Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to devices and methods for storage and/or transport of tubular structures, such as perforating guns for use in wellbores. Some embodiments relate to modular storage containers, for example which may be height adjustable depending on the length of the tubular structure to be held therein. Some embodiments relate to mobile storage banks, which may be configured for use with the modular storage containers. In some embodiments, the storage bank may further be configured with one or more longitudinal compartments configured to hold used tool strings or portions thereof.

Abstract: A tandem seal adapter for a perforating gun assembly includes a housing having a first end adapted to be connected to a first perforating gun and a second end adapted to be connected to a second perforating gun. A port extends through a wall of the housing and is in communication with an interior of the first perforating gun. A tracer material is arranged in the port, and a retainer secures the tracer material in the port. Upon detonation of the first perforating gun, the retainer is displaced and the tracer material is expelled from the port by gas pressure produced by the detonation. A corresponding method of using a tandem seal adapter to disperse tracer material into a wellbore and a tool string employing such a tandem seal adapter are also provided.

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 detonated for efficiently performing wellbore operations and reducing the amount of debris left in the wellbore after such operations.

Abstract: A self-erecting launcher assembly includes a mobile unit, and a magazine positioned in a receptacle of the mobile unit. The magazine includes a plurality of drones. A rail unit is secured to the mobile unit and moves between a closed position and an elevated position. A platform may be secured to the rail unit and is movable in an upward direction and a downward direction along a length of the rail unit. The platform is movable when the rail unit is in its elevated position. The magazine or the plurality of drones may be positioned on the platform, such that the platform moves the magazine or the plurality of drones from the mobile unit to at least one wellhead. A manipulator arm is secured to the platform and selects a drone of the plurality of drones and delivers the selected drone into a lubricator positioned at the wellhead.

Abstract: Components for a perforation gun system are provided including combinations of components that facilitate electrically linking multiple perforation guns to one another with wireless electrical contacts. The perforation gun system includes a bulkhead pin contact assembly. The perforation gun system may further include a wireless detonator and a conductor positioned in a connector of the perforation gun.

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 single use setting tool and associated method for actuating a tool in a wellbore may include an inner piston having a piston proximal end, a piston distal end, and a piston annular wall that defines a piston cavity. The setting tool may include a gas-generating power charge positioned within the piston cavity. The power charge may extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and have at least two different widths along its length. The power charge may further include a tapered portion. The setting tool may further include a piston extension connected to the piston distal end. The inner piston may further include a shear element groove circumferentially extending in an outer surface of the inner piston, for receiving a shear element.

Abstract: An inspection tool and associated methods for testing physical and electrical properties of a perforating gun and sending the perforating gun to a wellbore site with at least one of an electrical property and a dimension that has been previously verified. The perforating gun may be received in a perforating gun holder positioned between a first connecting portion and second connecting portion. The first connecting portion may be moved from a first position to a second position at which the at least one of the electrical property and the dimension is measured. Upon verification that the at least one of the electrical property and the dimension is within a predetermined specification, the perforating gun may be sent to the wellbore site.

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

Abstract: A wellbore positioning system includes a first wellbore casing element bearing a first magnetic pattern that encodes first information associated with the wellbore or a drone. The first wellbore casing element is configured for placement down-hole in the wellbore. The first wellbore casing element extends along a central axis and defines an axially oriented passage. Also, the system includes an untethered drone configured for relative movement in the passage of the first wellbore casing element. The drone is configured to detect the first magnetic pattern and determine a position of the drone within the wellbore based on the first information.

Abstract: An initiator head may include a housing extending in an axial direction, a circuit board provided in an interior space of the housing, a line-in terminal provided on a first side of the housing in the axial direction and accessible from an exterior of the housing, and a fuse displaced from the circuit board in the axial direction. A thickness direction of the circuit board may be substantially parallel with the axial direction. The line-in terminal may be in electrical communication with the circuit board. The fuse may be in electrical communication with the circuit board. The circuit board may be configured to activate the fuse in response to a control signal received at the line-in terminal.

Abstract: A perforating gun assembly may include a first perforating gun housing, a first shaped charge provided within the first perforating gun housing, and an alignment sub coupled to the first perforating gun housing. The alignment sub may include a first sub body and a second sub body rotatably coupled to the first sub body.

Abstract: An initiator head assembly may include a body and an electrical contact component positioned proximal to the body. The body may include a head extending from a base, and a platform extending from the head, and the body may be injection molded as a unitary component. The electrical contact component may include a line-in portion positioned proximal to the platform and a ground portion positioned proximal to the head. The electrical contact component may be formed integrally with the body such that it is anchored in a fixed position in the body. An initiator for a perforating gun assembly may include the initiator head assembly and a shell coupled to the initiator head assembly.

Abstract: A tandem seal adapter (TSA) for use with a wellbore tool may include a TSA body including a first end and a second end opposite the first end in an axial direction, a bore extending through the TSA body from the first end to the second end, an electrical contact assembly provided within the bore, the electrical contact assembly being configured to provide electrical connectivity through the bore. The electrical contact assembly may include a bulkhead provided within the bore. An axial position of a maximum outer diameter of the TSA body may overlap with the bulkhead in the axial direction. A portion of the bore overlapping in the axial direction with an entirety of the TSA body having an outer diameter equal to the maximum outer diameter may have a constant bore diameter.

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 module may include a gun housing including a housing chamber and a shaped charge positioning device provided in the housing chamber. The shaped charge positioning device may include a shaped charge holder and a detonator holder provided axially adjacent to the shaped charge holder. The shaped charge positioning device may be a singular and monolithic piece of non-metal material. A perforating gun module string may include a first perforating gun module directly coupled to a second perforating gun module. Each perforating gun module may include a gun housing with a housing chamber, a shaped charge holder provided in the housing chamber, and a detonator holder provided axially adjacent to the shaped charge receptacle. The shaped charge holder and the detonator holder may comprise a singular and monolithic piece of non-metal material.

Abstract: A perforating gun system may include a first gun carrier and a second gun carrier connected to the first gun carrier. A perforating gun assembly may be provided in each gun carrier, the perforating gun assembly including a top connector, a plurality of charge holders, and at least one bottom connector. Upon rotation of the top connector, the one or more charge holders of the first gun carrier may be aligned in a zero-degree phasing with the plurality of charge holders in the second gun carrier, and the position of the top connector may be locked along the length of the second gun carrier.

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 drone conveyance system for deploying drones into an oil or gas wellbore is described. The system includes a platform, a drone magazine, a platform receiver, a conveyance, and a wellhead receiver. A drone magazine contains a plurality of the drones and selectively releases/feeds the drones into the platform receiver. More than one drone magazine, each containing different drone types, may supply drones to the platform receiver such that different drones may be ordered for disposal into the wellbore. The platform receiver prepared the drones to be moved from the platform to the wellhead by the conveyance. The wellhead receiver accepts the drones from the conveyance and prepares each received drone for dropping into the wellbore via the wellhead.