Abstract: A perforating gun for use in a well casing, the gun having a gun carrier extending along a longitudinal axis; plural shaped charges located inside the gun carrier, in groups of three, a first group of three shaped charges being positioned in a first single plane, transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second group of three shaped charges being positioned in a second single plane, transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a charge holder configured to carry the plural shaped charges, the charge holder configured to be inserted into the gun carrier. The first and second groups of three charges are spaced along the longitudinal axis so that a third single plane, transverse to the longitudinal axis, intersects each of the six shaped charges of the first and second groups of three charges, to achieve an ultra-short, high-density, perforating gun.

Abstract: An improved perforating gun with novel endplates is disclosed along with a corresponding method of assembly. The endplate may include a base with first end separated from a second end separated by a curved sidewall centered around a longitudinal axis and a set of tube tabs flexibly coupled to the base and extending from the second end. The endplate may include a carrier tab with an integrated alignment pin. Selected embodiments may also include a zero-tension connector with a sliding contact mounted within a cavity of a housing, a through-wire connected to the sliding contact. The novel endplate reduces the cost and complexity of manufacture and installation.

Abstract: An improved perforating gun with novel endplates is disclosed along with a corresponding method of assembly. The endplate includes a base with a first end separated from a second end separated by a curved sidewall centered around a longitudinal axis and a set of tube tabs flexibly coupled to the base and extending from the second end. Each of the set of tube tabs has a retaining lip and is generally oriented in a direction of the longitudinal axis. The endplate may include an optional carrier tab with an integrated alignment pin. Selected embodiments may also include a zero-tension connector with a sliding contact mounted within a cavity of a housing, a through-wire connected to the sliding contact. The novel endplate reduces the cost and complexity of manufacture and installation.

Abstract: A perforating gun includes first and second shaped charges. Each of the shaped charges includes a case, a liner, and an explosive. Each liner has a subtended angle about an apex of the liner. A first jet formed by the first shaped charge creates a first entrance hole in a first region of a well casing, and a second jet formed by the second shaped charge, creates a second entrance hole in a second region of the casing. The second region is below the first region in the casing. A ratio of a diameter of the first entrance hole to a diameter of the second entrance hole is 1 when the subtended angle is between 100° and 110°, the ratio is less than 1 when the subtended angle is between 90° and 100°, and the ratio is greater than 1 when the subtended angle is greater than 110°.

Abstract: A perforating gun for use in a well casing, the gun having a gun carrier extending along a longitudinal axis; plural shaped charges located inside the gun carrier, in groups of three, a first group of three shaped charges being positioned in a first single plane, transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second group of three shaped charges being positioned in a second single plane, transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a charge holder configured to carry the plural shaped charges, the charge holder configured to be inserted into the gun carrier. The first and second groups of three charges are spaced along the longitudinal axis so that a third single plane, transverse to the longitudinal axis, intersects each of the six shaped charges of the first and second groups of three charges, to achieve an ultra-short, high-density, perforating gun.

Abstract: An ultra-short, high-density, perforating gun for use in a well casing includes a gun carrier extending along a longitudinal axis, only 2 charges located inside the gun carrier, the only 2 charges being positioned in a single plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a charge holder configured to carry the only 2 charges, the charge holder configured to be inserted into the gun carrier. The gun carrier ranges in length from 4 inches to 11 inches. A diameter of the gun carrier ranges from 1 to 4 inches, and wherein at least one charge of the only 2 charges has a liner that has a subtended angle from 100° to 120°.

Abstract: A method for fracturing a well casing includes forming plural perforation clusters into a stage N associated with the well casing; fracturing the plural perforation clusters; forming a current stage N+1 by placing a plug within the stage N, to isolate a first subset of the plural perforation clusters from a second subset of the plural perforation clusters; and fracturing a second time the second subset, but not the first subset.

Abstract: A perforating gun includes first and second shaped charges. Each of the shaped charges includes a case, a liner, and an explosive. Each liner has a subtended angle about an apex of the liner. A first jet formed by the first shaped charge creates a first entrance hole in a first region of a well casing, and a second jet formed by the second shaped charge, creates a second entrance hole in a second region of the casing. The second region is below the first region in the casing. A ratio of a diameter of the first entrance hole to a diameter of the second entrance hole is 1 when the subtended angle is between 100° and 110°, the ratio is less than 1 when the subtended angle is between 90° and 100°, and the ratio is greater than 1 when the subtended angle is greater than 110°.

