Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Joseph T MacGillivray

Christopher C Hoelscher

Richard Ellis Robey

Courtney Ann Thain Roberts

Matthew Craig Mlcak

Jason Paul Metzger

Camille Anne Bryant

Stuart Michael Wood

Kevin C Cook

Nicholas G Harrington

James Marshall Barker

James Harold Wight

Some implementations include an apparatus comprising an explosive material configured to detonate; a liner in contact with the explosive material, the liner configured to, after detonation of the explosive material, form jets to perforate a tubular disposed in a subsurface borehole; a reactive material configured to release energy in response to detonation of the explosive material; and a case in contact with a portion of the reactive material and configured to surround the explosive material, the liner, and the reactive material.

Shaped charge with reactive material

Some implementations include a modular gun system for use in a wellbore comprising one or more charge segments each including a first electrical conductor having a first set of integrated electrical contacts.

Segmented gun components with integrated contacts

Various well-perforating systems and methods are disclosed incorporating a self-shunting detonator. The detonator may include an electrically-conductive detonator body. A resistor initiator inside the detonator body includes first and second leads. A grounding element inside the detonator body couples the detonator body to the first lead. An electrically-conductive clip coupled to the second lead includes an arm biased to electrical contact with an external surface of the detonator body to shunt the detonator. The arm is moveable away from the detonator body to un-shunt the detonator, such as automatically in response to insertion into a detonator housing.

Self-shunting detonator for well perforating gun

Provided is a perforating gun assembly for use in a wellbore. In one aspect, the perforating gun assembly includes at least a tubular carrier gun body having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, and a threaded portion extending a distance (d) along an outer surface and proximate an uphole end thereof; and a swell sleeve located radially inside of the tubular carrier gun body, the swell sleeve extending along at least 90% of the distance (d).

Sleeved gun connection

A method of perforating a well that includes suspending a first perforating gun and a second perforating gun on a conveyance into a well, transmitting a signal down the conveyance, where the signal at least partially traverses the first perforating gun, a perforating gun connection, and the second perforating gun, and in response to the signal selecting the second perforating gun to fire, and firing a shaped charge in the second perforating gun, where the first perforating gun and the second perforating gun are connected via the perforating gun connection, where the perforating gun connection includes a pin which extends from the first perforating gun to a contact tab of the second perforating gun, and where a spring element, coupled with the contact tab, elastically deforms in response to the contact tab engaging with the pin.

Connector for perforating gun system

A shaped charge liner may include a plurality of liner segments for a shaped charge configured to perforate a sidewall of a wellbore upon detonation. The plurality of liner segments may include a tip liner segment comprising a first group of compacted metal powder having a hollow cone shape with a trailing interface end disposed opposite a tip end. The tip liner segment is configured to be disposed in a shaped charge casing of the shaped charge. The plurality of liner segments may also include a base liner segment comprising a second group of compacted metal powder having a truncated hollow cone shape with a trailing base end disposed opposite a leading base interface end. The trailing base end has a larger diameter than the leading base interface end, and the base liner segment is configured to be disposed at least partially within the shaped charge casing.

Segment pressing of shaped charge powder metal liners

A perforating gun connection whereby a signal may be carried from surface, down through a wireline or other conveyance, and across the connection from the pin on one perforating gun to an electrical contact structure on the next perforating gun in the string. In an example, the connection includes a connector body with an electrical pin positioned for contact with an electrical contact structure on the next perforating gun. The electrical contact structure has a contact tab aligned for engagement by the pin when connected with the connector body. The electrical contact structure may be unitarily formed to include a number of features to facilitate connection between perforating guns.

A detonator to activate energetic materials in downhole well environments that can be transported and operated safely. The detonator comprises a switch coupled to a power source and the energetic materials. The power source may or may not be a part of the detonator. The switch creates a default closed switch between the power source and the energetic material. The switch can communicate with an actuator in response to engaging a gun assembly. The switch can create an open switch in response to communicating with the actuator. The switch forms a short circuit when configured to the default closed switch and forms an open circuit when configured to the open switch. The energetic material is activated in response to the mechanical switch forming an open switch and power is provided by the power source.

Detonator having a mechanical shunt

A detonator module provides for the use of a wide range of different addressable switches for use in perforating guns. The detonator module permits pre-assembly of a desired addressable switch and conforms the electrical connectivity to a particular perforating gun. In this manner, nearly any addressable switch can be used from any manufacturer despite having different sizes or wiring layouts. The pre-assembled detonator module can be safely shipped due to a safety shunt that can be removed on site prior to installation into a perforating gun. In one sense, the detonator module permits conformance of multiple different types of addressable switches to a particular type or model of perforating gun, permitting flexible choice of addressable switch for a particular project.

Detonator module

The disclosed embodiments include bulkheads for perforating guns and perforating gun assemblies. A bulkhead includes a threadless exterior surface that spans a length of a threaded connection of adjacent first and second perforating guns. The bulkhead also includes a first exterior groove having a first sealing element partially disposed in the first exterior groove. The bulkhead further includes a second exterior groove having a second sealing element partially disposed in the second exterior groove, where the first sealing element and the second sealing element are positioned around the threaded connection.

Outwardly threadless bulkhead for perforating gun

Provided is a shaped charge for use in a wellbore. The shaped charge, in one example, includes a case exterior, the case exterior including an outer surface, and an inner surface forming an cavity, a case interior located within the cavity, a toroidal shaped liner located within the cavity and surrounding a base of the case interior, and explosive material located within a first gap between the inner surface of the case exterior and the toroidal shaped liner and a second gap between the toroidal shaped liner and the case interior.

Shaped charge with ring shaped jet

Provided is a detonation cord alignment apparatus. The detonation cord alignment apparatus, in accordance with one example, includes a detonation cord alignment housing having a detonation cord opening extending there through, and one or more protrusions extending inward from the detonation cord opening for linearly securing a detonation cord therein.

Detonation cord alignment and retention

A method of perforating a subterranean formation may comprise: inserting into a wellbore a perforating gun assembly comprising: a first gun assembly comprising a first perforating explosive and a first ballistic transfer element; a transfer assembly comprising a second ballistic transfer element; and a second gun assembly comprising a second perforating explosive, wherein the first gun assembly and the second gun assembly are separated from the transfer assembly by a discontinuity; detonating the first perforating explosive; propagating a ballistic signal from the first gun assembly, across the discontinuity, to the transfer assembly; propagating a ballistic signal though the transfer assembly to the second ballistic transfer element; propagating a ballistic signal from the transfer assembly, across the discontinuity, to the second gun assembly; and detonating the second perforating explosive.

Ballistic coupling of perforating arrays

This disclosure may generally relate to subterranean operations. A ballistic transfer apparatus may include a detonation transfer line, wherein the detonation transfer line comprises a first end and a second end; a first holder in engagement with the first end of the detonation transfer line to retain the detonation transfer line in the ballistic transfer apparatus; a second holder in engagement with the second end of the detonation transfer line to retain the detonation transfer line in the ballistic transfer apparatus; and a shroud extending between the first holder and the second holder that covers the detonation transfer line.

Sealed ballistic transfer apparatus

The present disclosure provides an perforating device for use within a wellbore. The perforating device comprises a center member having a length, an expansion tool positioned about the center member along at least a portion of the length, and a plurality of perforating guns positioned about the expansion tool, each of the plurality of perforating guns configured to carry one or more explosive shaped charges. The expansion tool is configured to move the plurality of perforating guns radially outward toward a wellbore target of a wellbore it is configured to be positioned within.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Joseph T MacGillivray