Abstract: A detonator positioning device for use with a detonator in a perforating gun assembly is described. The detonator positioning device is configured for electrically contactably forming an electrical connection within the perforating gun housing by contact. The detonator positioning device includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a central bore extending between the first and second ends. The central bore is adapted for receiving one or more electrically contactable components of a detonator. The detonator positioning device aligns at least one of the one or more electrically contactable components to form an electrical connection with a bulkhead assembly.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for navigating and determining the location of downhole oil and gas wellbore tools are disclosed. The devices, systems, and methods may include a drone including an ultrasound transceiver that generates and receives an ultrasonic signal that interacts with the environment external to the drone and detects, utilizing a processer associated therewith, changes the environment external to the drone. The speed and location of the drone may be determined using the processor. Alternatively, an electromagnetic field generator that generates a field that interacts with the environment external to the drone. When the drone moves through the wellbore, the environment external to the drone constantly changes. Based on this changing environment, the speed and location of the drone is determined using the present devices, systems and methods.

Abstract: A firing head assembly is described. The firing head assembly includes a tubular housing, upper piston and lower pistons, and a compressible member arranged within a lumen of the tubular housing and positioned between the upper and lower pistons. According to an aspect, the assembly includes a safety assembly that includes a sleeve having a zigzag shaped slot therein. The safety assembly may include a key that radially extends from a surface of one of the pistons, through the zigzag shaped slot. The distance between the upper and lower pistons may be adjusted by adjusting a pressure inside the tubular housing and a second pressure outside the tubular housing. The upper and lower pistons may function to operatively adjust the arrangement of the key within the zigzag shaped slot to activate the firing head assembly to either trigger an explosive reaction or to not trigger the explosive reaction.

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 detonating cord for using in a perforating gun includes an explosive layer and an electrically conductive layer extending around the explosive layer. The electrically conductive layer is configured to relay a communication signal along a length of the detonating cord. In an embodiment, a protective jacket extends around the electrically conductive layer of the detonating cord. The detonating cord may be assembled in a perforating gun to relay a communication signal from a top connector to a bottom connector of the perforating gun, and to propagate a detonating explosive stimulus along its length to initiate shaped charges of the perforating gun. A plurality of perforating guns, including the detonating cord, may be connected in series, with the detonating cord of a first perforating gun in communication with the detonating cord of a second perforating gun.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods of connecting and sealing against the introduction of liquids a receiver booster and a detonating cord in an exposed perforating gun are disclosed. According to an aspect, an encapsulated receiver booster is disclosed. The encapsulated receiver booster has an effective connection and seal with a detonating cord and the seal provides consistent integrity against the introduction of liquid, occupies a relatively small amount of space around the connection between the detonating cord and receiver booster, and is configured for use with exposed perforating gun systems. According to other aspects, associated exposed perforating gun systems and methods for connecting and sealing a receiver booster and a detonating cord are generally disclosed.

Abstract: According to the exemplary disclosed embodiments, contoured, curvilinear liners for a rectangular slotted shaped charge are described. The exemplary curvilinear liners include one or more curvilinear contours. The contoured, curvilinear liners provide improved perforating performance for rectangular slotted shaped charges used in oil and gas wellbore operations such as completion and abandonment.

Abstract: A well abandonment system includes a jet cutter assembly. The jet cutter assembly includes a first sub including a first bulkhead and a jet cutter tool. The jet cutter tool includes a radial shaped charge and a detonator to detonate the radial shaped charge. A first end of the jet cutter tool is connected to the first sub and a second end of the jet cutter tool is connected to the second sub. The jet cutter assembly may include bulkheads that facilitate electrical communication along a length of the jet cutter assembly. A shock absorber is connected to the jet cutter tool in order to mitigate or prevent shock from impacting the jet cutter upon activation of a perforating gun or components of a tool string that is connected to the jet cutter. The shock absorber may include at least one of a sleeve, biasing member, or wireline.

Abstract: A perforating gun assembly includes an exposed perforating gun module. The exposed perforating gun module includes a housing having a first connector end, a second connector end opposite and spaced apart from the first connector end, and a chamber extending along a central axis of the housing between the first and second connector ends. The chamber is configured for receiving a detonator and optionally, a radial booster charge coupled to the detonator. A plurality of sockets extends from an outer surface of the housing towards the chamber. Each socket is configured to receive an encapsulated shaped charge. The encapsulated shaped charges may include a protrusion having an external thread that threadingly engage a complimentary threaded portion of the sockets. The detonator may directly initiate the radial booster charge or the encapsulated shaped charges.

