Abstract: A system that is usable with a well includes tubular body, at least one perforating charge that is disposed on the tubular body and at least one screen section that is disposed on the tubular body. The perforating charge(s) and the screen sectional(s) are adapted to be run downhole in a single trip into the well with the tubular body.

Abstract: A technique is provided to facilitate fluid flow and pressure control in a well with an interventionless flow valve system. The valve system is coupled to a well component string deployed downhole in a wellbore. The valve system controls flow and pressure between an interior and exterior of the string and comprises a valve controlled by an activation device. The activation device is responsive to a unique pressure and time signal transmitted downhole.

Abstract: A technique that is usable with a well includes running a production string into the well so that the production string extends through a first isolated zone of the well and at least into a second isolated zone that is located farther into the well than the first isolated zone. The production string includes integrated perforating charges. The technique also includes firing the perforating charges inside the first zone; and after the firing, maintaining fluid isolation between the first isolated zone and a passageway of the production string. The passageway communicates well fluid from the second isolated zone.

Abstract: Safety apparatus is disclosed for providing ballistic train interruption in a perforating system. The safety apparatus comprises a generally tubular shaped housing having first and second ends which are fabricated to permit the housing to be positioned at any location in the perforating system. The apparatus comprises first and second ballistic sections in the housing and a third ballistic section which is rotatably mounted in the housing to move between a disarmed position and an armed position based on downhole pressure. Upon retrieval of the perforating system from the wellbore, the safety apparatus functions to return a third ballistic section to its disarmed position. Additionally, apparatus is provided to permanently disable the third ballistic section to insure that no inadvertent detonation of the guns occurs when retrieving the system from a wellbore.

Abstract: A release tool adapted to be connected between a perforating gun and a tubing for releasing the perforating gun from the tubing after detonation of the perforating gun, the tool including a housing in connection with the tubing, the housing having an axial bore; an axially shiftable member in connection between the housing and a perforating gun; a seal member positioned in the axial bore of the housing, the axially shiftable member positioned through the seal member; a frangible member maintaining the axially shiftable member in connection between the housing and the perforating gun until the frangible member is shatter disconnecting the shiftable member; and a mechanism for equalizing the pressure across the seal member after the axially shiftable member is disconnected allowing the perforating gun to separate from the housing.

Abstract: A technique is provided to facilitate fluid flow and pressure control in a well with an interventionless flow valve system. The valve system is coupled to a well component string deployed downhole in a wellbore. The valve system controls flow and pressure between an interior and exterior of the string and comprises a valve controlled by an activation device. The activation device is responsive to a unique pressure and time signal transmitted downhole.

Abstract: A technique to install a tool in a well includes running the tool into the well and fixing the tool to the well with a fixing agent without pumping the fixing agent through a central passageway of the tool. The tool may be a perforating gun that includes a casing body that includes a longitudinal axis. The perforating gun may also include a fin and a perforating charge. The fin radially extends from the casing body, and the perforating charge is attached to the fin and is oriented to generate a perforation jet in a radial direction away from the longitudinal axis of the casing body.

Abstract: A technique to install a tool in a well includes running the tool into the well and fixing the tool to the well with a fixing agent without pumping the fixing agent through a central passageway of the tool. The tool may be a perforating gun that includes a casing body that includes a longitudinal axis. The perforating gun may also include a fin and a perforating charge. The fin radially extends from the casing body, and the perforating charge is attached to the fin and is oriented to generate a perforation jet in a radial direction away from the longitudinal axis of the casing body.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a perforating gun having stackable sections that latch, enabling the gun string to carry both compressive and tensile loads. This allows for the downhole assembly of guns of any desired length, and for the entire gun string to be removed after firing.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a perforating gun having stackable sections that latch, enabling the gun string to carry both compressive and tensile loads. This allows for the downhole assembly of guns of any desired length, and for the entire gun string to be removed after firing.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably coupling a perforating gun to a string includes a tubular member to couple the perforating gun to the string and a latch. The latch connects the perforating gun to the tubular member before detonation of the perforating gun. In response to the detonation of the perforating gun, the latch disconnects the perforating gun from the tubular member after the expiration of a predetermined duration of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a tool, such as a perforating gun, in a wellbore to orient the tool in a desired direction. An anchor having a first reference terminal is set in the wellbore, the first reference terminal pointing in a known direction. A second reference terminal is attached to the tool, the second reference terminal being coupled to the first reference terminal to orient the tool in the desired direction. A gyroscope measures the direction of the first reference terminal with respect to the magnetic north. The perforating gun includes charges arranged to perform perforating along a preferred fracture plane, such as 0.degree.- or 180.degree.-phased perforating.

