Abstract: A method for completing a subterranean formation includes conveying a perforator assembly into a borehole drilled in the subterranean formation. The perforator assembly includes at least one shaped charge and at least one tracer package that includes at least one fluid production tracer material and a tracer injector. The method further includes forming at least one tunnel in a production structure by detonating one or more shaped charges and injecting the at least one fluid production tracer material into the formation using the tracer injector after the detonation of the at least one shaped charge. The at least one production tracer material physically associates with at least one resident fluid in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: An apparatus for perforating a subterranean formation comprises a first perforating gun (33b) having a box end (112) having a nose, a second perforating gun (33a) having a pin end (118) having a shoulder (124); and an alignment assembly. The alignment assembly includes internal threads formed on the box end, external threads formed on the pin end, and an alignment member (120) positioned between the box end nose and the pin end shoulder. The internal threads and the external threads are specified to form an angular alignment between the first perforating gun and the second perforating gun within a first specified angular tolerance. The alignment member has at least one characteristic selected to vary the angular alignment within the first specified angular tolerance without degrading a locking force connecting the first perforating gun to the second perforating gun.

Abstract: A method for completing a subterranean formation includes conveying a perforator assembly into a borehole drilled in the subterranean formation. The perforator assembly includes at least one shaped charge and at least one tracer package that includes at least one fluid production tracer material and a tracer injector. The method further includes forming at least one tunnel in a production structure by detonating one or more shaped charges and injecting the at least one fluid production tracer material into the formation using the tracer injector after the detonation of the at least one shaped charge. The at least one production tracer material physically associates with at least one resident fluid in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A firing head for selectively activating an initiator of a downhole tool may include a housing, a pin, and a moveable stopper. The housing may have a bore and a radially enlarged chamber formed along the bore. The pin is disposed in the bore and has a circumferential groove formed on an outer surface of the shank. The moveable stopper is disposed in the radially enlarged chamber. The stopper is only partially disposed in the groove when the housing is in a vertical position. The stopper moves out of the groove when the housing has a predetermined minimum angular deviation from the vertical position.

Abstract: In aspects, the present disclosure provides a perforating gun that includes a carrier tube, and a charge tube assembly. The carrier tube includes a bore and a groove formed along an inner surface. The charge tube assembly is disposed in the bore of the carrier tube and includes a charge tube, an alignment end plate, an insertion end plate, a retention member, shaped charges, and a detonating cord. The charge tube has a plurality of shaped charge openings, a plurality of post openings, a first end, and a second end. The alignment end plate is connected to the first end of the charge tube. The insertion end plate is connected to the second end of the charge tube. The shaped charges are disposed in each of the shaped charge openings. Each shaped charge has a post projecting out of one post opening. The detonating cord is connected to each of the projecting posts.

Abstract: A signal transfer assembly includes a signal transfer propellant assembly and a signal transfer connector tube in hydraulic communication with a signal transfer firing head. The signal transfer propellant assembly has a piston and a gas generating energetic material. The signal transfer connector tube has a bore and a first opening allowing fluid communication between a borehole fluid surrounding the connector tube and the bore. The piston generates a pressure pulse when propelled through the bore by the generated gas. The signal transfer firing head assembly includes a housing having a second opening allowing fluid communication between the housing bore and the borehole fluid. A related method includes forming a well tool by operatively connecting a signal transfer assembly as described above to a primary downhole tool and a secondary downhole tool; conveying the well tool into a wellbore using a work string; and activating the secondary downhole tool by initiating the primary downhole tool.

Abstract: A firing head assembly for a well tool includes a shaft, a piston head, a biasing member, and a housing. The shaft has a nose and a terminal end. The shaft also includes a first shoulder and a second shoulder formed between the nose and the terminal end. The piston head slides along the shaft and is positioned between the retaining element and the first shoulder. The biasing member is mounted on the shaft and positioned between the piston head and the second shoulder. The housing has a bore in which the shaft, the piston head, and biasing member are disposed. The housing includes an opening allowing fluid communication between the housing bore and the borehole fluid external to the housing.

