Abstract: Provided is a casing washout perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore. The casing washout perforating gun assembly, in one example, includes a carrier gun body, an uphole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body, and a downhole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body. According to this example, the uphole plurality of charges have an uphole size or uphole explosive design to perforate uphole openings having uphole opening areas within a wellbore casing, and the downhole plurality of charges have a different downhole size or different downhole explosive design to perforate downhole openings having downhole opening areas within the wellbore casing, and furthermore the downhole opening areas are at least 20 percent less than the uphole opening areas.

Abstract: Construction and use of an instrument test fixture for capturing performance data for stimulation or fracturing treatments. The test fixture includes a target material, such as concrete, which includes embedded sensors surrounding a casing. An energetic stimulation treatment, such as a dynamic pulse fracturing technique, is applied through the casing to the target material to simulate a treatment that would be performed in a wellbore. During application of the treatment, the sensors capture measurements which are recorded for analysis by a data collection system. The sensors allow for the measurement of key performance indicators including static and dynamic pressure, generated temperature, and resulting strain energy. The captured data can be analyzed and used to design and optimize stimulation treatments for field applications.

Abstract: Techniques for plugging at least one zone of a hydrocarbon well are disclosed herein. The techniques include methods for deploying a wellbore dart configured for plugging the at least one zone of the hydrocarbon well, receiving, by a first node, location information indicating a first location of the wellbore dart, receiving, by a second node, location information indicating a second location of the wellbore dart, and detecting, an arrival of the wellbore dart at an intended location for the dart to plug the zone of the hydrocarbon well. In some aspects, the method further includes sending a command to a firing module of the wellbore dart, the command effective to cause the wellbore dart to plug the zone of the hydrocarbon well. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for controlling a hydraulic fracturing job. One or more perforations to create during a fracturing stage of a fracturing job at one or more corresponding perforation sites in a wellbore can be identified. The one or more perforations can be formed through one or more perforation devices disposed in the wellbore. Specifically, the one or more perforation devices can be selectively activated from a surface of the wellbore through a well intervention-less technique to selectively form the one or more perforations during the fracturing stage. Further, a volume of fracturing fluid can be pumped into the wellbore during the fracturing stage to form one or more first fractures in a surrounding formation through the one or more perforations.

Abstract: Provided is a casing washout perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore. The casing washout perforating gun assembly, in one example, includes a carrier gun body, an uphole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body, and a downhole plurality of charges supported within the carrier gun body. According to this example, the uphole plurality of charges have an uphole size or uphole explosive design to perforate uphole openings having uphole opening areas within a wellbore casing, and the downhole plurality of charges have a different downhole size or different downhole explosive design to perforate downhole openings having downhole opening areas within the wellbore casing, and furthermore the downhole opening areas are at least 20 percent less than the uphole opening areas.

Abstract: A shaped charge for perforating a formation surrounding a wellbore. The shaped charge including a casing having a section with polymer-coated explosives and a liner encapsulating the section with the polymer coated explosives. The polymer-coated explosives includes a booster explosive and a main load explosive. The booster explosive and the main load explosive are PETN. The polymer is a low-density polyethylene.

Abstract: Provided is a downhole perforating device, a well system, and a method for perforating a well system. The downhole perforating device, in one aspect, includes a perforating structure for surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of a wellbore casing. The downhole perforating device, according to this aspect, includes one or more perforation elements at least partially embodied within the perforating structure, the one or more perforation elements positioned to perforate the wellbore casing to an inside thereof, and electronics at least partially embodied within the perforating structure, the electronics for triggering the one or more perforation elements.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology provide techniques for facilitating hydrocarbon extraction from a wellbore. In some aspects, the disclosed technology encompasses a novel casing string that includes at least one casing section, an aperture disposed on a surface of the casing section, and an insert affixed around a periphery of the aperture. The casing string can further include a plug disposed within the insert, wherein the plug is configured to be selectively removable to allow fluid communication between an interior volume of the casing string and an exterior of the casing string, e.g., adjacent to a geologic formation.

Abstract: Techniques for plugging at least one zone of a hydrocarbon well are disclosed herein. The techniques include methods for deploying a wellbore dart configured for plugging the at least one zone of the hydrocarbon well, receiving, by a first node, location information indicating a first location of the wellbore dart, receiving, by a second node, location information indicating a second location of the wellbore dart, and detecting, an arrival of the wellbore dart at an intended location for the dart to plug the zone of the hydrocarbon well. In some aspects, the method further includes sending a command to a firing module of the wellbore dart, the command effective to cause the wellbore dart to plug the zone of the hydrocarbon well. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for controlling a hydraulic fracturing job. One or more perforations to create during a fracturing stage of a fracturing job at one or more corresponding perforation sites in a wellbore can be identified. The one or more perforations can be formed through one or more perforation devices disposed in the wellbore. Specifically, the one or more perforation devices can be selectively activated from a surface of the wellbore through a well intervention-less technique to selectively form the one or more perforations during the fracturing stage. Further, a volume of fracturing fluid can be pumped into the wellbore during the fracturing stage to form one or more first fractures in a surrounding formation through the one or more perforations.

