Abstract: A shaped charge closure member for encapsulating a slotted shaped charge is described. The closure member includes a body having a closed upper portion, and a lower portion opposite the upper portion. The closure member has first and second side walls, a front wall, and a back wall. Each wall tapers from the lower portion to the upper portion. A skirt having a substantially rectangular cross-section extends vertically away from each of the walls, at the lower portion of the body. The skirt engages with an open portion of a slotted shaped charge case, thereby forming an encapsulated slotted shaped charge. The encapsulated slotted shaped charge may be used in an exposed perforating gun system.

Abstract: A holder for shaped charges is shown and described. The charge holder facilitates a high shot density for use with a perforating gun. The shaped charges are arranged to direct explosive force axially outward from a perforating gun. The plurality of radially spaced charges are designed to result in an annular ring of blast effect in any metal tubing associated with the oil/gas extraction operation as well as any concrete conduits in which the tubing is disposed.

Abstract: An initiator head assembly may include a body and an electrical contact component positioned proximal to the body. The body may include a head extending from a base, and a platform extending from the head, and the body may be injection molded as a unitary component. The electrical contact component may include a line-in portion positioned proximal to the platform and a ground portion positioned proximal to the head. The electrical contact component may be formed integrally with the body such that it is anchored in a fixed position in the body. An initiator for a perforating gun assembly may include the initiator head assembly and a shell coupled to the initiator head assembly.

Abstract: A shaped charge liner including a composition of metal powders. Each metal powder may include one or more grain sizes, which may be different from other powder grain sizes. The metal powders may include transition metal powders, non-transition metal powders, and a bronze metal powder. The metal powders may include a malleable binding metal powder, such as bronze, and a non-malleable binding metal powder. A shaped charge including such liners is also disclosed, as well as a method of making the shaped charge liner, and a shaped charge including such shaped charge liner.

Abstract: A shaped charge liner having a plurality of metal powders including at least one high purity level metal having a purity level of at least about 99.5%. The metal powders and high purity level metal are compressed to form the shaped charge liner, and the shaped charge liner is for installation in a shaped charge. Once installed in the shaped charge, the shaped charge liner is for being thermally softened so that it has a porosity level of less than about 20 volume % and is able to maintain its mechanical integrity when thermally softened. A shaped charge including such liners is disclosed, as well as a method of perforating a wellbore using such shaped charge having such liners positioned therein.

Abstract: An electrical connector may include a connector body and a first electrical contact provided at a first end of the connector body. The first electrical contact may be biased so as to rest at a first rest position if no external force is being applied to the first electrical contact. The first electrical contact may be structured so as to move from the first rest position to a first retracted position in response to an application of external force against the first electrical contact.

Abstract: Components for a perforation gun system are provided including combinations of components that facilitate electrically linking multiple perforation guns to one another with wireless electrical contacts. The perforation gun system includes a bulkhead pin contact assembly. The perforation gun system may further include a wireless detonator and a conductor positioned in a connector of the perforation gun.

Abstract: A drone conveyance system for deploying drones into an oil or gas wellbore is described. The system includes a platform, a drone magazine, a platform receiver, a conveyance, and a wellhead receiver. A drone magazine contains a plurality of the drones and selectively releases/feeds the drones into the platform receiver. More than one drone magazine, each containing different drone types, may supply drones to the platform receiver such that different drones may be ordered for disposal into the wellbore. The platform receiver prepared the drones to be moved from the platform to the wellhead by the conveyance. The wellhead receiver accepts the drones from the conveyance and prepares each received drone for dropping into the wellbore via the wellhead.

Abstract: An inspection tool and associated methods for testing physical and electrical properties of a perforating gun segment, wherein the perforating gun segment is received in a perforating gun segment holder positioned between a first connecting portion and second connecting portion. The inspection tool may be for establishing, testing, and confirming the position of an internal gun assembly and the electrical properties of certain electrical connections of the perforating gun segment. Electrical testing contacts and/or distance sensors may be positioned on one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion for measuring the position of the internal gun assembly and the electrical properties. In an aspect, the inspection tool may include a piston for pushing, via the first connecting portion, the internal gun assembly to a predetermined position, and establishing electrical connections to test the electrical properties of the perforating gun segment.

Abstract: A method of forming an initiator head assembly for an initiator is described. An initiator head assembly having particular application with a perforating gun assembly is also described. The initiator head assembly includes a body and an electrical contact component with the electrical contact component embedded therein. The initiator head assembly, with the embedded electrical contact component, is configured as a unitary component and holds a pressure differential across the top and bottom parts of the initiator head assembly.

Abstract: An electronic ignition circuit for use with a fuse head may include a microcontroller; a firing capacitor operably coupled to the fuse head; a voltage measuring circuit operably coupled to the microcontroller and configured to measure a voltage across the firing capacitor; and a switch operably coupled to the microcontroller, the switch being provided in series with the fuse head and a ground. The microcontroller may be configured control the voltage measuring circuit to measure a first voltage across the firing capacitor; actuate the switch to discharge the firing capacitor across the fuse head in response to a firing signal; control the voltage measuring circuit to measure a second voltage across the firing capacitor; and output a shot detection signal based on the first voltage and the second voltage.

Abstract: A drone conveyance system for deploying drones into an oil or gas wellbore is described. The system includes a platform, a drone magazine, a platform receiver, a conveyance, and a wellhead receiver. A drone magazine contains a plurality of the drones and selectively releases/feeds the drones into the platform receiver. More than one drone magazine, each containing different drone types, may supply drones to the platform receiver such that different drones may be ordered for disposal into the wellbore. The platform receiver prepared the drones to be moved from the platform to the wellhead by the conveyance. The wellhead receiver accepts the drones from the conveyance and prepares each received drone for dropping into the wellbore via the wellhead.

Abstract: According to certain exemplary embodiments, an inspection tool and method for inspecting a perforating gun segment includes, among other things, placing a perforating gun segment in a perforating gun segment holder between a male connecting portion and a female connecting portion, wherein each of the male connecting portion and female connecting portion includes one or more electrical contacts and distance sensors. A piston may push the male connecting portion against an internal gun assembly of the perforating gun segment such that the internal gun assembly is pushed to a desired location within the perforating gun segment, as measured by the distance sensors, and into electrical contact with the male and female connecting portions such that electrical properties of the perforating gun segment may be measured.