Abstract: A well tool (60) includes a perforating gun (108), a sealing element (130), at least one pressure sensor (150), a detector (132), a controller (152), and an anchor (134). The perforating gun (108) perforates the wellbore tubular in response to a firing signal. The sealing element (130) is connected to the perforating gun (108) and generates a pressure differential thereacross. The at least one pressure sensor (150) is associated with the sealing element (130) and detects a surface transmitted pressure signal. The detector (132) detects at least one marker (70) positioned along the wellbore (12) and which includes a perforating marker (70) associated with a perforating depth.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a perforating gun includes a charge tube and at least one endplate. The charge tube has a cylindrical wall, a first end, an upper opening formed proximate to the first end, and a lower opening formed proximate to the first end. The at least one endplate has a central insert having a first section projecting from a second section. The first section seats in the upper opening of the first end and the second section seats in the lower opening of the first end.

Abstract: A signal transfer assembly includes a signal transfer propellant assembly and a signal transfer connector tube in hydraulic communication with a signal transfer firing head. The signal transfer propellant assembly has a piston and a gas generating energetic material. The signal transfer connector tube has a bore and a first opening allowing fluid communication between a borehole fluid surrounding the connector tube and the bore. The piston generates a pressure pulse when propelled through the bore by the generated gas. The signal transfer firing head assembly includes a housing having a second opening allowing fluid communication between the housing bore and the borehole fluid. A related method includes forming a well tool by operatively connecting a signal transfer assembly as described above to a primary downhole tool and a secondary downhole tool; conveying the well tool into a wellbore using a work string; and activating the secondary downhole tool by initiating the primary downhole tool.

Abstract: A firing head assembly for a well tool includes a shaft, a piston head, a biasing member, and a housing. The shaft has a nose and a terminal end. The shaft also includes a first shoulder and a second shoulder formed between the nose and the terminal end. The piston head slides along the shaft and is positioned between the retaining element and the first shoulder. The biasing member is mounted on the shaft and positioned between the piston head and the second shoulder. The housing has a bore in which the shaft, the piston head, and biasing member are disposed. The housing includes an opening allowing fluid communication between the housing bore and the borehole fluid external to the housing.

Abstract: In aspects, the present disclosure provides a perforating gun that includes a carrier tube, and a charge tube assembly. The carrier tube includes a bore and a groove formed along an inner surface. The charge tube assembly is disposed in the bore of the carrier tube and includes a charge tube, an alignment end plate, an insertion end plate, a retention member, shaped charges, and a detonating cord. The charge tube has a plurality of shaped charge openings, a plurality of post openings, a first end, and a second end. The alignment end plate is connected to the first end of the charge tube. The insertion end plate is connected to the second end of the charge tube. The shaped charges are disposed in each of the shaped charge openings. Each shaped charge has a post projecting out of one post opening. The detonating cord is connected to each of the projecting posts.

Abstract: In aspects, the present disclosure provides a perforating gun that includes a carrier tube, and a charge tube assembly. The carrier tube includes a bore and a groove formed along an inner surface. The charge tube assembly is disposed in the bore of the carrier tube and includes a charge tube, an alignment end plate, an insertion end plate, a retention member, shaped charges, and a detonating cord. The charge tube has a plurality of shaped charge openings, a plurality of post openings, a first end, and a second end. The alignment end plate is connected to the first end of the charge tube. The insertion end plate is connected to the second end of the charge tube. The shaped charges are disposed in each of the shaped charge openings. Each shaped charge has a post projecting out of one post opening. The detonating cord is connected to each of the projecting posts.