Abstract: A liner (18) for a shaped-charge (10) that is compressively formed from a mixture of powdered metal, powdered metal binder, and a selected quantity of nanoparticle material, is used to achieve improved penetration depths during perforation of a wellbore. Exemplary nanoparticles include lead, tin, copper, molybdenum, etc. Such nanoparticles increase the density, sound speed, or acoustic impedance of the liner. In another embodiment, the added nanoparticles comprise reactive materials which, after penetration into the formation, cause secondary reactions in the perforations.

Abstract: This disclosure describes the construction and use of an instrument test fixture for capturing performance data for stimulation or fracturing treatments. The test fixture includes a target material, such as concrete, which includes embedded sensors surrounding a casing. An energetic stimulation treatment, such as a dynamic pulse fracturing technique, is applied through the casing to the target material to simulate a treatment that would be performed in a wellbore. During application of the treatment, the sensors capture measurements which are recorded for analysis by a data collection system. The sensors allow for the measurement of key performance indicators including static and dynamic pressure, generated temperature, and resulting strain energy. The captured data can be analyzed and used to design and optimize stimulation treatments for field applications.

Abstract: A wellbore perforating apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun and a sensor sub are run into a wellbore toward a downhole location at which the wellbore is to be perforated. Detonable components of the perforating gun are energized to perforate the wellbore at the downhole location. An acceleration of the perforating gun and a pressure and a temperature of the wellbore are detected using the sensor sub during a time interval encompassing the energization of the detonable components. The detected acceleration, pressure, and temperature are compared to benchmark energetic responses for both detonation and deflagration events. Based on this comparison, a decision can be made as to whether an incubation period is needed to allow a reaction of the detonable components to weaken before retrieving the perforating gun from the wellbore.

Abstract: A wellbore perforating apparatus and method according to which a perforating gun and a sensor sub are run into a wellbore toward a downhole location at which the wellbore is to be perforated. Detonable components of the perforating gun are energized to perforate the wellbore at the downhole location. An acceleration of the perforating gun and a pressure and a temperature of the wellbore are detected using the sensor sub during a time interval encompassing the energization of the detonable components. The detected acceleration, pressure, and temperature are compared to benchmark energetic responses for both detonation and deflagration events. Based on this comparison, a decision can be made as to whether an incubation period is needed to allow a reaction of the detonable components to weaken before retrieving the perforating gun from the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a dynamic time-pressure profile associated with a perforation event that includes extending a perforation assembly within a casing string; firing a perforation gun of the perforation assembly; measuring, using a sensor of the perforation assembly, pressure within the casing string, wherein the measured pressure forms the dynamic time-pressure profile; identifying a first measured pressure within the dynamic time-pressure profile; identifying, using a controller of the perforation assembly, a first difference between the first measured pressure and a first reference pressure; and adjusting, using a first pressure generator of the perforation assembly, the pressure in response to the first difference to control the dynamic time-pressure profile; wherein the sensor, the controller, and the first pressure generator provide a feedback control loop.

Abstract: A system and method to control wellbore pressure during perforating. The system comprises a carrier, a sensor, a pressure-altering device, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The sensor is configured to detect a stress wave propagating through the carrier before the arrival of a related pressure wave in the wellbore and generate a signal indicative of the detected stress wave. The pressure-altering device is actuatable to change the pressure in the wellbore. The processor is operable to analyze the signal from the sensor and control the pressure-altering device based on the detected stress wave to change the magnitude of the related pressure wave in the wellbore.

Abstract: Electrically ignitable and electrically controllable explosive material (EIECEM) may be disposed within a shaped charge for deployment downhole. An explosion of the EIECEM is controlled by limiting the duration of excitation at the EIECEM, for example, the duration that an electrical source provides an electrical charge, electrical current or electrical signal. The shaped charge may be insulated from an electrical source to prevent explosion of the EIECEM and coupled to the electrical source to create ignite or explode the EIECEM. A plurality of shaped charges may be disposed downhole and may be ignited or exploded in any suitable order. The EIECEM may be ignited multiple times such that multiple explosions are created. The explosion of the EIECEM creates or extends a perforation or fracture in a formation. The shaped charges may be arranged to create a shaped perforation or fracture, such as a slot-shaped fracture.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a dynamic time-pressure profile associated with a perforation event that includes extending a perforation assembly within a casing string; firing a perforation gun of the perforation assembly; measuring, using a sensor of the perforation assembly, pressure within the casing string, wherein the measured pressure forms the dynamic time-pressure profile; identifying a first measured pressure within the dynamic time-pressure profile; identifying, using a controller of the perforation assembly, a first difference between the first measured pressure and a first reference pressure; and adjusting, using a first pressure generator of the perforation assembly, the pressure in response to the first difference to control the dynamic time-pressure profile; wherein the sensor, the controller, and the first pressure generator provide a feedback control loop.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to perforating systems for perforating the casing of a wellbore. The perforating systems contain insensitive high explosives. The disclosure also relates to shaped charges containing insensitive high explosives for use in such perforating systems. The disclosure further relates to methods of using such perforating systems to perforate the casing of a wellbore.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to perforating systems for perforating the casing of a wellbore. The perforating systems contain insensitive high explosives. The disclosure also relates to shaped charges containing insensitive high explosives for use in such perforating systems. The disclosure further relates to methods of using such perforating systems to perforate the casing of a wellbore.