An explosive device configured for outputting a quasi-planar shock wave includes: a body structure having a proximal end and an opposing distal end, and within which (a) an initiation device chamber; (b) a donor charge having a geometric shape correlated with first cone having an internal void exhibiting a geometric shape correlated with a second cone, wherein a first base of the first cone and a second base of the second cone reside in a common plane and have a common center point; (c) a non-explosive wave shaper filling the void; and (d) an acceptor charge are sequentially disposed adjacent to each other in a direction toward the distal end. Perpendicular to the central axis, a maximum lateral span of each of the wave shaper, the donor charge, and the acceptor charge coincide. The acceptor explosive charge mass does not laterally extend to a set of body structure outer walls.

A propellant container for a perforating gun includes a lower cap, one or more pieces of propellant positioned within the lower cap, wherein at least one of the one or more pieces of propellant defines one or more through-holes, and an upper cap matable with the lower cap to secure the one or more pieces of propellant within the lower cap. A filler material is present within interstitial spaces between the one or more pieces of propellant.

A propellant container for a perforating gun includes a lower cap, one or more pieces of propellant positioned within the lower cap, wherein at least one of the one or more pieces of propellant defines one or more through-holes, and an upper cap matable with the lower cap to secure the one or more pieces of propellant within the lower cap. A filler material is present within interstitial spaces between the one or more pieces of propellant.

What is presented is a combustible pellet for creating heated gas. The combustible pellet is insertable into a cutting apparatus or a high power igniter or both. The combustible pellet is compacted to be resistant to mechanical damage and is resistant to unintentional ignition. The combustible pellet is ignitable without a loose powdered form of combustible material when the combustible pellet is in the cutting apparatus or the high power igniter.

What is presented is a combustible pellet for creating heated gas. The combustible pellet is insertable into a cutting apparatus or a high power igniter or both. The combustible pellet is compacted to be resistant to mechanical damage and is resistant to unintentional ignition. The combustible pellet is ignitable without a loose powdered form of combustible material when the combustible pellet is in the cutting apparatus or the high power igniter.

A breaching device includes a body having a tamping material. The body has a target surface that is configured to face a target to be breached and a backing surface that is opposite the target surface. The tamping material is formed of gel and is configured to reflect an explosive force directed way from the target surface towards the target surface.

An avalanche control device includes a detonation initiator unit and a bio-degradable linear bag. The initiator unit is elongated and includes an ignition end, an inflation end, and a stepped transition zone in between that gets progressively greater in diameter as it extends from the ignition end towards the inflation end. The inflatable bag is adapted for connection to the inflation end of the initiator unit. The design of initiator unit is fixed and reusable, while the bag dimensions can be tailored to the desired blast strength for the end user, in terms of length, diameter, and mixture ratio.

An above ground stemming device is described which includes a body configured, in use, to cover an open end of a blast hole loaded with explosives to surface or to within 300 mm of surface. The body has a void containing a stem of superabsorbent polymer gel therein and it is positioned in use to allow the stem of superabsorbent polymer gel to be in contact with the explosives in the blast hole. The body may include a base and an upper portion extending upwardly from the base. The void may extend through the body to an opening in the base. Alternatively, the void may be encased by the body. The body may be fabricated from a rigid material or from a flexible material capable of being inflated with a fluid.

An above ground stemming device is described which includes a body configured, in use, to cover an open end of a blast hole loaded with explosives to surface or to within 300 mm of surface. The body has a void containing a stem of superabsorbent polymer gel therein and it is positioned in use to allow the stem of superabsorbent polymer gel to be in contact with the explosives in the blast hole. The body may include a base and an upper portion extending upwardly from the base. The void may extend through the body to an opening in the base. Alternatively, the void may be encased by the body. The body may be fabricated from a rigid material or from a flexible material capable of being inflated with a fluid.

A method of creating and finishing perforations in a hydrocarbon well having a well wall that includes causing a high velocity jet of a material to shoot into the well wall, thereby creating a perforation in the well wall. The method further includes introducing a gas blast into the perforation, for a blast time duration, the gas blast creating an increasing pressure at the perforation until a maximum pressure is reached; and allowing the pressure of the gas blast to undergo a period of rapid decline to a level of less than 50% of the maximum pressure.