Abstract: A perforation tool features a container with a longitudinal axis; an initiator module in the container, the initiator module having a firing circuit, an electrical contact at the longitudinal axis, and a detonator housing; and a shaped charge frame in the container, the shaped charge frame having a first end; a second end opposite the first end; a recess for accepting a shaped charge between the first end and the second end, the recess having a wide end and a narrow end, wherein the longitudinal axis is between the wide end and the narrow end; a first electrical contact at the first end, the first electrical contact located at the longitudinal axis; a second electrical contact at the second end, the second electrical contact located at the longitudinal axis; an electrical conductor connecting the first and second contacts; and a ballistic pathway coupling the detonator housing to the narrow end of the recess.

Abstract: Shaped charge tools are provided for perforating hydrocarbon wells. A shaped charge frame assembly may include a tubular electrical conductor and a shaped charge frame disposed around the tubular electrical conductor and rotatably engaged with the tubular electrical conductor. One or more bearings may be used to engage the shaped charge frame with the tubular electrical conductor, or the engagement may be bearing-free.

Abstract: A technique facilitates perforating operations. According to an embodiment, a perforating gun system utilizes a plurality of modular perforating gun sections which are readily assembled to create a perforating gun with a desired number and orientation of shaped charge holders. In some applications, the modular perforating gun sections may be formed of plastic, e.g. injection moldable plastic, to further reduce costs and provide great flexibility with respect to construction of the desired perforating gun.

Abstract: An igniter is described herein. The igniter comprises a housing having a first part with a circuit guide and a second part that fits together with the first part to form the housing, the first part and the second part defining an interior of the housing, with the circuit guide located in the interior of the housing; an ignition circuit having a heating element disposed within the interior of the housing, a first lead, and a second lead, the first lead and the second lead extending outside the housing; a power contact electrically connected to the first lead through a power opening in the housing; and a ground member disposed around the housing in electrical contact with the second lead.

Abstract: A perforation tool, and a bulkhead member for a perforation tool, are disclosed. The perforation tool has a loading tube, an initiator module, and a bulkhead member connected between the loading tube and the initiator module. The bulkhead member has a hollow body member with a central transverse plate having a central bore through the transverse plate along a longitudinal axis of the body member and an electrical conductor disposed in the central bore, the electrical conductor having a pin connection at a first end thereof and a box connection at a second end thereof.

Abstract: A perforation tool for use in a well bore is described herein. The perforation tool comprises a housing; a plurality of frames that fit inside the housing, each frame having a cylindrical shape with a central axis and a plurality of liners, each liner having an axis perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the axes of the liners of each frame are disposed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, and the frames are axially stackable; an electrical conductor disposed along a central passage of each frame; a plurality of shaped charges secured in the liners of the frames; a bulkhead member disposed in the housing and forming a seal with the housing; and an initiator module disposed in the housing with the bulkhead member between the initiator module and the plurality of frames.

Abstract: A perforation tool features a container with a longitudinal axis; an initiator module in the container, the initiator module having a firing circuit, an electrical contact at the longitudinal axis, and a detonator housing; and a shaped charge frame in the container, the shaped charge frame having a first end; a second end opposite the first end; a recess for accepting a shaped charge between the first end and the second end, the recess having a wide end and a narrow end, wherein the longitudinal axis is between the wide end and the narrow end; a first electrical contact at the first end, the first electrical contact located at the longitudinal axis; a second electrical contact at the second end, the second electrical contact located at the longitudinal axis; an electrical conductor connecting the first and second contacts; and a ballistic pathway coupling the detonator housing to the narrow end of the recess.

Abstract: A downhole ignition assembly is described herein. The downhole ignition assembly has a switch container having a longitudinal axis, the switch container having a first portion that accommodates a switch circuit in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second portion that contacts an igniter disposed in the second portion, the first portion having a contact that makes electrical contact with a tool coupled to the downhole ignition assembly.

Abstract: A technique facilitates perforating operations. According to an embodiment, a perforating gun system utilizes a plurality of modular perforating gun sections which are readily assembled to create a perforating gun with a desired number and orientation of shaped charge holders. In some applications, the modular perforating gun sections may be formed of plastic, e.g. injection moldable plastic, to further reduce costs and provide great flexibility with respect to construction of the desired perforating gun.

