Modular perforating gun system

Abstract

A system for use within a gun housing of a perforating gun may include a centralizer and a detonator holder. The centralizer may include a centralizer body and a centralizer bore extending through the centralizer body. The detonator holder may be disposed within the centralizer bore and may include a first detonator holder end configured to receive a detonator and a second detonator holder end comprising a detonator holder coupling. The detonator holder may extend through the centralizer and may be mechanically coupled to the centralizer. The centralizer may be configured to engage with an inner surface of the gun housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for use within a gun housing of a perforating gun, the system comprising:
 a centralizer comprising:
 a centralizer body; and 
 a centralizer bore extending through the centralizer body; and 
   a detonator holder disposed within the centralizer bore and releasably coupled to the centralizer, the detonator holder comprising:
 a first detonator holder end configured to receive a detonator; 
 a second detonator holder end comprising a detonator holder coupling; 
 a detonator holder bore extending at least partially through the detonator holder; 
 a ground plate slot formed in the detonator holder; and 
 a ground contact plate having a first portion disposed within the detonator holder bore and a second portion extending through the ground plate slot; 
 wherein the first portion of the ground contact plate is configured to be in electrical communication with a ground terminal of the detonator; 
   wherein the centralizer is configured to engage with an inner surface of the gun housing.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detonator holder comprises:
 a detonator holder cap provided at the first detonator holder end and protruding from a first end of the centralizer body; and   a detonator holder stem extending from the detonator holder cap along a longitudinal axis and protruding from a second end of the centralizer body;   wherein the detonator holder bore extends through the detonator holder stem and the detonator holder cap, the detonator holder bore being configured to receive at least a portion of the detonator;   the second detonator holder end is provided at an end of the detonator holder stem opposite the detonator holder cap.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the ground contact plate is in electrical contact with the inner surface of the gun housing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a feedthrough plate slot formed in the detonator holder; and   a feedthrough contact plate having a first portion disposed within the detonator holder cap and a second portion extending through the feedthrough plate slot;   wherein the first portion of the feedthrough contact plate is configured to be in electrical communication with a feedthrough terminal of the detonator.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the detonator holder further comprises a locking tab protruding axially from the detonator holder cap, the locking tab being configured to couple with a tab locking structure of the centralizer body. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a charge holder module coupled to the detonator holder coupling at a first end of the charge holder module, the charge holder module being configured to receive a shaped charge. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the charge holder module comprises a shaped charge holder comprising:
 a first shaped charge holder coupling provided at a first end of the shaped charge holder;   a second shaped charge holder coupling provided at a second end of the shaped charge holder; and   a receptacle for receiving the shaped charge;   wherein the first shaped charge holder coupling is configured to detachably couple with the detonator holder coupling and rotationally fix the first shaped charge holder relative to the detonator holder.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the charge holder module comprises a plurality of shaped charge holders, each shaped charge holder of the plurality of shaped charge holders comprising:
 a first shaped charge holder coupling provided at a first end of the shaped charge holder;   a second shaped charge holder coupling provided at a second end of the shaped charge holder; and   a receptacle for receiving a first shaped charge;   wherein the first shaped charge holder coupling of a first shaped charge holder of the plurality of shaped charge holders is coupled with the detonator holder coupling, and the first shaped charge holder coupling of a second shaped charge holder adjacent to the first shaped charge holder is coupled with the second shaped charge holder coupling of the first shaped charge holder.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first shaped charge holder coupling and the second shaped charge holder coupling are configured such that a phasing between the first shaped charge holder and the second shaped charge holder is selectable by a user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first shaped charge holder coupling comprises a protrusion;   the second shaped charge holder coupling comprises a plurality of holes arranged circumferentially around a longitudinal axis; and   each hole of the plurality of holes is dimensioned to receive the protrusion.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising an end connector coupled to a second end of the charge holder module opposite the first end of the charge holder module, the end connector comprising a conductive end contact. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the centralizer further comprises:
 an outer centralizer ring; and   a plurality of spokes extending from the centralizer body to the outer centralizer ring;   wherein the outer centralizing ring is configured to engage with the inner surface of the gun housing.   
     
     
         13 . A system for use within a gun housing of a perforating gun, the system comprising:
 a centralizer comprising:
 a centralizer body; and 
 a centralizer bore extending through the centralizer body; 
   a detonator holder disposed within the centralizer bore and releasably coupled to the centralizer, the detonator holder comprising, the detonator holder comprising:
 a first detonator holder end configured to receive a detonator; 
 a second detonator holder end comprising a detonator holder coupling; 
 a detonator holder bore extending at least partially through the detonator holder; 
 a feedthrough plate slot formed in the detonator holder; and 
 a feedthrough contact plate having a first portion disposed within the detonator holder bore and a second portion extending through the feedthrough plate slot; 
 wherein the first portion of the feedthrough contact plate is configured to be in electrical communication with a feedthrough terminal of the detonator; 
   wherein the detonator holder extends through the centralizer and is mechanically coupled to the centralizer; and   the centralizer is configured to engage with an inner surface of the gun housing.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a signal relay wire having a first end in electrical communication with the second portion of the feedthrough contact plate. 
     
     
         15 . A system for use within a gun housing of a perforating gun, the system comprising:
 a centralizer comprising:
 a centralizer body; and 
 a centralizer bore extending through the centralizer body; 
   a detonator holder disposed within the centralizer bore, the detonator holder comprising:
 a first detonator holder end configured to receive a detonator; and 
 a second detonator holder end comprising a detonator holder coupling; 
   a charge holder module coupled to the detonator holder coupling at a first end of the charge holder module, the charge holder module being configured to receive a shaped charge; and   an end connector coupled to a second end of the charge holder module opposite the first end of the charge holder module, the end connector comprising a conductive end contact;   wherein the detonator holder extends through the centralizer and is mechanically coupled to the centralizer; and   the centralizer is configured to engage with an inner surface of the gun housing.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the detonator holder further comprises a feedthrough contact plate configured to be in electrical communication with a feedthrough terminal of the detonator; and   a signal relay wire is connected between the feedthrough contact plate and the conductive end contact.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the charge holder module comprises a shaped charge holder comprising:
 a first shaped charge holder coupling provided at a first end of the shaped charge holder;   a second shaped charge holder coupling provided at a second end of the shaped charge holder; and   a receptacle for receiving the shaped charge;   wherein the first shaped charge holder coupling is configured to detachably couple with the detonator holder coupling and rotationally fix the first shaped charge holder relative to the detonator holder.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the charge holder module comprises a plurality of shaped charge holders, each shaped charge holder of the plurality of shaped charge holders comprising:
 a first shaped charge holder coupling provided at a first end of the shaped charge holder;   a second shaped charge holder coupling provided at a second end of the shaped charge holder; and   a receptacle for receiving a first shaped charge;   wherein the first shaped charge holder coupling of a first shaped charge holder of the plurality of shaped charge holders is coupled with the detonator holder coupling, and the first shaped charge holder coupling of a second shaped charge holder adjacent to the first shaped charge holder is coupled with the second shaped charge holder coupling of the first shaped charge holder.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first shaped charge holder coupling and the second shaped charge holder coupling are configured such that a phasing between the first shaped charge holder and the second shaped charge holder is selectable by a user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first shaped charge holder coupling comprises a protrusion;   the second shaped charge holder coupling comprises a plurality of holes arranged circumferentially around a longitudinal axis; and   each hole of the plurality of holes is dimensioned to receive the protrusion.