Abstract: A detonator for use with perforating gun assemblies is presented. The detonator includes a shell including a main explosive load. The shell may include one or more openings. A non-mass explosive body is disposed in the shell, adjacent the main explosive load. The non-mass explosive body includes one or more channels extending therethrough. The detonator includes a plug adjacent the non-mass explosive body, and a PCB adjacent the plug to facilitate electrical communication with the detonator. The plug may include an elongated opening extending therethrough. The channels of the non-mass explosive body, in combination with at least one of the openings of the shell or the elongated openings of the plug, are configured to introduce fluids, such as wellbore fluids, into the non-mass explosive body to disable the detonator.

Abstract: An electrical connector may include a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis, a first electrical contact provided at a first end of the connector body, a first aperture provided in the first end of the connector body, a bore provided in an interior of the connector body and connected to the first aperture, and a conductive fixed body provided within the bore. The conductive fixed body may include a first contact surface on a first side of the conductive fixed body facing the first electrical contact along the longitudinal axis. A first spring may be provided in the bore between the first contact surface and the first electrical contact, and the first spring may be in contact with the first contact surface and the first electrical contact.

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 alignment sub may include a first sub body part rotatably coupled to a second sub body part. The first sub body part and second sub body part may be respectively non-rotatably coupled to a first wellbore tool and a second wellbore tool. A lock screw switchable between an unlocked state and a locked state may fix an angular position of the first sub body part relative to an angular position of the second sub body part when the lock screw is in the locked state.

Abstract: A perforating gun housing includes a housing wall extending between a first housing portion defining a chamber, and a second housing portion defining a bore. The housing wall includes a first outer surface, a second outer surface, and a face extending substantially perpendicularly to the second outer surface between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. A perforating gun tool string comprises a first gun housing coupled to a second gun housing, wherein each gun housing includes a housing wall having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion for attachment to an adjacent gun housing. A method for assembling a wellbore tool string includes providing a first gun housing and a second gun housing, inserting the second end of the first gun housing into the first end of the second gun housing, and rotating the first gun housing relative to the second gun housing.

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: A drone conveyance system and a wellhead receiver for deploying drones into a wellbore is described. The system includes a platform, a drone magazine, a platform receiver, a conveyance, and a wellhead receiver. The wellhead receiver prepares the drone to be inserted into the wellbore via the wellhead. Preparation of the drone may include adjusting the physical conditions surrounding the drone to approximate the physical conditions in the wellbore, which may be done with fluid inputs and outputs connected to a compartment of the wellhead receiver. Other preparation processes may also take place in the wellhead receiver, such as assuring the appropriate drone is being inserted, that the drone has been programmed appropriately, that safety devices have been deactivated and charging an onboard power supply of the drone.

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: An electronic initiation system for use with a firing panel may include an input connector, a plurality of electronic ignition circuits (EICs) operably coupled together in series, and an indicator operably coupled to an output of each EIC of the plurality of EICs. A first EIC of the plurality of EICs may be operably coupled to the input connector. The indicator is configured to generate an indication in response to an output of an EIC of the plurality of EICs satisfying a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for use with a wellbore tool string may include a tandem seal adapter (TSA) having a TSA body extending along an axial direction and a collar having a collar body formed in a substantially annular shape and extending in the axial direction. The collar may be provided outward from the TSA in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. The TSA body and the collar body may overlap in the axial direction. The collar may abut the TSA.

Abstract: A detonator for use with perforating gun assemblies is presented. The detonator includes a shell including a main explosive load. The shell may include one or more openings. A non-mass explosive body is disposed in the shell, adjacent the main explosive load. The non-mass explosive body includes one or more channels extending therethrough. The detonator includes a plug adjacent the non-mass explosive body, and a PCB adjacent the plug to facilitate electrical communication with the detonator. The plug may include an elongated opening extending therethrough. The channels of the non-mass explosive body, in combination with at least one of the openings of the shell or the elongated openings of the plug, are configured to introduce fluids, such as wellbore fluids, into the non-mass explosive body to disable the detonator.