Abstract: A wellbore select fire switch retaining member system and method with an integrated through wire and ground wire in a switch sub. The system/method includes a retaining member that has a form factor acceptable by a conventional switch sub. The retaining member incorporates an electrical connection to the center pin of a pressure switch. The system further includes a secondary piston aligned with a piston in the switch (switch piston) so that external pressure is fully acted upon the entire switch piston creating a reliable switch connection. Another system includes an integrated retaining member and switch module having a form factor compatible with existing switch subs. The integrated module inputs include a ground wire and a through wire and the outputs include a ground wire, through wire and an arming wire.

Abstract: A hydraulic time delay system and method in a wellbore tool is disclosed. The system/method includes an actuation mechanism which allows pressure to act on a functional piston in the wellbore tool. The movement of the piston is restrained by a partially or filled reservoir which is allowed to exhaust through a flow restriction element. The restriction element comprises standard metal tubing with a known inner diameter and is cut to an exact length as predicted by fluid dynamic modeling. A time delay and rate of piston movement desired for the downhole tool, between a trigger event such as pressure and a functional event, can be tuned with parameters that include the length and diameter of the tubing, reservoir fluid viscosity and number of tubes in parallel. In another embodiment, a secondary plugging element added to the reservoir controls the rate of piston movement and time delay.

Abstract: A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The WST is positioned along with the RSM at a desired wellbore location. After the WST sets and seals the RSM, a conforming seating surface (CSS) is formed in the RSM. The CSS is shaped to engage/receive RPE deployed into the wellbore casing. The engaged/seated RPE isolates heel ward and toe ward fluid communication of the RSM to create a fracture zone. The RPE's are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure. A large ID RSM diminishes flow constriction during oil production.

Abstract: A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The WST is positioned along with the RSM at a desired wellbore location. After the WST sets and seals the RSM, a conforming seating surface (CSS) is formed in the RSM. The CSS is shaped to engage/receive RPE deployed into the wellbore casing. The engaged/seated RPE isolates heel ward and toe ward fluid communication of the RSM to create a fracture zone. The RPE's are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure. A large ID RSM diminishes flow constriction during oil production.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a time delay in injection of pressured fluid into a geologic formation. In one aspect the invention is a toe valve activated by fluid pressure that opens ports after a predetermined time interval to allow fluid to pass from a well casing to a formation. The controlled time delay enables casing integrity testing before fluid is passed through the ports. This time delay also allows multiple valves to be used in the same well casing and provide a focused jetting action to better penetrate a concrete casing lining.

Abstract: A wellbore perforating system and method with reliable and safer connections in a perforating gun assembly is disclosed. The system/method includes a gun string assembly (GSA) deployed in a wellbore with multiple perforating guns attached to plural switch subs. The perforating guns are pre-wired with a cable having multi conductors; the multi conductors are connected to electrical ring contacts on either end of the perforating guns. The switch subs are configured with electrical contacts that are attached to the electrical contacts of the perforating guns without the need for manual electrical connections and assembly in the field of operations. The system further includes detonating with a detonator that is positioned upstream of the perforating gun. The detonator is wired to a switch that is positioned downstream of the perforating gun.

Abstract: A limited entry perforating phased gun system and method for accurate perforation in a deviated/horizontal wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a gun string assembly (GSA) deployed in a wellbore with shaped charge clusters. The charges are spaced and angled such that, when perforated, they intersect at a preferred fracturing plane. Upon fracturing, the fractures initiate at least principal stress location in a preferred fracturing plane perpendicular to the wellbore from an upward and downward location of the wellbore. Thereafter, the fractures connect radially about the wellbore in the preferred fracturing plane. The fracture treatment in the preferred fracturing plane creates minimal tortuosity paths for longer extension of fractures that enables efficient oil and gas flow rates during production.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a time delay in injection of pressured fluid into a geologic formation. In one aspect the invention is a toe valve activated by fluid pressure that opens ports after a predetermined time interval to allow fluid to pass from a well casing to a formation. The controlled time delay enables casing integrity testing before fluid is passed through the ports. This time delay also allows multiple valves to be used in the same well casing and provide a focused jetting action to better penetrate a concrete casing lining.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a time delay in injection of pressured fluid into a geologic formation. In one aspect the invention a toe valve activated by fluid pressure that opens ports after a predetermined time interval to allow fluid to pass from a well casing to a formation. The controller time delay enables casing integrity testing before fluid is passed through the ports. This time delay also allows multiple valves to be used in the same well casing and provide a focused jetting action to better penetrate a concrete casing lining.

Abstract: An externally-oriented internally-corrected perforating gun system and method for accurate perforation in a deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a gun string assembly (GSA) deployed in a wellbore with an external protuberance member (EPM) and an internal pivot support (IPS). With the EPM oriented to the high side of the wellbore, the center of mass of the GSA positions the GSA at the lower side of the wellbore surface. The IPS is attached to internal gun components such end plate, charge holder tube, detonating cord or charge case. The charges inside the charge holder tube move with the gravitational vector about the IPS and point more accurately in the desired direction for perforating. The external orientation of the EPM along with limited internal swing about the IPS provide for an accurate orientation of the charges that results in efficient and effective perforating through a hydrocarbon formation.

