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.

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 method including (a) lowering a first tool string into a first wellbore, the tool string including a first perforating gun and a gun switch configured to detonate the first perforating gun, (b) detonating the first perforating gun in response to transmitting a first gun firing signal from a control system to the gun switch, (c) retrieving the tool string from the first wellbore following (c), (d) lowering a second tool string including the gun switch used in the first tool string and a second perforating gun into at least one of the first wellbore and a second wellbore that is different from the first wellbore following (d), and (e) detonating the second perforating gun of the second tool string in response to transmitting a second gun firing signal from the control system to the gun switch.

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. The perforating gun may include an outer sleeve including a central passage, and a plurality of separate perforating modules receivable in the central passage of the outer sleeve. Each of the plurality of perforating modules of the perforating gun may include a carrier and a charge tube assembly received in the carrier, wherein the charge tube assembly incudes a shaped charge.

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.

Abstract: A method including (a) lowering a first tool string into a first wellbore, the tool string including a first perforating gun and a gun switch configured to detonate the first perforating gun, (b) detonating the first perforating gun in response to transmitting a first gun firing signal from a control system to the gun switch, (c) retrieving the tool string from the first wellbore following (c), (d) lowering a second tool string including the gun switch used in the first tool string and a second perforating gun into at least one of the first wellbore and a second wellbore that is different from the first wellbore following (d), and (e) detonating the second perforating gun of the second tool string in response to transmitting a second gun firing signal from the control system to the gun switch.

Abstract: A perforating gun deployable in a wellbore includes an outer sleeve including a central passage, and a plurality of separate perforating modules receivable in the central passage of the outer sleeve, wherein each of the plurality of perforating modules includes a carrier and a charge tube assembly received in the carrier, wherein the charge tube assembly incudes a shaped charge.

Abstract: A thread protector for coupling with an end of a tubular member includes a hub, a connector extending from the hub, and a plurality of splines formed on an outer surface of the connector and configured to releasably couple with a threaded connector of the tubular member, wherein each spline includes an inclined shoulder disposed at an acute angle to a central axis of the thread protector, and a locking shoulder disposed orthogonal to the central axis of the thread protector.

Abstract: A setting tool for actuating a downhole plug in a wellbore includes a housing including a central passage, a piston slidably disposed in the housing and including a central passage, and wherein the piston includes a first position in the housing and a second position the housing spaced from the first position in a first axial direction, and an atmospheric chamber filled with compressible fluid formed radially between the piston and the housing, and wherein the atmospheric chamber is sealed from an environment surrounding the setting tool when the piston is in the first position, wherein, in response to a pressurization of the central passage of the piston, the setting tool is configured to displace the piston from the first position to the second position and compress the compressible fluid within the atmospheric chamber.

Abstract: A completion system for perforating a tubular string positioned in a wellbore includes a tool string positionable in the wellbore, wherein the tool string includes a first perforating gun and a plurality of digital switches, a control system connectable to the tool string, wherein the control system is configured to generate a plurality of unique identifiers for each switch of the plurality of switches, assign each of the plurality of unique identifiers to one of the plurality of switches, and transmit a signal to a first switch of the plurality of switches including a first unique identifier of the plurality of unique identifiers to actuate the first perforating gun and perforate the tubular string, wherein the first unique identifier is assigned to the first switch.