A box by pin perforating gun system using swaged down gun bodies, a removable cartridge to hold a detonator and switch, and an insulated charge holder as an electrical feed-through.

A box by pin perforating gun system using swaged down gun bodies, a removable cartridge to hold a detonator and switch, and an insulated charge holder as an electrical feed-through.

An explosive device includes a housing having an outer surface and defining an inner space; a plurality of primary liners arranged on the outer surface in a spaced pattern and having primary energetic material inwardly positioned in the housing relative to the primary liners; an initiation mechanism in the inner space for initiating the primary energetic material to drive the primary liners; and a plurality of additional liners positioned in the spaced pattern between the primary liners and having additional energetic material positioned in proximity to the primary energetic material such that the additional energetic material is sympathetically initiated by initiation of the primary energetic material. The device can find useful application in a military setting and also in the perforation of well casings in subterranean wells.

An explosive device includes a housing having an outer surface and defining an inner space; a plurality of primary liners arranged on the outer surface in a spaced pattern and having primary energetic material inwardly positioned in the housing relative to the primary liners; an initiation mechanism in the inner space for initiating the primary energetic material to drive the primary liners; and a plurality of additional liners positioned in the spaced pattern between the primary liners and having additional energetic material positioned in proximity to the primary energetic material such that the additional energetic material is sympathetically initiated by initiation of the primary energetic material. The device can find useful application in a military setting and also in the perforation of well casings in subterranean wells.

An outer tube for a perforating gun is provided that includes an inner wall and an outer wall and also a wall thickness (D) and a length (L), wherein the outer tube has a hardness over its entire longitudinal extent along the length (L) and its transverse extent along the wall thickness (D), wherein the hardness of the outer tube is reduced, in at least one region, to an extent (T) measured from the outer wall to the inner wall, wherein, in this region, the outer tube has a reduced hardness (HV) on its outer wall, said reduced hardness being reduced in this region by at least 5% in relation to the hardness (H) of the inner wall.

An explosive downhole tool includes a housing having an upper housing part on one side of a window section and a lower housing part on an opposite side of the window section. An explosive charge is provided within the housing for at least one of cutting and expanding the wall of the tubular. The outer surface of at least one of the upper and lower housing part is rounded so as to be devoid of corners. The rounded surface eliminates the presence of sharp corners that may catch on restrictions or protrusions in a wellbore so that the downhole tool is more easily conveyable within a wellbore. Another explosive downhole tool includes fins extending from the housing. The fins have a height that decreases in a direction away from the housing. The shape of the fins enables the downhole tool to be more easily conveyable within the wellbore.

A holder for shaped charges is shown and described. The charge holder facilitates a high shot density for use with a perforating gun. The shaped charges are arranged to direct explosive force axially outward from a perforating gun. The plurality of radially spaced charges are designed to result in an annular ring of blast effect in any metal tubing associated with the oil/gas extraction operation as well as any concrete conduits in which the tubing is disposed.

A holder for shaped charges is shown and described. The charge holder facilitates a high shot density for use with a perforating gun. The shaped charges are arranged to direct explosive force axially outward from a perforating gun. The plurality of radially spaced charges are designed to result in an annular ring of blast effect in any metal tubing associated with the oil/gas extraction operation as well as any concrete conduits in which the tubing is disposed.

An apparatus for selectively firing a perforating gun having a plurality of gun assemblies may include an end plate, a portion of a signal communication circuit, an initiator assembly, and an initiating element. The end plate has a cavity formed by at least a first passage intersecting a second passage. The first passage extends from a planar end face of the end plate and the second passage extends from a circumferential surface of the end plate. The portion of a signal communication circuit is disposed in the end plate and conveys signals between the first gun and the second gun. The initiator assembly is at least partially disposed in the first passage. The initiating element is sized to pass through the second passage. The initiating element is also configured to electrically couple to the portion of the signal communication circuit and to thermally couple to the initiator assembly when at least partially seated in the first passage.

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.