Abstract: A fluid sensitive, polarity sensitive safety detonator system for use in a perforating gun assembly is disclosed. The detonator system is housed within the perforating gun housing and is operatively connected to surface located detonating means. A non-electric detonator is selectively coupled with an electrically fired detonator so that the detonators are not coupled during transit, during arming of the device, during assembly of the device and at all other times. A polarity sensitive circuit selectively arms the detonator assembly and a safety interlock system automatically grounds the detonator assembly upon intrusion of borehole fluids within the peforating gun housing.

Abstract: For use in a perforating gun assembly which incorporates an explosive for detonation of a string of shaped charges, all the explosive materials forming a significant, violent pressure shock wave propagated up a cased well borehole, a pressure actuated switch includes an enlarged piston having a head exposed to the pressure shock wave, a stem connected to said head, bifurcated fingers capturing a resilient material therebetween to permit flexure, a surrounding sleeve which is made of metal and defined in multiple portions, and a plurality of metal contacts contiguous to said stem and adapted to be selectively contacted by said metal sleeve to either make or break on movement of said piston.

Abstract: A buried vault for telecommunication equipment is disclosed. It is adapted to connect with telecommunication conduits, especially optical fiber conduits enclosing optical fibers. The vault encloses laser light generating devices for providing signals and also encloses suitable signal switch gear for telecommunication circuitry. The wall is constructed of alternating plies of glass fibers matting and woven roving, each layer being applied and joined with a polymeric resin. It is then covered with a light weight layer, the preferred form being balsa wood and the outside surface is then sprayed with a skin, typically a polyester resin co-mingled with chopped reinforcing fibers of random lengths randomly distributed or glass fibers matting and woven roving plies.

Abstract: For use in a perforating gun assembly, a perforating gun detonator is disclosed. One embodiment is hermetically sealed while the other has openings therein to admit well fluids. In both embodiments, a narrow conductive metal foil is provided with a current to vaporize the narrow foil, explode the foil and propel a flyer driven by a shock wave for detonation of a spaced secondary explosive. The explosive then couples explosion into a detonating cord against a shoulder in a housing adjacent to the secondary explosive. The current is formed by means of an AC voltage multiplier circuit providing a charge on a capacitor which is discharged through a spark gap. Charging circuitry includes a blocking capacitor to prevent DC and a resistor for bleeding a small current from the capacitor to ground which prevents static or stray current accumulation.

Abstract: For use in a perforating gun assembly typically lowered on an electric wireline or on tubing into a wellbore exposed to high pressure and high temperature, an apparatus is set forth which includes an elongate cylindrical housing cooperative with detonating cord. It has a side port or window to enable the detonating cord to be folded slightly into it. The housing includes a cavity for receiving required explosives and connection with an ignitor. This arrangement enables the housing to connect with the detonating cord and overcome high pressure or high temperature difficulties. This will accommodate detonating cords of different sizes and shapes and with differing types of covering materials.

Abstract: A method of registering perforating guns in a tubing conveyed perforating assembly as set forth. On a tubing string, a TCP assembly is lowered in a cased well. In the tubing string, a logging cable supported radioactive logging tool is then moved along the well to controllably locate the formation of interest. After the depth of this formation is known, the tubing string is moved to reposition the TCP assembly in registry with the formation of interest. The logging tool is retrieved only partially and is then lowered to operative contact with the TCP assembly to provide a signal path for operation of a firing mechanism to fire the shaped charges to form perforations into the formation.

Abstract: A firing mechanism for a tubing conveyed well perforating system used for the completion of formations for both testing and production wherein the primary detonating mechanism of the firing mechanism includes a housing assembly, a capsule assembly retained within the housing assembly having an explosive contained therein adapted to detonate an explosive in the perforating gun of the perforating system, a booster assembly retained within the housing adapted to detonate the explosive in the capsule assembly, and a striker assembly retained by the striker assembly adapted to cause the detonation of the explosive in the booster assembly upon impact therewith.

Abstract: A positive fire indicator well perforating system is disclosed. Predetermined time delay is introduced in a downhole series sequentially fired string of well perforating guns. Surface transducers detect vibratory energy from the downhole guns and record it as a function of time.