Abstract: A composite plug for sealing a well includes a mandrel having an internal bore, the mandrel having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end, and the bore extending from the first end to the second end; plural elements distributed along the mandrel in a given order and configured to seal the well; and a bypass mechanism, different from the bore, built into the composite plug and configured to allow a controlled leak of a fluid from the well, past the composite plug.

Abstract: An ultra-short, high-density, perforating gun for use in a well casing includes a gun carrier extending along a longitudinal axis, only 2 charges located inside the gun carrier, the only 2 charges being positioned in a single plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a charge holder configured to carry the only 2 charges, the charge holder configured to be inserted into the gun carrier. The gun carrier ranges in length from 4 inches to 11 inches. A diameter of the gun carrier ranges from 1 to 4 inches, and wherein at least one charge of the only 2 charges has a liner that has a subtended angle from 100° to 120°.

Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.

Abstract: An artificial lifting system for bringing a formation fluid from a horizontal well to the surface. The system includes an outer production tubing that extends into the well, from a head of the well to a toe of a lateral portion of the well; and an extraction support mechanism extending in a bore of the outer production tubing.

Abstract: A method for fracturing a well casing includes forming plural perforation clusters into a stage N associated with the well casing; fracturing the plural perforation clusters; forming a current stage N+1 by placing a plug within the stage N, to isolate a first subset of the plural perforation clusters from a second subset of the plural perforation clusters; and fracturing a second time the second subset, but not the first subset.

Abstract: A shaped charge comprising a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the case. The liner is shaped with a subtended angle ranging from 100° to 120° about an apex, a radius, and an aspect ratio such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in a well casing. The jet creates a perforation tunnel in a hydrocarbon formation, wherein a diameter of the jet, a diameter of the entrance hole diameter, and a width and length of the perforation tunnel are substantially constant and unaffected with changes in design and environmental factors such as a thickness and composition of the well casing, position of the charge in the perforating gun, position of the perforating gun in the well casing, a water gap in the wellbore casing, and type of the hydrocarbon formation.

Abstract: A re-fracturing method using a perforating gun system in a multistring wellbore casing with an inner well casing installed in an outer well casing. The charges in the perforating system include a case, a liner positioned within the case, and an explosive filled within the liner. The liner shaped with a subtended angle about an apex of the liner such that a jet formed with the explosive creates an entrance hole in the inner well casing and the outer well casing; the liner having an exterior surface, the exterior surface substantially conical proximate the apex; the subtended angle of the liner ranges from 100° to 120°. The method includes covering the existing openings with the inner casing, perforating with the perforating system and creating constant diameter entrance holes in the outer casing and fracturing through the inner casing and outer casing.

Abstract: A perforating gun for use in a well casing includes a gun carrier extending along a longitudinal axis; plural charges located inside the gun carrier, in groups of 3, a group of 3 charges being positioned in a first single plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a charge holder configured to carry the plural charges, the charge holder configured to be inserted into the gun carrier.

Abstract: A perforating short gun for use in a horizontal well casing. The gun includes a gun carrier and a charge holder to carry shaped charges. The charge holder is inserted into the gun carrier and a selected length of the gun carrier includes internal features created therein to a depth in an inside wall of the gun carrier. The internal features are located and configured to align with a shaped charge, creating a standoff between the shaped charge and the internal feature such that when the charge is detonated it creates an opening through the internal feature.

Abstract: A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The WST is positioned along with the RSM at a desired wellbore location. After the WST sets and seals the RSM, a conforming seating surface (CSS) is formed in the RSM. The CSS is shaped to engage/receive RPE deployed into the wellbore casing. The engaged/seated RPE isolates heel ward and toe ward fluid communication of the RSM to create a fracture zone. The RPE's are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure. A large ID RSM diminishes flow constriction during oil production.

Abstract: A downhole isolation tool for sealing a well, the downhole isolation tool including a sealing element having an internal surface that defines a bore of the downhole isolation tool. The sealing element includes a plastically deformable material that irreversibly deforms when swaged.

Abstract: An artificial lifting system for bringing a formation fluid from a horizontal well to the surface, the system including an outer production tubing that extends into the well, from a head of the well to a lateral portion of the well; and a hybrid valve attached to a distal end of the outer production tubing. The hybrid valve has two orientations, a first orientation for which the hybrid valve acts as a one-way valve, and a second orientation for which the hybrid valve acts as a conduit.