US2638981A - Gun perforator actuator - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1953 T. c. BANNoN ETAL' GUN PERFORATOR ACTUATOR Patented May 19, 1953 GUN PERFORATOR ACTUATOR Thomas C. Bannon, Altadena, and Lloyd Spencer,

South Pasadena, Calif., assignors of thirtythree and one-third per cent to John D. Chesnut, Newport Beach, Calif.

Application January 22, 1948, Serial No. 3,675

13 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to gun perforator actuators; that is, to devices adapted to be interposed between a gun perforator and its suspension line. Included in the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide a gun perforator actuator which is particularly adapted to percussion iired gun perforators, and which employs a iiring means adapted to transmit to the gun perforator the impact of a godevil traveling down the suspension line, the actuator and its ring means being so arranged that the gun perforator is disarmed as long as the gun perforator is supported from the suspension line and it further disarms the gun perforator unless submerged in a liquid.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this character which incorporates a lost motion mechanism so associated with the ring means that the weight of the gun perforator must be removed from the suspension line and the mechanism retracted before the gun perforator may be armed.

Third, to provide an apparatus 0f this character which incorporates initially retracted, spring backed, wedging slips and controllable tripping mechanism arranged to release the slips for wedging engagement with a surrounding casing to support the gun perforator from the casing thereby to permit arming of the gun perforator .and its operation by means of a godevil.

' Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this ycharacter which incorporates an arrangement whereby the spring means which urges the slips into their wedging position is rendered inoperative, upon firing the gun perforator, to facilitate withdrawal. Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this character wherein said lost motion mechanism ynot only controls the arming of the gun perforator but also functions as a jar to loosen thegun perforator should it stick in the Well casing.

With the above and otherl objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a reduced elevational view :of our gun perforator actuator shown suspended from a wireline and indicating fragmentarily a gun perforator suspended therefrom.

. Figure 4 is a further enlarged transverse-sec'- tional view through 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Figure is a fragmentary sectional view through 'I-'I of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view through 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Our gun perforator actuator includes a body member I of tubular form and'internally threaded at its lower -end for attachment to an adapter tting 2. The adapter fitting is, in turn, arranged for connection to the upper end of a gun perforator 3. The gun perforator is arranged so that it may be mechanically fired by a percussion operated iiring pin 4, shown fragmentarily in Fig. 2, and a detonating means, not shown. Otherwise, the gun perforator may be conventional; however, as will be brought out hereinafter, it is particularly desirable that the gun have a low weight-per-shot ratio.

The upper end of the body member I is attached to a jar tube 5 in which is slidably mounted a jar bar 6. The jar bar 6 is secured to a suspension line 'I by suitable clamp means 8. The jar tube is provided with several longitudinal slots S and its upper end is constricted to form an anvil shoulder IIJ. The jar bar 6 is provided with an external flange which forms a striking head II.

The jar bar 6 is preferably divided longitudinally into a pair of complementary members joined by bolts I2. These members dene a longitudinal slot in which is mounted and guided a ring plate I3. The upper extremity :of the firing plate is divided to form tongues Ill which project above the jar bar for engagement by a godevil I5 adapted to travel downwardly on the suspension line 1. A shear pin I6 may be provided to maintain the ring plate in its upper position.

The body member I is provided with upwardly diverging slip channels which receive slips I1 of wedge form having external serrations for engagement with a surrounding well casing. The walls of the body member are provided with longitudinal bores on opposite sides of the slip channels which receive latching pins I8; The opposite sides of the slips I1 are provided with grooves I9 terminating at their upper ends in recesses 20. combination key and latching bans 2| 'ride in the grooves I9. The balls 2| are tted in bores 22 which are intersected by the bores containing the latching pins I8. The latching pins initially hold theballs 2l in the recesses 20 to restrain the slips in their lower or'retracted position, but have annular channels which permit the balls to ride in the channels and permit limited extension of the slips.

