Abstract: A latching assembly includes a first mating portion and a second mating portion disposed adjacent and rotationally restrained relative to the first mating portion. A first cam member having a first cam profile is mounted on the first mating portion. A second cam member having a second cam profile is mounted on the second mating portion. The second cam profile is adapted to inter-fit with the first cam profile. Torque induced by the cam members when the cam profiles are engaging rotates the first cam member until the first cam profile is inter-fitted with the second cam profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for building a tool string uphole of any desired length prior to lowering that tool string downhole into a wellbore for the purpose of performing wellbore operations downhole during a single trip into the wellbore. The apparatus includes a valve disposed between an upper section and a lower section of the wellbore and adapted to open and to close, the upper section of the wellbore being isolated from the lower section of the wellbore when the valve is closed. The tool string of any desired length is built in the upper section of the wellbore when the valve is closed and the upper section of the wellbore is isolated from the lower section of the wellbore. The apparatus also includes a mandrel and piston, the valve being initially disposed in an open position and adapted to be changed from the open position to a closed position when the mandrel is shifted from one position to another position.

Abstract: A valve for use downhole in a wellbore can be repeatedly opened and closed any number of times in response to a pressure signal transmitted down the annulus of the wellbore. The valve is set and changes from a first position to a second position in response to a first pressure signal transmitted down the annulus, a pressure value of the first pressure signal transmitted down the annulus being greater than a pressure value of a pressure existing in an inside annular space of the valve by an amount at least equal to a predetermined value. The valve resets itself and changes back from the second position to the first position in response to a second pressure signal transmitted down the annulus, the pressure value of the pressure existing in the inside annular space of the valve being greater than a pressure value of the second pressure signal transmitted down the annulus by an amount at least equal to the predetermined value.

Abstract: A new zonal isolation method and apparatus perforates a plurality of zones of a formation, while isolating each perforated zone from every other zone, with one trip into wellbore, and without requiring the circulation of a kill fluid throughout the wellbore following perforation to kill the well so that a packer and/or a perforating gun may be removed from the well. The new zonal isolation apparatus includes a perforating gun and a plug or packer connected to the perforating gun. The new zonal isolation method includes detonating the perforating gun thereby creating a set of perforations in the formation; moving the perforating gun and plug/packer uphole until the plug/packer is situated at a particular position in the wellbore which is disposed directly above the set of perforations in the formation; and setting the plug/packer at the particular position in the wellbore.

Abstract: A perforating gun contains charges which are rotatable between a stored position and a deployed position, the charges being connected to an enclosed carrier tube via a mechanical link retaining apparatus which is capable of bending but is incapable of stretching by any substantial distance. A primacord is held by said retaining apparatus firmly onto a top of each charge thereby preventing relative movement between the primacord and the charge when the charge is deploying between its stored position and its deployed position. A set of pullrods connect to each pivot of each charge. Thus, when an upward force is placed on the pullrods, an accompanying force is placed on the pivots of each charge. Since the retaining apparatus connects to the top of each charge and to the carrier, and since the retaining apparatus is incapable of stretching by any substantial distance, the accompanying force on the charge pivots creates a torque which rotates the charges between the stored position and the deployed position.

Abstract: A perforating gun includes a base strip having an angular cross section, the base strip being a single unitary structure and essentially comprising at least two longitudinally disposed surfaces, a first surface and a second surface, a first plurality of capsule charges being connected to the first surface and a second plurality of capsule charges being connected to the second surface and interleaved with the first plurality of capsule charges, thereby phasing the capsule charges in the perforating gun. Since the gun utilizes capsule charges, good penetration into the formation is achieved. Due to the cross sectional configuration of the base strip, the phased capsule charges, when mounted on the strip, will easily fit within a tubing string previously used by non-phased capsule charge perforating guns.