Abstract: A method for redressing a setting tool for actuating a plug in a subterranean wellbore includes recovering the setting tool from the wellbore, the setting tool including a housing with a throughbore therein, a piston arranged for axial movement within the throughbore, a combustible element, and an exhaust diffuser configured to redirect a flow of combustion products generated in response to ignition of the combustible element, removing the piston from the throughbore of the housing, removing the exhaust diffuser from the housing, cleaning the piston and the housing, and reinstalling the piston into the housing of the setting tool with at least one of the exhaust diffuser and a replacement exhaust diffuser for subsequent use of the setting tool in a wellbore.

Abstract: A setting tool includes a housing having an initiator compartment to receive an initiator for initiating combustion of a combustible element, a combustion compartment to receive the combustible element, and a switch compartment to at least partially receive a switch circuit for activating the initiator, a piston configured to impart a setting force against the plug in response to combustion of the combustible element, and an interrupt flowpath configured to connect at least one of the combustion compartment and the initiator compartment with the switch compartment whereby combustion products that may be created in the initiator compartment or combustion compartment would be circulated from the at least one of the combustion compartment and the initiator compartment to the switch compartment to disconnect the switch circuit in response to the activation of the initiator charge.

Abstract: A tool string includes a perforating gun, a first electrical connector defining a receptacle and includes a first electrical contact positioned in the receptacle, and a sub including a sub housing including first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a central passage extending between the first end and the second end, and a bulkhead connector positionable in the central passage to form a pressure barrier along the central passage, the bulkhead connector including an outer housing defining a radially outer periphery of the bulkhead connector, and a second electrical contact positioned along the outer periphery of the bulkhead connector and configured to establish radially directed electrical contact with the first electrical contact of the first electrical connector irrespective of the angular orientation of the second electrical contact relative to the first electrical contact.

Abstract: A perforating gun system includes an outer housing, a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly includes a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier, and an annular initiator assembly connectable to the charge carrier assembly, wherein the initiator assembly has a central opening whereby a central axis of the initiator assembly extends centrally through the central opening and parallel with the central axis of the charge carrier, wherein the initiator assembly is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal.

Abstract: A method for producing a tandem sub for a perforating gun system includes positioning an electrically conductive signal bar in a central passage of a tubular housing of the tandem sub, and injecting a mold material into an annulus formed between an outer surface of the signal bar and an inner surface of the tubular housing that sealably adheres to both the signal bar and the tubular housing.

Abstract: A setting tool for actuating a downhole plug in a wellbore includes a housing, a piston positioned at least partially within the housing wherein the piston defines an internal firing chamber that is in fluid communication with an exhaust port, an expansion chamber positioned between an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the housing wherein the exhaust port is configured to convey combustion products along a combustion flowpath extending from the firing chamber and into the expansion chamber, and an exhaust diffuser distinct from the piston and the housing and including an exhaust passage and at least one baffle face, the baffle face configured to redirect the flow of combustion products along the combustion flowpath and channel the flow of combustion products into the exhaust passage.

Abstract: A perforating gun system includes a cylindrical outer housing, a charge carrier assembly receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly includes a charge carrier configured to receive one or more shaped charges, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier, and a detonator holder incorporated into the first endplate of the charge carrier assembly and including a pair of opposed longitudinal ends, a first passage extending along a first axis and configured to receive a detonating cord, and a second passage extending parallel to, but laterally offset from, the first passage, wherein the second passage is configured to receive a detonator configured to detonate the one or more shaped charged in response to receiving a signal.

Abstract: A self-orienting perforating gun includes an outer housing having a throughbore, a charge carrier positioned in the throughbore of the outer housing, a hub secured directly or indirectly to the outer housing, a bearing secured to each carrier end of the charge carrier wherein the bearing overlies the hub to provide a rotatable relationship between the hub and the charge carrier about a rotational axis within the outer housing, and an eccentric weight coupled to the charge carrier applying an off-axis orienting force to the charge carrier for urging the charge carrier to rotate about the rotational axis toward a predefined orientation relative to the direction of gravity.

Abstract: A tandem sub for a perforating gun system includes a tubular housing including a longitudinal first end, a longitudinal second end opposite the first end, a central passage defined by an inner surface, an electrical pass-thru assembly including an electrically conductive signal bar having a longitudinal first end defining a first electrical contact of the tandem sub, and a longitudinal second end opposite the first end and defining a second electrical contact of the tandem sub that is longitudinally opposite and electrically connected to the first electrical contact, wherein the signal bar is rigid along the entire longitudinal length thereof extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein the signal bar is coupled to the housing and a central axis of the central passage of the housing intersects the signal bar.

Abstract: A method includes assembling a first tool string to include at least one original perforating gun and an original gun switch in communication with the original perforating charge, and inserting the first tool string into a first wellbore. The method also includes retrieving the first tool string from the first wellbore and recovering the original gun switch from the first tool string, assembling a new tool string to include at least one new perforating gun, wherein the new tool string further includes the recovered original gun switch whereby the original gun switch is in communication with the new perforating charge, and inserting the new tool string into at least one of the first wellbore and a different wellbore, and delivering a signal to the original gun switch to initiate detonation of the second perforating gun.