Abstract: An igniter is described herein. The igniter comprises a housing having a first part with a circuit guide and a second part that fits together with the first part to form the housing, the first part and the second part defining an interior of the housing, with the circuit guide located in the interior of the housing; an ignition circuit having a heating element disposed within the interior of the housing, a first lead, and a second lead, the first lead and the second lead extending outside the housing; a power contact electrically connected to the first lead through a power opening in the housing; and a ground member disposed around the housing in electrical contact with the second lead.

Abstract: A perforation tool features a container with a longitudinal axis; an initiator module in the container, the initiator module having a firing circuit, an electrical contact at the longitudinal axis, and a detonator housing; and a shaped charge frame in the container, the shaped charge frame having a first end; a second end opposite the first end; a recess for accepting a shaped charge between the first end and the second end, the recess having a wide end and a narrow end, wherein the longitudinal axis is between the wide end and the narrow end; a first electrical contact at the first end, the first electrical contact located at the longitudinal axis; a second electrical contact at the second end, the second electrical contact located at the longitudinal axis; an electrical conductor connecting the first and second contacts; and a ballistic pathway coupling the detonator housing to the narrow end of the recess.

Abstract: Shaped charge tools for perforating hydrocarbon wells are described herein. A shaped charge frame assembly described herein comprises a tubular electrical conductor and a shaped charge frame disposed around the tubular electrical conductor and rotatably engaged with the tubular electrical conductor. One or more bearings may be used to engage the shaped charge frame with the tubular electrical conductor, or the engagement may be bearing-free.

Abstract: A downhole ignition assembly is described herein. The downhole ignition assembly has a switch container having a longitudinal axis, the switch container having a first portion that accommodates a switch circuit in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second portion that contacts an igniter disposed in the second portion, the first portion having a contact that makes electrical contact with a tool coupled to the downhole ignition assembly.

Abstract: A frame for a shaped charge has a body with a cylindrical configuration, the body having a central passage along an axis thereof and a track extending in a direction parallel to the axis for installing and removing a shaped charge, the track having a snap structure. The frame provides a slide-in snap-in charge receptacle for a shaped charge.

Abstract: Shaped charge tools for perforating hydrocarbon wells are described herein. A shaped charge frame assembly described herein comprises a tubular electrical conductor and a shaped charge frame disposed around the tubular electrical conductor and rotatably engaged with the tubular electrical conductor. One or more bearings may be used to engage the shaped charge frame with the tubular electrical conductor, or the engagement may be bearing-free.

Abstract: A perforation tool, and a bulkhead member for a perforation tool, are disclosed. The perforation tool has a loading tube, an initiator module, and a bulkhead member connected between the loading tube and the initiator module. The bulkhead member has a hollow body member with a central transverse plate having a central bore through the transverse plate along a longitudinal axis of the body member and an electrical conductor disposed in the central bore, the electrical conductor having a pin connection at a first end thereof and a box connection at a second end thereof.

Abstract: A downhole ignition assembly is described herein. The downhole ignition assembly has a switch container having a longitudinal axis, the switch container having a first portion that accommodates a switch circuit in an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second portion that contacts an igniter disposed in the second portion, the first portion having a contact that makes electrical contact with a tool coupled to the downhole ignition assembly.

Abstract: A perforation tool, and a bulkhead member for a perforation tool, are disclosed. The perforation tool has a loading tube, an initiator module, and a bulkhead member connected between the loading tube and the initiator module. The bulkhead member has a hollow body member with a central transverse plate having a central bore through the transverse plate along a longitudinal axis of the body member and an electrical conductor disposed in the central bore, the electrical conductor having a pin connection at a first end thereof and a box connection at a second end thereof.

Abstract: A perforation tool for use in a well bore is described herein. The perforation tool comprises a housing; a plurality of frames that fit inside the housing, each frame having a cylindrical shape with a central axis and a plurality of liners, each liner having an axis perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the axes of the liners of each frame are disposed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, and the frames are axially stackable; an electrical conductor disposed along a central passage of each frame; a plurality of shaped charges secured in the liners of the frames; a bulkhead member disposed in the housing and forming a seal with the housing; and an initiator module disposed in the housing with the bulkhead member between the initiator module and the plurality of frames.