The upper extremities of the latching pins I8 project into the jar tube 5 and may be engaged by the head II. However, there may -be interposed between the head I I and the pins I8 a ring member 23 having upwardly' I.di-verging wire prongs 24 which project .through the slots 9 ofthe jar tube. Thus the pins I8 may be actuated by setting the gun perforator on the bottom of the well, or by drawing upwardly on the suspension line until the wire prongs 24 catch in an internal channel formed by a collarV connecting adjacent lengths of casing. The wire v:prongs are suinciently weak that they may bend double without excessive force so that they do not interfere with removal of the gun perforator.

The lower portion of the body I is counterbored to receive a slidable liner 25 having an external flange 25. The base ends of the slip channels intersect the counterbored .portion of the body member so that when the slips are rin their lower positions theywproject therein .and are engaged by the flange 26. The adapter fitting 2 is provided with a firing ibar .tube 21 projecting upwardly into the body I. Within the tube 2 is a firing bar 28, the upper end of which projects upwardly for engagement by the fir-ing plate I3. Fitted around Lthe tube y2?! is a collar 2B which is held thereon by key balls v30 extending through openings in the `tube A2l and restrained by the -ri-ng Jbar 2-8 until .the :firing bar is forced downwardly byaction .of the firing `plate I3. Aspr'ing 3l :is interposed between -the collar 29 and an internal flange at the -upper vend of the liner 25. The force of ythe spring 3I is transmitted through the `liner .to the slips ITI. A shear pin 28a may extend rthrough the firing bar.

The adapter kiitting y2 `is 4provided with a central bore continuing from the tube :2.1 and adapted to receive the lower end of the ring bar 28. A transverse bore of relatively -large diameter eX- tends through the 'adapter lfitting. The ends of the transverse `bore `are threaded to receive cup shaped cylinder .members -32 the .open ends `of which -face radially .inwardly and receive .pistons 33 which vare Alikewise cup shaped ybut with their closed ends 4at their radially inner side. The closed ends .of .the pistons are vprovided with axially directed rims 34 which, when the pistons are `in vtheir radially tinner positions, -t .in channels `35 Iprovided 'in Ythe .-ring bar 28 to prevent downward movement thereof. The pistons -are urged inwardly `by springs .36 located within the chambers formed by the pistons and cylinders. Suitableseal means vsuch as O lrings are employed to seal thechambers. The space between the pistons is Vexposed Ato submergence pressure -of the surrounding liquid, Jif any, fby ymeans of vports 3l. Such pressure tends to force `the pistons outwardly against 'the action of lthe springs 36.

The lowerfend ofthe firingbar 28 is adapted to strike the iiring pin v4 .of the gun perforator.

'Operation of -.our gun perforator actuator is as follows:

When the gun perforator eis lowered into lthe Well bore, the .parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. Before subm'ergence in a liqu-id,the^ri1ns 3d of the pistons .33 prevent 'downward movement of the iiring bar '128. Ater 'submergence in a liquid to a depth predetermined 'by the strength of the springs 353, the rling vbar 28 is released or ar-med.

The gun perforator is'lowered. tovthe fbottom of the well to `permit 'downward movement of the '4 jar bar E until its weight is applied to the latching pins I8 thereby releasing the slips i1 which are urged upwardly by the spring 3I.

Alternatively, the gun perforator may be lowered to a, poin-t below its firing level, then drawn upwardly until the wire prongs 24 catch in the channel :provided in the v.first joint encountered. The wire prongs are designed 'to have sufhcient strength that the latching pins i8 may be depressed, but are weak enough to offer no appreciable interference with further upward movement of the 'gun perforator.