Abstract: A well completion apparatus disposed in a wellbore having first and second tubings and a tool disposed in the second tubing. An inductive coupler has a male coil located in the first tubing and is configured to receive an input signal. A female coil in the inductive coupler is attached to the first tubing and is electrically connected to the tool for inductively coupling to the male coil. An output signal is induced in the female in response to the input signal received in the male coil, and the output signal is provided to activate the tool in response to the input signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for activating a device in a well, such as firing a perforating gun in a well. An electrically-activated firing system is coupled to an actuating assembly, which includes a release piston movable by fluid pressure, a firing pin, and a frangible element connected to hold the release piston in place, the frangible element being shattered in response to electrical activation of the firing system. A locking mechanism locks the firing pin to prevent movement of the firing pin, and the release piston is connected to release the locking mechanism if a minimum amount of fluid pressure is applied to the release piston after electrical activation of the firing system. A detonating assembly is connected to the perforating gun and is activable by the firing pin. The detonating assembly is activated when the firing pin is released by the locking mechanism to impact the detonating assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially performing multiple downhole functions in a well has tubing arranged to transmit pressure conditions from the surface of the well, upper and lower hydraulically activated firing heads suspended within the well on the lower end of the tubing, and a hydraulically responsive movable member between the tubing and the firing heads. Each firing head is configured to detonate an associated tool in response to an associated elevated tubing pressure condition. The movable member transmits a first elevated pressure condition to activate one of the firing heads, and moves in response to a subsequent elevated pressure condition to activate the other firing head. In one embodiment, the movable member has a through passage for transmitting the first elevated pressure condition, the passage being subsequently blocked by a ball dropped through the tubing to move the member in response to the second elevated tubing pressure condition.

Abstract: A new perforating method and release apparatus enables a wellbore operator to perforate long length intervals of a wellbore during a single perforating run into the wellbore, the interval of the wellbore being perforated being longer in length than the length of a wellhead lubricator. The new perforating method includes the step of suspending a perforating gun suing from a conveyor in a wellbore. The gun string includes a detonating cord and a novel automatic release apparatus interconnected between a first part of the gun string and a second part of the gun suing which includes a perforating gun. The automatic release apparatus includes a frangible member which will shatter in response to a detonation wave propagating in the detonating cord thereby initiating the release of the second part of the gun swing from the first part of the gun suing. The initiation of such release takes place before the perforating gun detonates.

Abstract: A wellbore tool includes an anchor connected to a perforating gun, the anchor including an anchor slip disposed between upper and lower slip housings for expanding to grip a casing in the wellbore, a primary anchor release mechanism for unsetting the anchor slip and a secondary anchor release mechanism for unsetting the anchor slip when the primary anchor release mechanism is not activated. If the primary and secondary anchor release mechanisms have not been activated, the anchor slip can be set. The primary anchor release mechanism automatically unsets the anchor slip when a detonation wave, conducting in a detonating cord, propagates through an interior space of a frangible member, the detonation wave shattering the frangible member and detonating the perforating gun. When the frangible member is shattered, the anchor slip can then be unset thereby allowing the perforating gun to fall to a bottom of the wellbore.

Abstract: A shock absorber, adapted to be disposed above a perforating gun in a tool string and adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, includes a crushable element disposed between an inner and outer housing, a frangible breakup element, and a detonating cord disposed within the frangible breakup element and connected to the perforating gun. In operation, a detonation wave propagates within the detonating cord on its way toward the perforating gun. However, before the detonation wave reaches the perforating gun, the detonation wave propagates through the frangible breakup element. In response to the passage of the detonation wave through the frangible breakup element, the frangible element shatters into a multitude of pieces. Before the frangible element shatters, the frangible element absolutely prevents any shock from being absorbed by the shock absorber of the present invention. As a result, preloading effects are avoided.

Abstract: In the present invention a testing tool having an axial flow passage is arranged to be connected in a pipe string and placed in a well bore. Communication through the flow passage is controlled by a valve member which is cooperatively arranged in the body to be moved back and forth for selectively opening and closing communication through the flow passage. The testing tool further includes upper and lower mandrels that are selectively coupled together by a unique clutch mechanism that enables the valve member to be successively opened and closed as the well bore pressure is increased and decreased a predetermined number of times in a testing cycle. The clutch mechanism is thereafter operable for temporarily uncoupling the mandrels to enable the valve member to be retained in its open position as the well bore pressure is increased and decreased in a subsequent operating cycle of the test valve before resuming the testing operation.

Abstract: A production valve includes an outer housing having a production port, a piston disposed within the outer housing and adapted to move from one position to another position, a frangible breakup element supporting the piston in the one position, and a detonating cord adapted for propagating a detonation wave passing through the center of the piston and the breakup element. The detonation wave shatters the frangible breakup element when the detonation wave, propagating within the detonating cord, passes through the breakup element. When the breakup element shatters, the support provided to the piston by the breakup element is removed. When the support provided to the piston by the breakup element is removed, the piston moves from the one position to the other position in response to either tubing pressure or rathole pressure or both, and the production port of the production valve opens when the piston moves to the other position.