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: According to some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for autonomously or semi-autonomously conveying downhole oil and gas wellbore tools and performing downhole oil and gas wellbore operations are disclosed. The exemplary devices, systems, and methods may include an untethered drone that substantially disintegrates and/or dissolves into a proppant when shaped charges that the untethered drone carries are detonated. Two or more untethered drones, wellbore tools, and/or data collection devices may be connected in an untethered drone string and selectively detonated for efficiently performing wellbore operations and reducing the amount of debris left in the wellbore after such operations.

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: An apparatus for storing and/or shipping explosive components, such as shaped charges, is generally described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a shielding assembly. The shielding assembly may include a shielding panel having a body made of metal foam and an aperture formed within the body. In an embodiment, the body is sandwiched between an upper and a lower layer. The shielding panel is configured to receive a shaped charge. Thus, the apparatus is capable of at least preventing and/or limiting ballistic transfer in the event of detonation of a shaped charge.

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: An apparatus for storing and/or shipping explosive components, such as shaped charges, is generally described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a shielding assembly. The shielding assembly may include a shielding panel having a body made of metal foam and an aperture formed within the body. In an embodiment, the body is sandwiched between an upper and a lower layer. The shielding panel is configured to receive a shaped charge. Thus, the apparatus is capable of at least preventing and/or limiting ballistic transfer in the event of detonation of a shaped charge.

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 positioning device includes a shaped charge holder. A plurality of shaped charge receptacles formed in the shaped charge holder are configured to arrange a plurality of shaped charges in a desired orientation. The shaped charges are detonated by a detonator in response to an initiation signal. The positioning device may be secured in a perforating gun module, with vertical and horizontal movement of the positioning being inhibited in the perforating gun module.

Abstract: A single use setting tool and associated method for actuating a tool in a wellbore may include an inner piston with an annular wall defining a piston cavity. A portion of the inner piston including the piston cavity may be positioned within a central bore of an outer sleeve, and the inner piston and the outer sleeve may be slidable relative to one another. A portion of the inner piston may extend beyond an end of the outer sleeve and have a shock absorbing wedge positioned thereon, and the end of the outer sleeve may have a cutout for receiving the shock absorbing wedge. A bi-directional gas-generating power charge may be positioned in the piston cavity and include a power charge having a booster positioned in an indentation adjacent each of a first end and a second end of the power charge.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a bottom-fire perforating drone for downhole delivery of a wellbore tool, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, the wellbore tool may be a plurality of shaped charges that are arranged in a variety of configurations, including helically and in one or more single radial planes around a perforating assembly section, and detonated in a bottom-up sequence when the bottom-fire perforating drone reaches a predetermined depth in the wellbore. In another aspect, the shaped charges may be received in shaped charge apertures within a body of a perforating assembly section, wherein the shaped charge apertures are respectively positioned adjacent to at least one of a receiver booster, detonator, and detonating cord for directly initiating the shaped charges.

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 positioning device includes a shaped charge holder. A plurality of shaped charge receptacles formed in the shaped charge holder are configured to arrange a plurality of shaped charges in a desired orientation. The shaped charges are detonated by a detonator in response to an initiation signal. The positioning device may be secured in a perforating gun module, with vertical and horizontal movement of the positioning being inhibited in the perforating gun module.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an autonomous perforating drone for downhole delivery of a wellbore tool, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, the wellbore tool may be a plurality of shaped charges that are arranged in a variety of configurations, including helically, in one or more single radial planes, or opposing around a perforating assembly section, and detonated in a top-to-bottom sequence when the autonomous perforating drone reaches a predetermined depth in the wellbore. In another aspect, the shaped charges may be received in shaped charge apertures within a body of a perforating assembly section, wherein the shaped charge apertures are respectively positioned adjacent to at least one of a receiver booster, detonator, and detonating cord for directly initiating the 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: According to some embodiments, a bottom-fire perforating drone for downhole delivery of a wellbore tool, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, the wellbore tool may be a plurality of shaped charges that are arranged in a variety of configurations, including helically and in one or more single radial planes around a perforating assembly section, and detonated in a bottom-up sequence when the bottom-fire perforating drone reaches a predetermined depth in the wellbore. In another aspect, the shaped charges may be received in shaped charge apertures within a body of a perforating assembly section, wherein the shaped charge apertures are respectively positioned adjacent to at least one of a receiver booster, detonator, and detonating cord for directly initiating the shaped charges.

Abstract: A positioning device includes a shaped charge holder. A plurality of shaped charge receptacles formed in the shaped charge holder are configured to arrange a plurality of shaped charges in a desired orientation. The shaped charges are detonated by a detonator in response to an initiation signal. The positioning device may be secured in a perforating gun module, with vertical and horizontal movement of the positioning being inhibited in the perforating gun module.

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: 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 apparatus for storing and/or shipping explosive components, such as shaped charges, is generally described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a shielding assembly. The shielding assembly may include a shielding panel having a body made of metal foam and an aperture formed within the body. In an embodiment, the body is sandwiched between an upper and a lower layer. The shielding panel is configured to receive a shaped charge. Thus, the apparatus is capable of at least preventing and/or limiting ballistic transfer in the event of detonation of a shaped charge.

Abstract: A non-axisymmetric shaped charge including a casing, such as a non-axisymmetric shaped casing, and a liner housed therein, is generally described in which the casing includes multiple initiation points extending in a planar arrangement along an external surface of the casing. The non-axisymmetric shaped charge may include a plurality of guiding members positioned on the external surface. The non-axisymmetric shaped charge is capable of creating sufficient ballistic energy to uniformly collapse the liner.