A downhole tool and method, of which the downhole tool includes a housing defining a charge chamber and a hydraulic chamber, the hydraulic chamber containing a hydraulic fluid, and a piston disposed in the hydraulic chamber. The piston prevents the hydraulic fluid from communicating with the charge chamber, and is in communication with the hydraulic fluid and the charge chamber. The tool also includes one or more charges disposed in the charge chamber. The one or more charges are configured to ignite and thereby expand a gas in the charge chamber. The tool further includes a fluid-metering device coupled to the housing. The fluid-metering device is configured to control a rate at which the hydraulic fluid is pressed out of the hydraulic chamber.

A toolstring for plugging and perforating a wellbore includes a perforating gun extending between an uphole end and a downhole end longitudinally opposed to the uphole end, a plugging assembly extending between an uphole end and a downhole end longitudinally opposed to the uphole end of the plugging assembly, the plug assembly including a setting tool physically attached directly to the perforating gun, the setting tool including an elongate housing extending between an uphole end and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the housing, an open passageway extending from the uphole end to the downhole end of the housing, and wherein the setting tool further includes an elongate mandrel positioned in the open passageway and having an uphole end and a downhole end opposite the uphole end of the mandrel, and a combustion chamber located within the elongate housing for receiving an energetic charge.

A downhole tool includes a plurality of mechanical components with some that move relative to others. The tool includes an annular charge cannister associated with the plurality of mechanical components that delivers a gas to move mechanical components. The annular charge cannister includes an annular chamber having a back wall, an interior sidewall, an exterior sidewall, and an open side opposite the back wall. The back wall and the interior sidewall and exterior sidewall form an interior space, and a power charge is disposed within the interior space of the annular chamber. An annular lid is sized and configured to mate with the open side of the annular chamber. The charge cannister may include an ignition port formed in the annular lid for receiving an igniter.

A system and apparatus for providing an apparatus for use in a wellbore. The apparatus includes an apparatus body defining a volume, a propellant disposed within the volume, wherein the propellant has a first burn rate, and at least one propellant insert disposed within the propellant, wherein the propellant insert has a second burn rate, and the second burn rate is different than the first burn rate.

A setting tool for setting frac plugs and the like can include a mandrel having a chamber for housing expandable gas and a gas port in fluid communication with the chamber; a firing head secured to the mandrel for igniting a power charge to generate pressurized gas within the chamber; a barrel piston housing the mandrel and connected to a sleeve for setting the frac plug; and an expansion region defined between the mandrel and the barrel piston and receiving the pressurized gas which exerts force to cause a stroke of the barrel piston over the mandrel as the expansion region expands axially. The setting tool can include various features, such as certain gas bleed systems, an enhanced shear screw assembly, a bleed port and plug assembly, a scribe line, a particular gas port configuration, a liquid escape conduit, no-shoulder barrel configuration, and/or a low-force design for frac plugs.

A method and apparatus for igniting a power charge in downhole wellbore using an ignition propellant mixed with a main propellant.

A disposable setting tool includes a housing having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passage. A piston assembly is arranged in the passage. The piston assembly including a first piston portion and a second piston portion that extends axially outwardly of the second end of the housing. The first piston portion includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate section having an outer surface portion and an inner surface portion that extends between the first end portion and the second end portion. The inner surface portion defines a pressure passage. An atmospheric chamber is defined between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface portion of the piston assembly.

A technique facilitates improved setting of downhole devices, e.g. frac plugs. The technique utilizes a setting tool, e.g. a disposable setting tool, which integrates the functionality of a wireline adapter kit to provide a compact disposable solution for setting downhole devices. The setting tool comprises a self metering system which slows an otherwise violent setting action to a controlled setting sequence. The self metering system enables avoidance of the use of slow burn charges sometimes used in conventional setting tools.

An apparatus for setting a plug in a borehole penetrating a subsurface formation includes a tool mandrel defining a chamber having a port and a power charge disposed in the chamber for emitting a pressurized gas upon ignition. The apparatus also includes an outer sleeve at least partially surrounding the tool mandrel and defining an annulus between the outer sleeve and the tool mandrel where the annulus is in communication with the port. The apparatus further includes a piston disposed in the annulus and having an outer surface facing uphole within the annulus, the piston being in mechanical communication with a setting sleeve of the plug, wherein displacement of the setting sleeve causes setting of a slip and a seal of the plug.

An assembly for perforating a downhole formation includes a perforating gun, coupled to a downhole conveyance system, the perforating gun including an explosive charge and an uphole contact. The assembly also includes a tandem, coupled to the perforating gun proximate the uphole contact, the tandem including a cartridge assembly communicatively coupled to the downhole contact and a primary igniter communicatively coupled to the cartridge assembly. The assembly further includes an intermediate sub, coupled to the tandem opposite the perforating gun, the intermediate sub receiving at least a portion of the primary igniter, the intermediate sub having a fuse and secondary igniter. The assembly also includes a setting tool coupled to the intermediate sub, the setting tool receiving a setting signal via the secondary igniter.