Abstract: A perforating gun includes a charge tube having shaped charges affixed thereto. Each shaped charge includes a radially outward pointing post adapted to receive a detonator cord. A retention member installed on the post provides a compressive force that energetically couples the detonator cord to the post. The radially outermost portion of the retention member is radially flush with or radially recessed relative to the radially outermost portion of each post. In one embodiment, the retention member has a rounded medial portion, a central opening and a pair of locking tabs that point radially inward to the central opening. Each post may include a slot for receiving the detonator cord and a circumferential groove that is adapted to receive the locking tabs.

Abstract: A perforating gun includes an orienting device retained in a carrier and a charge tube rotatably connected to the orienting device. The orienting device misaligns a center axis of the charge tube with a different second axis such that gravity can cause the charge tube to rotate about the different second axis. The charge tube does not rotate about the center axis of the charge tube while the charge tube rotates about the different second axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for activating a wellbore tool includes a cylinder, a shaft, and a pressure dissipater. The cylinder has a first inner surface defining a smooth bore section and a second inner surface adjacent to the first inner surface. The shaft has a piston section that includes at least one seal forming a fluid seal with the first inner surface when the seal is at a nominal diameter. The pressure dissipater is formed along the second inner surface of the cylinder, the pressure dissipater contacts and physically destabilizes the at least one seal after the at least one seal exits the smooth bore section.

Abstract: A perforating gun has shaped charges that can generate a high-pressure gas. A valve sub connects to the perforating gun and a reservoir sub connects to the valve sub. The valve sub has an enclosure with a port. A mandrel in the enclosure has a piston head and a fluid path extending at least partially through the mandrel. A sleeve is slidably mounted on the mandrel and selectively blocks fluid flow through the port. A pressure chamber in the sleeve receives the generated high-pressure gas via the fluid path. The sleeve slides toward the perforating gun after a predetermined pressure is created by the generated high-pressure gas in the pressure chamber. The reservoir sub may have at least one chamber in fluid communication with the interior of the valve sub.

Abstract: A switch includes a casing having a bore, a piston assembly having a first end and an exposed end, a plurality of flanges formed at the first end; an insulating sleeve enclosing the first end, a contact assembly disposed in the casing bore; a pin disposed in the bore; a predetermined quantity of lubricant deposited in the bore; and a spring urging the pin into engagement with the piston assembly. The insulating sleeve and the plurality of flanges are at least partially disposed in the casing bore. The pin has: (i) a first position wherein the pin electrically contacts the piston assembly and is electrically isolated from the contact assembly; and (ii) a second position wherein the pin is electrically isolated from the piston assembly and electrically engages the contact assembly. The predetermined quantity of lubricant may be approximately 0.3 grams.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively isolating a firing head associated with a perforating gun may include an igniter coupled to a firing head, a time delay module coupled to the igniter and generating a pressure pulse after being activated by the igniter, a metering module, and a second firing head. The metering module may be coupled to the time delay module and including a housing having a bore and at least one opening exposed to a wellbore annulus. A piston disposed in the housing bore may have at least one passage. The piston is axially displaced from a first position to a second position by the generated pressure pulse. The second firing head is coupled to the metering module and is in fluid communication with the housing bore. The piston blocks fluid communication from the at least one opening of the housing and the second firing head in a first position and allows fluid communication from the at least one opening of the housing to the second firing head in the second position.

Abstract: A perforating gun has shaped charges that can generate a high-pressure gas. A valve sub connects to the perforating gun and a reservoir sub connects to the valve sub. The valve sub has an enclosure with a port. A mandrel in the enclosure has a piston head and a fluid path extending at least partially through the mandrel. A sleeve is slidably mounted on the mandrel and selectively blocks fluid flow through the port. A pressure chamber in the sleeve receives the generated high-pressure gas via the fluid path. The sleeve slides toward the perforating gun after a predetermined pressure is created by the generated high-pressure gas in the pressure chamber. The reservoir sub may have at least one chamber in fluid communication with the interior of the valve sub.