Abstract: A shaped charge liner may include a plurality of liner segments for a shaped charge configured to perforate a sidewall of a wellbore upon detonation. The plurality of liner segments may include a tip liner segment comprising a first group of compacted metal powder having a hollow cone shape with a trailing interface end disposed opposite a tip end. The tip liner segment is configured to be disposed in a shaped charge casing of the shaped charge. The plurality of liner segments may also include a base liner segment comprising a second group of compacted metal powder having a truncated hollow cone shape with a trailing base end disposed opposite a leading base interface end. The trailing base end has a larger diameter than the leading base interface end, and the base liner segment is configured to be disposed at least partially within the shaped charge casing.

Abstract: A perforating gun system may include a central support structure and a plurality of charges secured to the central support structure. Each charge of the plurality of charges is configured to perforate a casing and/or sidewall of a wellbore upon detonation. Further, the plurality of charges comprises a first group of charges and a second group of charges, and each charge of the second group of charges is radially offset from each charge of the first group of charges with respect to the central support structure.

Abstract: Provided is a casing washout perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore. The casing washout perforating gun assembly, in one example, includes a carrier gun body, an uphole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body, and a downhole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body. According to this example, the uphole plurality of charges have an uphole size or uphole explosive design to perforate uphole openings having uphole opening areas within a wellbore casing, and the downhole plurality of charges have a different downhole size or different downhole explosive design to perforate downhole openings having downhole opening areas within the wellbore casing, and furthermore the downhole opening areas are at least 20 percent less than the uphole opening areas.

Abstract: A shaped charge liner may include a plurality of liner segments for a shaped charge configured to perforate a sidewall of a wellbore upon detonation. The plurality of liner segments may include a tip liner segment comprising a first group of compacted metal powder having a hollow cone shape with a trailing interface end disposed opposite a tip end. The tip liner segment is configured to be disposed in a shaped charge casing of the shaped charge. The plurality of liner segments may also include a base liner segment comprising a second group of compacted metal powder having a truncated hollow cone shape with a trailing base end disposed opposite a leading base interface end. The trailing base end has a larger diameter than the leading base interface end, and the base liner segment is configured to be disposed at least partially within the shaped charge casing.

Abstract: A detonator to activate energetic materials in downhole well environments that can be transported and operated safely. The detonator comprises a switch coupled to a power source and the energetic materials. The power source may or may not be a part of the detonator. The switch creates a default closed switch between the power source and the energetic material. The switch can communicate with an actuator in response to engaging a gun assembly. The switch can create an open switch in response to communicating with the actuator. The switch forms a short circuit when configured to the default closed switch and forms an open circuit when configured to the open switch. The energetic material is activated in response to the mechanical switch forming an open switch and power is provided by the power source.

Abstract: An impact sleeve is used for mitigating damage in a perforating gun resulting from shaped charge detonation. In one example, a perforating gun includes a gun carrier, with a charge holder and the impact sleeve inside the gun carrier. The charge holder holds a plurality of shaped charges capable of being detonated with sufficient explosive energy to generate high-velocity fragments inside the gun carrier. The impact sleeve comprises an energy-absorbing material and optional raised features for absorbing at least some energy of the high-velocity fragments. The materials, raised features, positioning, and geometry of the impact sleeve and raised features may be tuned to optimize energy absorption.

Abstract: A perforating apparatus and method are disclosed wherein voids and inclusions may be configured to promote fragmentation of the charge case into pieces of less than a target size. In one example, the charge case of a shaped charge has a plurality of inclusions of a material interspersed with a plurality of voids of the material to promote fragmentation of the charge case. The inclusions and voids may be disposed along the periphery, such as along a mounting flange. In some examples, the voids may be holes of any of a variety of shapes, geometries, and positioning formed in the parent material of the charge case. In other examples, pieces of hardened material may be embedded in the parent material of the charge case to displace the parent material as well as to initiate probable locations of fragmentation.

Abstract: A safety mechanism and method for downhole perforating are disclosed. In one example, a mechanical firing head includes a firing pin carried on a pin carrier within a housing. The firing pin is movable from a retracted position to a firing position for striking an explosive initiator. A retention member retains the firing pin in the retracted position with the safety member in the armed position. A safety member is biased to a safety position that additionally blocks movement of the firing pin. The safety member is moveable to an armed position that unblocks movement of the firing pin in response to an arming pressure supplied to the housing bore. The retention member releases the firing pin in response to a firing pressure supplied to the housing in excess of the firing pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun includes a volume fill body. The volume fill body is positioned in the space between a charge tube and a carrier tube. The fill body occupies at least part, and sometimes all, of the free volume space between the charge tube and carrier tube thereby reducing the free volume space. In certain downhole applications, large free volume space can lead to significant reductions in wellbore pressure, causing dynamic underbalance, which is undesirable. The presence of the volume fill body prevents, or at least reduces, dynamic underbalance and its effects. Also, the volume fill body aligns the charge tube with the carrier tube, further assisting perforation.

Abstract: A safety mechanism and method for downhole perforating are disclosed. In one example, a mechanical firing head includes a firing pin carried on a pin carrier within a housing. The firing pin is movable from a retracted position to a firing position for striking an explosive initiator. A retention member retains the firing pin in the retracted position with the safety member in the armed position. A safety member is biased to a safety position that additionally blocks movement of the firing pin. The safety member is moveable to an armed position that unblocks movement of the firing pin in response to an arming pressure supplied to the housing bore. The retention member releases the firing pin in response to a firing pressure supplied to the housing in excess of the firing pressure.