After tripping the slips, the gun perforator is raised to its dri-ng 'level with the slips riding on the casing wall. When the firing level is reached, the suspension line is lowered causing the slips to wedge against the casing and support the gun perorator. The `suspension line is lowered until the ja-r bar B is in its lower position shown in Fig. 3. It is, of course, contemplated that the hoisting .equipment for 'the suspension line will be provided with suitable Weight indicating and measuring means .so 'that -the desired movement of vthe vjar bar l may "be accomplished.

After the line is lowered, the godevil f5 Ais dropped, and on striking the firing plate 13 the blow is 'transmitted to the firing bar 28 4and from the firing bar vto .the firing pin 4 which engages the gun perforator detonator. Firingmoveinent of the iiring bar '28 releases the collar 29 which, in turn, releases the spring 3l. When the 'spring 2H .is released, the slips are free to retract when the gun perforator is raised; however, retraction of 'the slips is not essential to withdrawal of the gun perforator.

lt will 'be observed that the gun per'forator cannot be fired by the godevil unless two conditions Vare satisned; namely:

l. The gun perorator be submerged in a liquid to a depth sullicient to release the ring bar.

2. The ,jar bar be in its lower position, a position which cannot be obtained unless'the gun perforator is resting on the .bottom of the wellbore or suspended from the well casing.

Thus, .the gun perforator cannot Vbe fired while being raised or lowered in the well casing, even though the godevil should be accidentally dropped.

It should be pointed out that the weight of the suspension line has an important .bearing on the feasibility of employing a `godevil to fire the gun perforator. That is, the greater the weight ofthe suspension line, the heavier the godevil must be. Well bores are seldom straight, the casings curve in arcs of greater or .lesser radius so Vthat the godevil weight required to overcome the ,pressure of the .suspension line against the casing may be expressed by .the following formula:

where:

F=tension on .suspension line r=radius of curvature of .casing L=distance between godevil .and point of tangency between the suspension andcasing f=coeiicient of friction It will be observed `that with the other factors 'remaining :constant the required -godevil Weight is in proportion to the tension on 'the suspension line. Thus, if a single strand line (No. 1.2 gage) weighing approximately 300 'pounds .per 10,000 :feet is employed, the godevil need Weigh only a tenth as much as a godevil employed on a conventional cable (1% in. dia.) weighing 3,000 pounds per 10,000 feet. This means that a twenty pound godevil is suiiicient for a single strand wire line, whereas a 200 pound godevil is required for a conventional cable, omitting in each case the effect of gun perforator weight. It will be seen that suspension of the gun perforator by the well casing while the godevil travels down the line reduces materially the required weight of the godevil as otherwise such weight is added to the factor F above.

Having thus described certain embodiments of our invention, we do not desire to be limited thereto, but intend to claim all novelty inherent in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travel on said line, and a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuator adapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gun perforator, and comprising: a body structure; a lost motion jar structure connecting said body structure and said suspension line, and movable between an axially extended and a retracted position; slips mounted in said body structure and movable between a radially extended and a retracted position; means initially restraining said slips; means for releasing said slips for engagement with a surrounding casing to Support said body structure; and impact transmitting means incorporated in said jar and body structures, and movable with said jar structure between an extended disarmed position to prevent operation of said firing pin, when said body structure is suspended from said line, `and a retracted armed position, when said body structure is supported by said slips, for transmitting the impact of a godevil traveling down said suspension line to the firing pin of said gun perforator.

2. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travel on said line, and a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuator adapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gun perforator, and comprising: a lost motion jar structure connected with said suspension line and adapted to occupy an extended position when supporting said gun perforator and to move to a retracted position when free from the weight thereof; a iiring device incorporating said jar structure having a disarmed position when said jar is extended and an armed position when said jar structure is retracted to transmit an impact from a godevil traveling down said suspension line to the firing pin of said gun perforator; and means including wedging slips operable to transfer support of said gun perforator from said suspension line to a surrounding well casing, thereby to permit retraction of said jar structure.

3. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travel on said line, and a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuator adapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gun perforator, and comprising: a lost motion jar structure connected with said suspension line and adapted to occupy an extended position when supporting said gun perforator and to move to a retracted position when free from the weight thereof; a ring device incorporating said jar structure having :a disarmed position when said jar is extended and an armed position when said jar structure is 6. retracted to transmit an impact from a godevil traveling down said suspension line to the ring pin of said gun perforator; wedging slips operable to transfer support of said gun perforator from said suspension line to a surrounding well casing thereby to permit retraction of said jar structure; initially restrained yieldable means urging said slips into engagement with said well casing; means for releasing said yieldable means; and means operable by said iiring device to render said yieldable means inoperative thereby to permit retraction of said slips.

4. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil adapted to travel on said line, and `a gun perforator having a firing pin, of an actuator adapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gun perforator, and comprising: a lost motion jar structure connected with said suspension line and adapted to occupy an extended position when supporting said gun perforator and to move to a retracted position when free from the Weight thereof; a firing device incorporating said jar structure and movable from a disarmed to an armed position when said jar structure is retracted to transmit an impact from a godevil traveling down said suspension line t0 the ring pin'of said gun perforator; wedging slips operable to transfer support of said gun perforator from said suspension line to a surrounding well casing thereby to permit retraction of said jar structure; initially restrained yieldable` means urging said slips into engagement with said well casing; and means engageable by said jar structure when said gun perforator is resting at the bottom of a well bore to release said yieldable means, said wedging slips being when released arranged to permit upward movement of the gun perforator in the well casing` 5. The combination with a suspension line, a godevil, adapted to travel on said line, and a gun perforator having a ring pin, of an actuator adapted to be interposed between said suspension line and said gun perforator, and comprising: a lost motion jar structure connected with said suspension line and adapted to occupy an extended position when supporting said gun perforator and to move to a retracted position when free from the weight thereof; a ring device incorporating said jar structure and movable from a disarmed to an armed position when said jar structure is retracted to transmit an impact from a godevil traveling down said suspension line to the ring pin of said gun. perforator; wedging slips operable to transfer support of said gun perforator from said suspension line to a surrounding well casing thereby to permit retraction of said jar structure; spring means urging said slips into engagement with said well casing; latch means restraining said spring means; and a device operatively engageable'with the interior of the joints between well casing sections when said gun perforator is raised to actuate said latch means and release said spring means, said wedging slips being arranged, when released, to permit upward movement of the gun perforator in the well casing.

6. A gun perforator actuator, comprising: a jar element adapted for connection to a suspension line; a coacting jar element adapted for connection with a gun perforator, said jar elements arranged for limited relative movement between `an extended position when supporting said gun perforator and a retracted position when relieved of the weight of said gun perforater; a firing device associated -with said jar elements and positioned Vfor impact engagement by a godevil guided l*down said suspension line., said ring device having an .extended disarxned position when said ifar elements Iare extended and a--retracted `armed position Whenlsaidjar elements are retracted to transmit the impact -of said godevil to :said gun pertorator thereby to the same; fand sli-p means engagea-ble `with a surrounding casing tofsupport said gun perforator from Aa surrounding casing whereby said jar elements may be retracted, thereby to permit firing of .said g-un perforator bysaid godevil.

7; .in .an apparatus of operating gun perforators, the combination of: a percussion responsive instrumentality disposed vbetween :a .gun perforator and a suspension line, 'saidinstrumentality having `an extended disarmed position when 'said gun perforator is suspended'frorn said line., and moya-le to a retracted armed position when the weight of said gun perforator is relieved therefrom; means operable subsequent to lowering said gun perforator into 'a well casing toY transfer the weight of said gun perforator y)from said suspension line to the well casing, thereby to permit retraction fof said 'instrumental-ity to its lmined position;` means operable through said instrumentality, when lin its armed position, Afor fir-ing said gun ,perf-crater and a device normally maintaining :said instrumentality disarmed irrespective -of whether the gun .perforator .is 'supported Yby saidysuspensionline orsaid casing, said device being Iresponsive to submergence pressure lof a surrounding liquid to permit arming of said instrumentality.

