Abstract: A perforating gun has a charge carrier assembly housed therein comprised of a plurality of charge holders connected together in tandem. Shaped charges are supported within each of the charge holders, such that the corresponding charges of each holder are circumferentially and vertically spaced apart from one another to forn a predetermined pattern. The individual charge holders describe a polyhedron whose bases or ends describe equal polygons, and whose lateral faces are rectangular and include a centrally located aperture which is adapted to receive a shaped charge in supported relationship therewithin.

Abstract: A pipe string with a valve, pressure responsive member, packer, firing mechanism and perforating gun are suspended within a well to complete the well. The packer is set to form an upper and lower annulus, and the valve and pressure responsive member are disposed above the packer in the upper annulus. A signal transmission member extends from the pressure responsive member to the firing mechanism in the lower annulus. The valve is initially closed to prevent fluid flow through the flow bore of the pipe string. The upper annulus is pressurized to open the valve and create a pressure differential across the pressure responsive member. The pressure responsive member then transmits a signal through the signal transmission member to the firing mechanism to actuate the firing mechanism and detonate the perforating gun. Hydrocarbons from the formation then flow through the perforations and up the flow bore of the pipe string to the surface.

Abstract: A hold down apparatus for a wireline operated perforating gun which prevents the gun from being thrust uphole when the gun is fired. The hold down apparatus enables the gun to be run downhole in a tubing or casing string, without the necessity of filling the pipe with liquid. The hold down apparatus includes a releasable anchor apparatus which is selectively set when the gun is manipulated vertically in a particular manner by the wireline. The gun is run downhole and positioned at the zone where the perforations are to be formed. The gun is lifted a finite distance, then lowered a finite distance, and then lifted again, thereby setting a pair of slips which are located in underlying relationship with respect to the gun. The gun remains anchored downhole so long as tension is maintained on the wireline. The gun is fired and subsequently released by lowering the gun a finite distance whereupon the anchoring device releases the slips from engagement with the piping. The gun can then be lifted uphole.

Abstract: A vent assembly is positioned downhole in a borehole in underlying relationship with respect to a packer device. The vent assembly is connected within a production tubing string and a perforating gun is supported by the lower end of the string. A bar of special design is dropped down through the interior of the tubing and falls through the vent assembly and continues to fall down the tubing string to impact against a gun firing head. The action of the bar passing through the vent assembly moves structures associated therewith to cause a port to assume an open position. The subsequent impact of the bar against the gun firing head detonates the shaped charges of the gun. Formation fluid is then free to flow into the perforations, up the lower annulus, into the port of the vent assembly, and up the production tubing to the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A tubing string extends downhole in a cased borehole to a jet perforating gun. A packer device is located uphole of a releasable coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus has an annular piston therein which is moved to release the lower string. Two spaced apart movable annular pistons are series connected in the tubing string at a location below the packer and above the gun. Flow ports, formed in the tubing wall, are covered by the pistons. A ball of appropriate diameter can be circulated downhole and seated upon either of the pistons, thereby forcing a selected piston in a downhole direction. Circulation ports are provided below the lower piston in proximity of a gun firing head. The lower piston includes a shaft depending axially therefrom and into proximity of a detonator of the gun firing head, so that when the lower piston is forced downhole, the shaft contacts the firing head which detonates the shaped charges of the perforating gun.

Abstract: A pipe string with a valve, pressure responsive means, packer, firing mechanism and perforating gun are suspended within a well to complete the well. The packer is set to form an upper and lower annulus, and the valve and pressure responsive means are disposed above the packer in the upper annulus. A force transmission means extends from the pressure responsive means to the firing mechanism in the lower annulus. The valve is initially closed to prevent fluid flow through the flow bore of the pipe string. The upper annulus is pressurized to open the valve and create a pressure differential across the pressure responsive means. The pressure responsive means then transmits a force through the force transmission means to the firing mechanism to actuate the firing mechanism and detonate the perforating gun. Hydrocarbons from the formation then flows through the perforations and up the flow bore of the pipe string to the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for completing a well by means of a perforating gun attached to the downhole end of a string of production tubing, producing the well until it is clean, shutting-in the well at a point relatively near the perforating gun, and measuring the shut-in pressure.

