Process of improving a gun arming efficiency

Abstract

A process is disclosed for assembling a gun tube for use in a perforating system. At a first location, which is not the site where perforating operations are to be conducted, the gun tube is completely assembled except for an initiating device. After transporting the gun tube to the site where perforating operations are to be conducted, an initiator is connected and installed via port in the gun tube.

1 . A process for assembling a gun tube with first and second ends for use in a perforating gun, comprising:
 installing shaped charges and detonating cord in the gun tube at a first location which is not where the perforating operation will be conducted, the detonating cord being operatively connected to the primer ends of the shaped charges;   forming a port in the gun tube to permit access to the interior of the gun tube;   installing a fireset and detonator receptor adapted to receive an initiating device into the gun tube proximate said port; and   installing wiring into said gun tube at the first location where the wiring is operatively connected between the ends of the gun tube and to the detonator receptor..   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising steps to be performed at a second location where perforating operations are to be conducted, the steps comprising:
 connecting an initiating device to the fireset of detonator receptor via the port and installing the initiating device via the port into the gun tube so that the initiating device is in operative connection with one end of the detonating cord; and   closing the port.   
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating device is an RF-safe exploding foil initiator. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating device is an RF-safe exploding bridge wire detonator. 
   
   
       5 . A gun tube for a perforating gun which is assembled in accordance with the process of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       6 . A method of assembling a perforating system, comprising:
 (a) installing a detonator receptor comprising an addressable switch and a fireset into a gun tube at a first location which is not the site of the perforating operation;   (b) installing wiring into said gun tube at said first location;   (c) installing shaped charges and a detonating cord into the gun tube at said first location;   (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) for as many gun tubes as are required in the perforating system;   (e) transporting the gun tubes assembled in steps (a)-(c) to a second location which is the site where perforating operations will be conducted; and   (f) installing an RF-safe initiating device into each gun tube at said second location through a port in the gun tube, said RF-safe initiating device, when installed, being operatively connected to said fireset and to said detonating cord.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the RF-safe initiating device comprises an exploding bridge wire detonator. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the RF-safe initiating device comprises an exploding foil initiator. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus for use in a perforating gun comprising:
 a gun tube with first and second ends with connectors at said ends for receiving shaped charges, a detonating cord and wiring;   a detonator receptor comprising a fireset installed in said gun tube at a first location which is not the site at which perforating operations are to be conducted;   wiring which is installed at said first location and which is operatively connected between the connectors and to the detonator receptor;   a detonating cord and shaped charges which are installed into the gun tube at a said first location, the detonating cord being operatively connected to the primer ends of the shaped charges and to the detonator receptor.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus in  claim 9 , further comprising an RF-safe initiating device which is installed in the gun tube via a port in the gun tube at a second location which is the site of perforating operations. 
   
   
       11 . The gun tube apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the RF-safe initiating device is selected from a group consisting of an exploding bridge wire detonator and an exploding foil initiator. 
   
   
       12 . The gun tube apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the detonator receptor further comprises an addressable switch. 
   
   
       13 . A perforating apparatus for assembly at a first location and for use in a perforating system at a second location, where the first location is not the site where perforating operations will be conducted, comprising:
 a gun tube having an inner bore formed therein and first and second ends and connectors at each first and second end, the inner bore adapted for receiving shaped charges, a detonating cord, wiring, and a detonator receptor, the gun tube further comprising a port formed therein adapted to establish communication between the inner bore and external of the gun tube, the detonator receptor comprising an addressable switch and a fireset for operative connection to the detonating cord, the detonator receptor further comprising a receptacle for receiving a RF-safe initiating device;   a plug adapted to close the port in the gun tube;   a plurality of shaped charges having primer ends;   a detonating cord for connection to the primer ends of the shaped charges; and   wiring for connection between the connectors and to the detonator receptor.   
   
   
       14 . The perforating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the RF-safe initiating device is an exploding foil initiator. 
   
   
       15 . The perforating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the RF-safe initiating device is an exploding bridge wire.