Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Scott Randall Von Kaenel

Richard Ellis Robey

Darren Ross Barlow

Austin Ward

Marcelo Jorge Laxalt

William Martin Kamp

A method of providing an underbalance in a wellbore that includes positioning a surge assembly within the wellbore; bypassing a differential chamber that extends along a portion of the length of the surge assembly when flowing fluid through a fluid passageway that extends along the length of the surge assembly; and placing the fluid passageway in fluid communication with the air chamber to create an underbalance in the fluid passageway.

Surge assembly with fluid bypass for well control

A perforating tool assembly may be modularized by providing modular charge segments to provide for multiple configurations of shaped charges without the requirement of excess inventory. The modular charge segments may comprise any number of modular charge holder segments and modular charge spacer segments which are configured to provide for different spacings and offsets of shaped charges disposed within the modular charge holder segments. The modular charge holder segments include slots and locking tabs to allow for the differing offsets between charges. The modular charge holder segments may comprise a slit that allows the modular holder segment to be flexed or deflected to permit the loading and downloading of shaped charges. The modular charge segments may comprise a plastic or rubber material to provide for safer deployment of shaped charges downhole.

Modular charge holder segment

Systems and methods used in perforation tool assemblies and more particularly charge tubes and self-locking alignment fixtures. The perforation tool assembly comprises an alignment fixture having a plurality of slots and a charge tube having a plurality of protrusions on an end of the charge tube that engage the plurality of slots on the alignment fixture. The perforation tool assembly can also include an alignment finger on an outer edge of the alignment fixture that aligns the charge tube radially with respect to a gun body. The alignment fixture can be formed of steel or a powdered metal. The slots on the alignment fixture can be formed by water-jet cutting, machining, molding, or casting. A plurality of charges can be disposed within the charge tube once assembled. The alignment finger on the alignment fixture can engage a milled slot on an interior surface of the gun body.

Charge tube with self-locking alignment fixtures

An apparatus comprising a charge tube for a perforating gun assembly used in harvesting energy in a wellbore and a retaining projection formed on an end of the charge tube. When the charge tube is inserted into a gun body, the retaining projection engages with the gun body of the perforating gun assembly to restrict movement of the charge tube with respect to the gun body when engaged with the gun body. The retaining projection can comprise a plurality of collet fingers on an end of the charge tube that engage with the gun body to longitudinally retain the charge tube. The retaining projection can comprise at least one alignment finger that limits radial movement of the charge tube with respect to the gun body. The retaining projection can comprise a plurality of centralizing bend tabs that restrict radial movement of the charge tube when inserted into the gun body.

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Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Scott Randall Von Kaenel