Abstract: A borehole is formed down into the ground and extends towards an underlying pay zone, and then is turned horizontally through the pay zone, and then continues back up towards the surface of the earth; so that the resultant borehole is continuous from an inlet to an outlet, with the inlet and outlet being spaced from one another. When the free end of the drill string arrives at the outlet, one end of a casing string is attached thereto, and the casing string is pulled back through the entire borehole so that the borehole is cased from the outlet to the inlet, or vice versa. The casing is perforated adjacent to the pay zone so that the hydrocarbons may flow from the pay zone into the interior of the casing. Production is achieved through either of the spaced inlet or outlet; or, by using one vertical length of the borehole to force fluid to flow through the entire borehole, thereby forcing the production to the surface.

Abstract: A method of recompleting or controlling the flow of a formation which is inaccessible through the original wellbore and which is losing valuable hydrocarbons to another formation. A second borehole is formed in close proximity to the first wellbore, and at least the bottom end of the new borehole is slanted until it penetrates the hydrocarbon bearing formation within shooting distance of the bottom end of the first wellbore. A large casing gun is run downhole through the new borehole. All of the shaped charges of the gun are oriented in the same direction. Indexing means are included by which all of the shaped charges of the gun are oriented to fire towards the casing of the first wellbore. After the gun is discharged, cement is pumped down the borehole, through the tunnels formed by the shaped charges, and into the perforations of the wellbore casing, thereby killing the flow of hydrocarbons from the damaged wellbore.

Abstract: A pressure actuated vent assembly for completing a slanted wellbore. The assembly is connected in series relationship within a tubing string at a location below a packer, and the packer elements are located between the casing and the tubing string, thereby dividing the casing annulus into an upper and lower annular area. The vent assembly includes a ported sliding sleeve which is slidably received about a ported main body member. The sleeve is held into position by a shear pin. Guide pins maintain the ports of the sleeve and main body member aligned with one another. When pressure is applied to the inside of the tubing, the sliding sleeve is forced to slide from an upper closed position, in a downward direction, where the sleeve locks into the opened position.

Abstract: A borehole is formed down into the ground and extends towards an underlying pay zone, and then is turned horizontally through the pay zone, and then continues back up towards the surface of the earth; so that the resultant borehole is continuous from an inlet to an outlet, with the inlet and outlet being spaced from one another. When the free end of the drill string arrives at the outlet, one end of a casing string is attached thereto, and the casing string is pulled back through the entire borehole so that the borehole is cased from the outlet to the inlet, or vice versa. The casing is perforated adjacent to the pay zone so that the hydrocarbons may flow from the pay zone into the interior of the casing. Production is achieved through either of the spaced inlet or outlet; or, by using one vertical length of the borehole to force fluid to flow through the entire borehole, thereby forcing the production to the surface.

Abstract: A pressure actuated vent assembly for completing a slanted wellbore. The assembly is connected in series relationship within a tubing string at a location below a packer, and the packer elements are located between the casing and the tubing string, thereby dividing the casing annulus into an upper and lower annular area. The vent assembly includes a ported sliding sleeve which is slidably received about a ported main body member. The sleeve is held into position by a shear pin. Guide pins maintain the ports of the sleeve and main body member aligned with one another. When pressure is applied to the inside of the tubing, the sliding sleeve is forced to slide from an upper closed position, in a downward direction, where the sleeve locks into the opened position.

Abstract: A casing gun is suspended downhole adjacent to a hydrocarbon containing formation by attaching the gun to the end of a tubing string. A packer device isolates the lower downhole casing annulus from the upper casing annulus. The casing gun has a firing head located at the upper end thereof which is actuated in response to impact. A vent assembly underlies the packer and is connected in series relationship respective to the gun firing head and the packer. A specially constructed bar device is dropped into a lubricator at the wellhead and travels down the interior of the tubing string, where the bar impacts against a sliding sleeve of the vent assembly, thereby moving the sleeve and opening a port which communicates the interior of the tubing string with the lower casing annulus. The bar continues to travel downhole until it impacts against the firing head, thereby detonating the perforating gun.

