative to the location of anchors and receivers is that the anchors and receivers must be able to sync, such that the inner end cap and Standard End Cap form an interlocked, snug fit that results from the anchors interlocking with the receivers.

[0053] Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.