Abstract: A focused output detonator includes a detonator shell including detonator components, and a focuser coupled to the detonator shell. The detonator shell may include a body extending along a central axis of the detonator shell. A first open end is provided at a first end of the body, and a closed end is provided at a second end of the body. A chamber is bounded by the body and the closed end, and the detonator components are housed in the chamber. The focuser is coupled to the closed end of the detonator shell. According to an aspect, the focused output detonator is structured to focus a ballistic output of the focuser along the central axis and away from the detonator shell. According to an aspect, the focuser includes a donor charge. The focuser may include an encapsulated and hydraulically sealed donor charge.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments may relate to perforating gun assemblies configured for use in unconventional wells, for example in rock formations with low permeability. In some embodiments, the perforating gun assembly may include a perforating gun housing and at least one shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing. The shaped charge and the perforating gun housing may be jointly configured to improve total target penetration in unconventional wells by 20-100%. Related method embodiments may be used to improve the performance of unconventional wells.

Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a first housing extending along a longitudinal axis and a tandem seal adapter (TSA). The first housing may include a coupling provided at a first end of the first housing. The TSA may include a TSA body and a seal element provided on an outer surface of the TSA body. At least part of the TSA may be positioned inside the first housing such that the seal element and the coupling intersect with a common plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A perforating gun assembly that orients one or more shaped charges within a well includes a housing and an orienting internal assembly configured to be disposed within a longitudinal bore of the housing. The orienting internal assembly may include at least one shaped charge holder or charge tube, a rotation support system, a detonator holder and/or a detonator. The rotation support system may be configured so that the detonator holder and/or detonator rotate together as a whole with the at least one shaped charge holder or charge tube. The rotation support system may include at least one bearing assembly, a plurality of rollers, or combinations thereof. The orienting internal assembly may be configured for gravitational orientation.

Abstract: A bulkhead may include a fixed body having a first contact surface and an exterior fixed body surface, a first electrical contact, and a first spring having a first spring end in contact with the first contact surface and a second spring end in contact with the first electrical contact.

Abstract: A shaped charge holder includes a body, a cavity formed in the body and extending along a central axis of the body, and a plurality of shaped charge receptacles formed in the body and circumferentially arranged around the central axis. Each shaped charge receptacle is spaced apart from another shaped charge receptacle. Retention mechanisms extend from the body and are configured to retain a shaped charge in a respective shaped charge receiving structure. A plurality of shaped charges, each including a shaped charge case, an explosive load disposed in the case and a liner disposed on top of the explosive load may be positioned in the respective shaped charge receiving structure. The shaped charge holder may be positioned in a housing chamber of a perforating gun housing.

Abstract: An electronic ignition circuit may include a logic circuit and an ignition circuit electrically coupled to the logic circuit. The logic circuit may include a microcontroller and a switching circuit configured to switch from a first detonator or igniter to a second detonator or igniter in response to a signal from the microcontroller. The ignition circuit may include a capacitor discharging circuit configured to discharge a firing capacitor through a fuse head. The capacitor discharging circuit may include an ignition switch configured to remain actively closed after the firing capacitor is discharged through the fuse head.

Abstract: A power charge for actuating a wellbore tool. Combustion of the power charge generates gas and corresponding gas pressure within the wellbore tool and the power charge and wellbore tool are configured for providing a path to an expansion chamber for the gas pressure. A body of the power charge may have the shape of a regular polygonal cylinder, thus defining flow-paths for the expanding gas. The power charge may include a cylinder of energetic material and an interior space formed within the energetic material and configured for receiving an igniter and/or ignition material. Ignition of the igniter or ignition material results in combustion of the power charge.

Abstract: Embodiments of a low-voltage, non-primary explosive detonator (110) may include a detonator shell (120) having an open end (122), a closed end (124), and a hollow interior (125) between the open and closed ends. Some embodiments include a reinforcement area of the detonator shell. A pyrotechnical material is disposed within the hollow interior, and a main explosive load is disposed within the hollow interior in between the pyrotechnical material and the closed end. In some embodiments, one or both of the pyrotechnical material and the main explosive load may be multilayered, for example with a density gradient configured to accelerate deflagration. The detonator may further include a fuse head disposed at the open end and in proximity to the pyrotechnical material within the detonator shell.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a shaped charge inlay includes an upper edge that extends inward and horizontal to an edge of a shaped charge casing associated with a shaped charge. The shaped charge includes an existing liner and the shaped charge inlay further includes a body that extends inward toward an apex of the existing liner. The shaped charge inlay may be disposed above the existing liner in the shaped charge, to disrupt collapse of the existing liner upon detonation of the shaped charge and thereby change the geometry of a perforating jet and resulting perforation created by the shaped charge. The perforation holes formed by shaped charges having the shaped charge inlay may have geometries that include constant open areas to flow in the target when the perforating gun is centralized or decentralized in a wellbore casing.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to weight modules for use in a wellbore tool string. In some embodiments, the weight module may comprise a conductive body, extending in an axial direction, and an insulating cover. The conductive body may be configured to fit within a hollow interior of a weight module housing, and the insulating cover may be configured to electrically isolate the conductive body from the weight module housing. In some embodiments, the conductive body may have a first contact portion, provided at a first end of the conductive body, and a second contact portion, provided at a second end of the conductive body, with the first contact portion in electrical communication with the second contact portion through the conductive body.

Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a housing extending along a first axis, a movable structure provided within the housing, and a tool string component coupled to the housing and abutting the moveable structure. The movable structure may be movable between a first position along the first axis relative to the housing and a second position along the first axis relative to the housing.

Abstract: Pressure-isolating bulkhead structures with integrated selective electronic switches circuitry are provided. The pressure-isolating bulkhead structure may be a single unit having the integrated electronic switch circuitry, as well as an electrical connector that includes at least one of a wire and a pin contact. Such integrated selective electronic switch circuitry may be fashioned within a self-contained, inner pressure-isolating enclosure body. Such inner pressure-isolating enclosure body may be produced about the selective electronic switch circuitry such that the inner pressure-isolating enclosure body and switch circuitry are produced as a unit, which can be easily placed within a variety of bulkhead structures, and subsequently within a perforating gun.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system is presented for orienting one or more shaped charge within a well. For example, a perforating gun assembly may include a housing and an orienting internal assembly configured to be disposed within a longitudinal bore of the housing. In some embodiments, the orienting internal assembly may include at least one shaped charge holder or charge tube, a rotation support system, and a detonator holder and/or a detonator. The rotation support system may be configured so that the detonator holder and/or detonator rotate together as a whole with the at least one shaped charge holder or charge tube. In some embodiments, the rotation support system may include at least one bearing assembly, a plurality of rollers, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments may be configured for gravitational orientation.

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 firing head assembly may include a tubular housing; a valve slidably disposed within the tubular housing; a lock mandrel disposed in the tubular housing between the valve and the tubular housing second end; a firing pin holder disposed in the tubular housing between the lock mandrel and the tubular housing second end; an engagement mechanism operably contacting the lock mandrel and the firing pin holder latch. The valve may have a piston end exposed to the lumen. The lock mandrel may be restrained from axial movement by a shear element. The firing pin holder may include a firing pin and latch. The engagement mechanism may be switchable between an engaged arrangement and a disengaged arrangement. The engagement mechanism may be configured to transition from the engaged arrangement to the disengaged arrangement in response to an axial movement of the lock mandrel.

Abstract: A single use setting tool for actuating a tool in a wellbore may include an outer sleeve and an inner piston received within a central bore of the outer sleeve. The inner piston may define one or more elongate bores therethrough that are in fluid communication with a cavity of the inner piston and extend axially through a distal end portion of the inner piston. The distal end portion of the inner piston may abut a shoulder of the outer sleeve, for example at a distal end face of the inner piston.

Abstract: A shaped charge orientation system may include a first perforating gun housing having a first hollow interior and a second perforating gun housing having a second hollow interior. A first shaped charge holder may be positioned in the first hollow interior and oriented in a first direction. A second shaped charge holder may be positioned in the second hollow interior and oriented in a second direction different than the first direction. A manual alignment tool may engage with the second perforating gun housing to rotate the second shaped charge holder from the second direction to the first direction. A method of manually aligning the first and second shaped charge holders may include marking an outer surface of the first perforating gun housing with a visual indicator in alignment with the first direction, and orienting the second shaped charge holder into alignment in the first direction using a manual alignment tool.

Abstract: Embodiments of a low-voltage, non-primary explosive detonator (110) may include a detonator shell (120) having an open end (122), a closed end (124), and a hollow interior (125) between the open and closed ends. Some embodiments include a reinforcement area of the detonator shell. A pyrotechnical material is disposed within the hollow interior, and a main explosive load is disposed within the hollow interior in between the pyrotechnical material and the closed end. In some embodiments, one or both of the pyrotechnical material and the main explosive load may be multilayered, for example with a density gradient configured to accelerate eflagration. The detonator may further include a fuse head disposed at the open end and in proximity to the pyrotechnical material within the detonator shell.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to weight modules for use in a wellbore tool string. In some embodiments, the weight module may comprise a conductive body, extending in an axial direction, and an insulating cover. The conductive body may be configured to fit within a hollow interior of a weight module housing, and the insulating cover may be configured to electrically isolate the conductive body from the weight module housing. In some embodiments, the conductive body may have a first contact portion, provided at a first end of the conductive body, and a second contact portion, provided at a second end of the conductive body, with the first contact portion in electrical communication with the second contact portion through the conductive body.