Abstract: A limited entry perforating phased gun system and method for accurate perforation in a deviated/horizontal wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a gun string assembly (GSA) deployed in a wellbore with shaped charge clusters. The charges are spaced and angled such that, when perforated, they intersect at a preferred fracturing plane. Upon fracturing, the fractures initiate at least principal stress location in a preferred fracturing plane perpendicular to the wellbore from an upward and downward location of the wellbore. Thereafter, the fractures connect radially about the wellbore in the preferred fracturing plane. The fracture treatment in the preferred fracturing plane creates minimal tortuosity paths for longer extension of fractures that enables efficient oil and gas flow rates during production.

Abstract: A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The WST is positioned along with the RSM at a desired wellbore location. After the WST sets and seals the RSM, a conforming seating surface (CSS) is formed in the RSM. The CSS is shaped to engage/receive RPE deployed into the wellbore casing. The engaged/seated RPE isolates heel ward and toe ward fluid communication of the RSM to create a fracture zone. The RPE's are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure. A large ID RSM diminishes flow constriction during oil production.

Abstract: A geological perforating tool (gun) shape charges disposed at an angle that provides an improvement over other known embodiments by accurately securing the charges in the tool to facilitate reliable, reproducible focus of the shaped charges. Charges are disposed on metal strips fitted into slots that are precision cut at predetermined angles in a tool barrel circumference.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a time delay in injection of pressured fluid into a geologic formation. In one aspect the invention a toe valve activated by fluid pressure that opens ports after a predetermined time interval to allow fluid to pass from a well casing to a formation, providing a time delay before fluid is passed through the ports, allowing multiple valves to be used in the same well casing and providing a focused jetting action to better penetrate a concrete casing lining.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a time delay in injection of pressured fluid into a geologic formation. In one aspect the invention is a toe valve activated by fluid pressure that opens ports after a predetermined time interval to allow fluid to pass from a well casing to a formation, providing a time delay before fluid is passed through the ports. This time delay allows multiple valves to be used in the same well casing and providing a focused jetting action to better penetrate a concrete casing lining.

Abstract: A system (100) for communicating multimedia messages includes a multimedia message server (102) that is operable to transmit (1404, 1406, 1408) visual media, a vibration melody (1200), and an audio segment (1300) that is preferably filtered (1402) to exclude frequencies of the vibration melody (1200) through a network (104) to a client device (106), and is operable to, preferably at a later time, to transmit instructions (1410) to the client device (106) to output the vibration melody (1200), audio segment (1300) and visual media. At the client device, (106) the audio segment (1300) and the vibration melody (1200) and visual media are preferably stored (1504, 1508, 1512) in a memory (608) and in response to the instruction signal are read (1616, 1518, 1520) from the memory (608), decoded (1522, 1524, 1526) and output (1528, 1530, 1532) to a user. The vibration melody (1200) and the audio segment (1300) are preferably applied at least partially concurrently applied to an electromechanical transducer (212).

Abstract: The improved perforation gun of the present invention includes an outer gun barrel, which is used in conjunction with an inner movable charge carrier or an inner movable sleeve to trap virtually all of the debris created by the firing of the perforation gun. This elimination of debris reduces costly operational problems in both gravel pack and horizontal well completions. It also improves the production from a perforated underground hydrocarbon bearing formation since there is no debris to potentially cause plugging in the well or subsequent production lines.

Abstract: An improved perforation gun includes an outer gun barrel, which is used in conjunction with an inner movable charge carrier or an inner movable sleeve to trap virtually all of the debris created by the firing of the perforation gun. The charge carrier has a plurality of explosive charges initially aligned with complementary, pre-existing holes in the wall of the charge carrier, which are initially aligned with complementary, pre-existing scalloped sections of the outer gun barrel.

Abstract: The improved perforation gun of the present invention includes an outer gun barrel, which is used in conjunction with an inner movable charge carrier or an inner movable sleeve to trap virtually all of the debris created by the firing of the perforation gun. This elimination of debris reduces costly operational problems in both gravel pack and horizontal well completions. It also improves the production from a perforated underground hydrocarbon bearing formation since there is no debris to potentially cause plugging in the well or subsequent production lines.

Abstract: A water-cooled stator bar clip for electrical generators and a method for applying a corrosion-resistant protective coating, preferably Sc, Ti, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Ni, and Al, and their alloys or oxides to existing stator bar end fittings in order to significantly reduce the possibility of leaks through the brazed connections of the copper stator bar end connections. The coatings can be applied locally using various known physical vapor deposition (“PVD”), chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”) or other direct coating techniques known in the art. For example, the coatings can be applied using ion plasma deposition, sputtering or wire arc techniques (all PVD processes) or by using electroplating, high velocity oxygen free (“HVOF”) deposition, DC arc or electroless plating. Preferably, the coatings are applied either to new stator bar clips or to existing clips in the field.