Abstract: A perforating gun system includes an outer housing, a charge carrier assembly slidably receivable in the outer housing, wherein the charge carrier assembly includes a charge carrier having a central axis, a first endplate coupled to a first end of the charge carrier, and a second endplate coupled to a second end of the charge carrier, and an initiator assembly including an electrical switch, wherein the electrical switch has a maximum length extending in a direction parallel the central axis that is less than a maximum width of the electrical switch extending in an orthogonal direction relative to the central axis; wherein the electrical switch is configured to detonate a detonator of the perforating gun system in response to receiving a firing signal.

Abstract: A perforating gun system includes a detonator configured to detonate one or more shaped charge in response to receiving a signal, a detonator holder including a pair of opposed longitudinal ends, a first passage extending along a first axis and configured to receive a detonating cord, and a second passage extending parallel to, but laterally offset from, the first passage, wherein the second passage is configured to receive the detonator, and an interrupter removeably positionable within the detonator holder laterally between the first passage and the second passage to block ballistic communication between the detonator and the detonating cord when the detonating cord is received in the first passage and the detonator is received in the second passage.

Abstract: A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore as part of a tool string includes an outer sleeve including a generally tubular wall structure having a peripheral surface around the outside, opposite ends thereof and a central passage therethrough extending from one end to the other end and further including a connection at each end to connect to other tools in the tool string, and at least one pressure sealed perforating module slidably positioned within the central passage of the outer sleeve having a shaped charge sealed from the portion of the central passage of the outer sleeve external the pressure-sealed perforating module.

Abstract: A perforating gun includes an outer sleeve included of a generally tubular wall structure having a peripheral surface around the outside, opposite ends thereof and a central passage therethrough extending from one end to the other end and further including a connection at each end to connect to other tools in a tool string wherein the outer sleeve is configured to carry the tensile and compressive forces imposable on the perforating gun as the perforating gun is deployed in the wellbore, and at least one pressure sealed perforating module installed within the central passage of the outer sleeve having a shaped charge sealed therein and wherein the installation of the pressure sealed perforating module within the outer sleeve is configured to substantially eliminate the transfer of tensile or compressive forces imposable on or by the tool string onto the at least one pressure sealed perforating module.

Abstract: A setting tool for actuating a downhole plug in a wellbore includes a housing, a piston positioned at least partially within the housing wherein the piston defines an internal firing chamber that is in fluid communication with an exhaust port, an expansion chamber positioned between an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the housing wherein the exhaust port is configured to convey combustion products along a combustion flowpath extending from the firing chamber and into the expansion chamber, and an exhaust diffuser distinct from the piston and the housing and including an exhaust passage and at least one baffle face, the baffle face configured to redirect the flow of combustion products along the combustion flowpath and channel the flow of combustion products into the exhaust passage.

Abstract: A setting tool includes a housing having an initiator compartment to receive an initiator for initiating combustion of a combustible element, a combustion compartment to receive the combustible element, and a switch compartment to at least partially receive a switch circuit for activating the initiator, a piston configured to impart a setting force against the plug in response to combustion of the combustible element, and an interrupt flowpath configured to connect at least one of the combustion compartment and the initiator compartment with the switch compartment whereby combustion products that may be created in the initiator compartment or combustion compartment would be circulated from the at least one of the combustion compartment and the initiator compartment to the switch compartment to disconnect the switch circuit in response to the activation of the initiator charge.

Abstract: A system for connecting a perforating gun to at least one other component in a perforating tool string includes a perforating gun that includes a gun housing and a charge carrier received within the gun housing wherein the charge carrier includes a first electrical connector, a tool connected end-to-end with the perforating gun where the tool includes an outer sleeve and a second electrical connector, a solid signal puck arranged with the perforating gun and the tool where the puck forms a pressure resistant barrier between the gun and the tool and wherein the solid signal puck includes a first endface oriented and a second endface and an outer periphery between the endfaces, and wherein the largest outer diameter of the outer periphery is at least 40% of the length between the first endface and the second endface of the puck.

Abstract: A tandem sub for a perforating gun system includes a tubular housing including a longitudinal first end, a longitudinal second end opposite the first end, a central passage defined by an inner surface, an electrical pass-thru assembly including an electrically conductive signal bar having a longitudinal first end defining a first electrical contact of the tandem sub, and a longitudinal second end opposite the first end and defining a second electrical contact of the tandem sub that is longitudinally opposite and electrically connected to the first electrical contact, wherein the signal bar is rigid along the entire longitudinal length thereof extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein the signal bar is coupled to the housing and a central axis of the central passage of the housing intersects the signal bar.

Abstract: A method includes assembling a first tool string to include at least one original perforating gun and an original gun switch in communication with the original perforating charge, and inserting the first tool string into a first wellbore. The method also includes retrieving the first tool string from the first wellbore and recovering the original gun switch from the first tool string, assembling a new tool string to include at least one new perforating gun, wherein the new tool string further includes the recovered original gun switch whereby the original gun switch is in communication with the new perforating charge, and inserting the new tool string into at least one of the first wellbore and a different wellbore, and delivering a signal to the original gun switch to initiate detonation of the second perforating gun.

Abstract: An initiator assembly for a perforating gun includes a detonator configured to detonate a shaped charge of the perforating gun when ballistically coupled to the shaped charge, wherein the detonator includes a detonator housing that receives an explosive material and a detonator electrical connector extending from the detonator housing, and a switch assembly configured to detonate the detonator after receiving a firing signal, wherein the switch assembly includes a switch housing and a switch electrical connector received in the switch housing, wherein one of the detonator electrical connector and the switch electrical connector is insertable into the other of the detonator electrical connector and the switch electrical connector to form an electrical connection between the detonator and the switch assembly.