8. A means for securing a gun perforator in a Well casing, comprising: `a tubular body member adapted to be connected with a gun periorator and having in its walls slip channels; slips movable in said channels and having extremities projecting into the bore of said tubular body member; spring means within said body member urging said Islips into extended positions to wedge said body member and lgun perforator against downward movement ina surrounding well casing; latch means restraining said slips; and a device including elements engageable with the interior of a `collar connecting :adjacent wellr casing sections for actuating said latch means to release said slips, said elements and said slips being arranged to permit upward movement vof said gun perforator in said well casing.

`9. A gun perforator actuator comprising: a tubular body member adapted to be connected with a :gun perforator and yhaving in its walls slip channels; slips movable in said channels and having extremities projecting into the boreof :said tubular body member; spring means within said body `member urging said slips into extended .positions to wedge said body member and fgun perforator against downward movement in a surrounding well casing; latch means restraining said slips; a means for connecting said body member and gun perforator to a suspension line; a percussion firing means for said gun per-forator, said ring means having yan eX- tended disarmed position when said gun per-forator is supported by said suspension line and movable to a retracted armed position when said gun periorator is supported by a surrounding casing; and means -foractuating said latch means to release said .slips to support said gun perforator from said casing.

1:0. A gun perforator actuator, comprising: a tubular .body member adapted to be connected with a gun perforator and 'having in its walls slip channels; slips movable in said channels and having extremities. projecting into the bore of. said tubular body member; spring means within said body member urging said slips into extended positions to 'wedge .said vbody member and gun p-erforator against downward movement in a surrounding well casing; latch means restraining saidslips; a. lost motion jar structure ior suspending said gun perforator from a suspension llne; a percussion firing device for said gun periorator incorporated in said jar structure, said ring device having a disarmed, position when said ygun perorator is suspended from said line, and movable to an armed position when said gun perforator is supported from a surrounding casingz; tand `means for actuating said latch means thereby to support :said gun perforator from said casing.

l1. A gun perforator actuator as set forth in claim 10 wherein: said latch actuating means is incorporated in said jar ystructure and is operable when the gun perforator is setfagainst the bottom of a Well bore.

'12. ,A gun perforator actuator as set forth in claim 1:0 wherein: said latch actuating means includes yieldable fingers adapted to catch in the channels formed ybetween adjacent well casing sections, said ngers and said slips permitting upward movement of the gun perforator in said Well casing.

13. A gun perforator actuator, comprising: a tubular body member adapted .to be connected with a gun iperiorator and having in 'its walls slip channels; lslips-movable in said channels and having extremities projecting into vthe bore Iof said tubular body member; spring means within said body member urging said slips into extended positions to Wedge :said body member and gun perforator against downward movement in a surrounding Well casing; latch means restraining said slips; ,a Ilost motion jarV structure for suspending said fgun .perforator from a suspension line; :a :percussion firing ldevice for said gun perforator incorporated .in lsaid jar structure, said firing device having a disarmed posit-ion when said gun perforator is suspended from said line, and movable -to :an armed position when said gun periorator is supported from a surrounding casing; 4means for actuating said latch means thereby to support said gun'perforator from said casing.; and A`means responsive to operation of said ring device to remove the force of said spring means from said 'slips thereby to facilitate withdrawal' of said gun perforator.

THOMAS 2C. BANNON.

LLOYD SPENCER.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 904,657 Stephens Nov. 24, 1908 `1,080,313 Yungling Dec.. 2, 1913 .1,543,903 Cameron June 30, 1925 '2,203,265 Kniss June 4, 1940 2,243,099 Johnson May 27, 1941 2,330,509 McCullough Sept.'28, 1943

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