Abstract: A downhole perforating gun having a weight assembly formed of a plastic shell containing a weight material enclosed or encased in the plastic shell so that upon detonation of a perforating charge, the plastic shell may deform but will function to contain the weight material of the weight assembly preventing interference with formation fluid flow. In an alternative embodiment, the plastic shell is consumed by the detonation of the charges. In one or more embodiments, the plastic shell is hollow, forming a cavity into which a flowable weight material may be charged. The flowable weight material may be a granular material or a liquid, and may be selected based on the density characteristics of the flowable weight material and the weight requirements for a particular internally orienting perforating gun.

Abstract: A perforating apparatus and method are disclosed wherein voids and inclusions may be configured to promote fragmentation of the charge case into pieces of less than a target size. In one example, the charge case of a shaped charge has a plurality of inclusions of a material interspersed with a plurality of voids of the material to promote fragmentation of the charge case. The inclusions and voids may be disposed along the periphery, such as along a mounting flange. In some examples, the voids may be holes of any of a variety of shapes, geometries, and positioning formed in the parent material of the charge case. In other examples, pieces of hardened material may be embedded in the parent material of the charge case to displace the parent material as well as to initiate probable locations of fragmentation.

Abstract: A perforating gun system may include a gun body and a charge tube disposed within and rotatably mounted to the gun body, wherein the charge tube includes a receiving feature disposed at an axial end of the charge tube. The perforating gun system may also include at least one charge mounted within the charge tube. The at least one charge is configured to perforate a sidewall of a wellbore upon detonation. Additionally, perforating gun system may include a weighted feature adjustably attached to the receiving feature of the charge tube in one of a plurality of angular positions, wherein adjusting the angular position of the weighted feature is configured to adjust a center of gravity of the charge tube such that gravity will cause the charge tube to rotate to a corresponding phasing angle.

Abstract: A wellbore system for perforating a subterranean formation including a dissolvable perforating gun that may be wirelessly operated to fire at a predetermined wellbore location and thereafter fragmented and dissolved with wellbore fluids. The perforating gun may take the form of a strip gun with an elongated rod or other charge holder carrying a plurality of exposed perforating charges thereon. The exposed shaped charges may each be equipped with an individual charge cover or filler material disposed over a liner that forms a jet when the shaped charge is detonated. A wiper to facilitate pumping the perforating gun through the wellbore and may include an initiator for detecting a signal or condition indicative of the perforating gun having reached a predetermined location to cause the perforating gun to fire.

Abstract: A perforating gun system may include a gun body and a charge tube disposed within and rotatably mounted to the gun body, wherein the charge tube includes a receiving feature disposed at an axial end of the charge tube. The perforating gun system may also include at least one charge mounted within the charge tube. The at least one charge is configured to perforate a sidewall of a wellbore upon detonation. Additionally, perforating gun system may include a weighted feature adjustably attached to the receiving feature of the charge tube in one of a plurality of angular positions, wherein adjusting the angular position of the weighted feature is configured to adjust a center of gravity of the charge tube such that gravity will cause the charge tube to rotate to a corresponding phasing angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to rotatable electrical connectors for a downhole perforating tool. A downhole perforating tool comprises a first segment; a second adjacent segment that is rotatable, wherein the first and second segments are coaxially aligned or eccentrically aligned; and an electrical contact disposed between the first and second segments.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include bulkheads for perforating guns and perforating gun assemblies. A bulkhead includes a threadless exterior surface that spans a length of a threaded connection of adjacent first and second perforating guns. The bulkhead also includes a first exterior groove having a first sealing element partially disposed in the first exterior groove. The bulkhead further includes a second exterior groove having a second sealing element partially disposed in the second exterior groove, where the first sealing element and the second sealing element are positioned around the threaded connection.

Abstract: Provided is a casing washout perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore. The casing washout perforating gun assembly, in one example, includes a carrier gun body, an uphole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body, and a downhole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body. According to this example, the uphole plurality of charges have an uphole size or uphole explosive design to perforate uphole openings having uphole opening areas within a wellbore casing, and the downhole plurality of charges have a different downhole size or different downhole explosive design to perforate downhole openings having downhole opening areas within the wellbore casing, and furthermore the downhole opening areas are at least 20 percent less than the uphole opening areas.

Abstract: A downhole perforating gun having a weight assembly formed of a plastic shell containing a weight material enclosed or encased in the plastic shell so that upon detonation of a perforating charge, the plastic shell may deform but will function to contain the weight material of the weight assembly preventing interference with formation fluid flow. In an alternative embodiment, the plastic shell is consumed by the detonation of the charges. In one or more embodiments, the plastic shell is hollow, forming a cavity into which a flowable weight material may be charged. The flowable weight material may be a granular material or a liquid, and may be selected based on the density characteristics of the flowable weight material and the weight requirements for a particular internally orienting perforating gun.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include pressure-activated firing heads, perforating gun assemblies, and methods to set off a downhole explosion. A pressure-activated firing head includes a first chamber and a second chamber having an energy storage element disposed within the second chamber. The pressure-activated firing head also includes a port fluidly connecting the first chamber and the second chamber. The pressure-activated firing head further includes a flow restrictor that restricts fluid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber. The pressure-activated firing head further includes a firing pin shiftable from a first position to a second position to strike an initiator. The pressure-activated firing head further includes a shear pin that holds the firing pin in the first position and configured to shear in response to a threshold pressure applied to the shear pin to release the firing pin from the first position.