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.

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.

A system for extracting threats buried underground includes a housing, a shaped charge coupled to the housing at one end, and an explosive projectile disposed in the housing and spaced-apart from the shaped charge. The explosive projectile includes an open-ended pipe, a detonation line wrapped about the pipe and extending away therefrom and through the housing, an explosive material disposed about and in contact with the detonation line wrapped about the pipe. The explosive projectile also includes a first donut-shaped plate at one end of the pipe, a second donut-shaped plate at another end of the pipe, and a third donut-shaped plate coupled to and spaced-apart from the second donut-shaped plate. A flow path extends through the plates and the pipe.

A system for extracting threats buried underground includes a housing, a shaped charge coupled to the housing at one end, and an explosive projectile disposed in the housing and spaced-apart from the shaped charge. The explosive projectile includes an open-ended pipe, a detonation line wrapped about the pipe and extending away therefrom and through the housing, an explosive material disposed about and in contact with the detonation line wrapped about the pipe. The explosive projectile also includes a first donut-shaped plate at one end of the pipe, a second donut-shaped plate at another end of the pipe, and a third donut-shaped plate coupled to and spaced-apart from the second donut-shaped plate. A flow path extends through the plates and the pipe.

A fuze booster includes a first explosive charge having a cavity with an annular portion of the first explosive charge encircling a first axial portion of the cavity and a semi-annular portion partially encircling a second axial portion of the cavity. The annular portion abuts the semi-annular portion. An explosively-inert material abuts the semi-annular portion, abuts the annular portion, and partially encircles the second axial portion of the cavity. A second explosive charge abuts the explosively-inert material, abuts the semi-annular portion, and partially encircles the second axial portion of the cavity. The second axial portion of the cavity is thus completely encircled by a combination of the semi-annular portion, the explosively-inert material, and the second explosive charge.

A fuze booster includes a first explosive charge having a cavity with an annular portion of the first explosive charge encircling a first axial portion of the cavity and a semi-annular portion partially encircling a second axial portion of the cavity. The annular portion abuts the semi-annular portion. An explosively-inert material abuts the semi-annular portion, abuts the annular portion, and partially encircles the second axial portion of the cavity. A second explosive charge abuts the explosively-inert material, abuts the semi-annular portion, and partially encircles the second axial portion of the cavity. The second axial portion of the cavity is thus completely encircled by a combination of the semi-annular portion, the explosively-inert material, and the second explosive charge.

A jet cutter apparatus and method for using a single bridge wire or a plurality of bridge wires to uniformly detonate a booster and thereby cause a uniform detonation of the explosives adjacent to the liners, thereby causing a uniform compression of the liners to form a uniform plasma jet that is substantially radially perpendicular to the jet cutter.

A jet cutter apparatus and method for using a single bridge wire or a plurality of bridge wires to uniformly detonate a booster and thereby cause a uniform detonation of the explosives adjacent to the liners, thereby causing a uniform compression of the liners to form a uniform plasma jet that is substantially radially perpendicular to the jet cutter.

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.