Abstract: A nozzle device is disclosed that may be used with a fluid-bed dryer apparatus or system. Such a nozzle device includes, in one embodiment, an intake block, an inner tube, an outer tube, a tip and an air cap. The tubes are connected to the intake block to form a passage for liquid and a passage for gas. The tip connects to the inner tube, and the air cap connects to the outer tube, so that at the output the fluid is atomized by the gas. Flow of the liquid and gas through the nozzle is unimpeded, and the nozzle provides substantially constant atomization characteristics.

Abstract: A perforating gun assembly (60) for creating communication paths for fluid between a formation (64) and a cased wellbore (66) includes a housing (84), a detonator (86) positioned within the housing (84) and a detonating cord (90) operably associated with the detonator (86). The perforating gun assembly (60) also includes one or more substantially axially oriented collections (92, 94, 96, 98) of shaped charges. Each of the shaped charges in the collections (92, 94, 96, 98) is operably associated with the detonating cord (90). In addition, adjacent shaped charges in each collection (92, 94, 96, 98) of shaped charges are oriented to converge toward one another such that upon detonation, the shaped charges in each collection (92, 94, 96, 98) form jets that interact with one another to create perforation cavities in the formation (64).

Abstract: A nozzle device is disclosed that may be used with a fluid-bed dryer apparatus or system. Such a nozzle device includes, in one embodiment, an intake block, an inner tube, an outer tube, a tip and an air cap. The tubes are connected to the intake block to form a passage for liquid and a passage for gas. The tip connects to the inner tube, and the air cap connects to the outer tube, so that at the output the fluid is atomized by the gas. Flow of the liquid and gas through the nozzle is unimpeded, and the nozzle provides substantially constant atomization characteristics.

Abstract: A perforating gun assembly (110) for creating communication paths for fluid between a formation (114) and a cased wellbore (116) includes a housing, a detonator and a detonating cord (136). The perforating gun assembly (110) includes one or more substantially axially oriented collections of shaped charges (122, 124, 126) each of which is operably associated with the detonating cord (136). A perforation (152, 154) is formed in the formation (114) as a result of the interaction of jets (141, 142) formed upon the detonation of at least two shaped charges (122, 126) that create a weakened region (148) in the formation (114) followed by the detonation of at least one shaped charge (124) that forms a jet (150) that penetrated through the weakened region (148).