Abstract: A wellbore is formed with the lower marginal end portion thereof being turned substantially horizontally, thereby exposing a relatively large surface area of the pay zone to the cased borehole. A jet perforating gun has a member extending radially therefrom and into close proximity to the inside peripheral wall surface of the casing, and the shaped charges thereof are oriented so that they fire and perforate in a direction opposed to the arm. The gun is run downhole into proximity of the pay zone with the shaped charges being directed in a substantially downward direction so that when the gun is fired, the casing is perforated with the perforations extending downwardly into the hydrocarbon bearing formation. This expedient enables the perforated formation to be produced without flowing any of the unconsolidated formations into the wellbore.

Abstract: A wellbore is formed with the lower marginal end portion thereof being turned substantially horizontally, thereby exposing a relatively large surface area of the pay zone to the cased borehole. A jet perforating gun has a member extending radially therefrom and into close proximity to the inside peripheral wall surface of the casing, and the shaped charges thereof are oriented so that they fire and perforate in a direction opposed to the arm. The gun is run downhole into proximity of the pay zone with the shaped charges being directed in a substantially downward direction so that when the gun is fired, the casing is perforated with the perforations extending downwardly into the hydrocarbon bearing formation. This expedient enables the perforated formation to be produced without flowing any of the unconsolidated formation into the wellbore.

Abstract: A vent assembly for use in a tubing string located downhole in a borehole. The vent assembly is moved to the open position by a fishing tool attached to a slick line and run downhole through the tubing string into engagement therewith. The vent assembly includes an elongated, annular piston which slidably and sealingly engages the inside peripheral wall of a housing. The housing has radial ports which are covered by spaced seals located on the annular piston. One of the seals is larger in diameter than the other, thereby presenting different surface areas to the bottomhole fluids of the borehole within which the assembly is located. A sliding valve element underlies the annular piston and covers a relatively small bleed port so that when the valve element is moved by the wireline actuated tool to uncover the bleed port, the pressure differential across the housing is equalized.

Abstract: A high density perforating gun having series connected multiple gun housings within which a plurality of jet perforating shaped charges are arranged in spaced apart clusters. The charges of each cluster are captured in radially spaced apart symmetrical relationship within a mounting assembly, and each housing includes a plurality of the mounting assemblies which are spaced vertically apart from one another. The charges contained within each mounting assembly are orientated respective to the charges of the remaining mounting assemblies so that any charge located in one mounting assembly is spaced apart both radially and vertically from the nearest adjacent charge of an adjacent mounting assembly. This arrangement permits a maximum number of shaped charges to be placed within a finite volume. All of the charges contained within one housing are simultaneously detonated.

Abstract: This invention relates to method and apparatus for isolating and treating one of a plurality of selected zones located downhole in a borehole by freezing spaced-apart portions of the formation so that the zone to be treated is located therebetween. Treatment fluid is pumped down the apparatus of the present invention and out into the zone to be treated, with the spaced-apart, frozen portions of the formation effectively isolating the remainder of the wellbore from the treatment zone.

Abstract: Video Receiving Apparatus having a fiber optic display screen arranged substantially normally to a beam of electrons projected from an electron gun. The display screen compromises a plurality of optical fibers arranged in aligned relationship to form a bundle of parallel fibers which are extremely short in length. Each fiber has a light receiving face spaced from a light emitting face with there being sufficient light emitting faces to provide for the formation of a suitable image on a television screen. Each light receiving face is arranged at an angle respective to the beam of electrons which is less than the critical angle of the glass fiber. The axial center line of one end of each glass fiber lies normal to the viewing screen and laterally to the beam of electrons.

Abstract: A perforating gun apparatus is suspended downhole in a relatively cool zone of a borehole by connecting the gun to a tubing string. The tubing string includes a wireline operated, releasable coupling interposed therein. A packer device is attached to the tubing string uphole of the releasable coupling.An abutment means is positioned downhole within a relatively high temperature zone and in close proximity to a hydrocarbon bearing formation. The abutment means includes a latch means by which the gun and abutment means are attached to one another.The releasable coupling is actuated, whereupon the gun is released and falls downhole, where it is arrested by the abutment means. The gun is latched to the abutment means, while the force of the impact detonates the gun, thereby perforating a high temperature zone of the wellbore.A wireline fishing tool is run through the tubing and downhole into engagement with the released part of the coupling member.