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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8006779 | Pressure cycle operated perforating firing head Pressure cycle operated apparatus and methods. A method of actuating a firing head includes the steps of: reciprocably displacing an actuator piston of the firing head, the displacing step including the piston being alternately pressure balanced and unbalanced; and ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7360587 | Debris reduction perforating apparatus A perforating apparatus (100) includes a plurality of shaped charges (102) each having a case, an initiation end and a discharge end. A detonating cord (116) is operably associated with the initiation ends of the shaped charges (102). An ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7360599 | Debris reduction perforating apparatus and method for use of same A perforating apparatus (100) includes a plurality of shaped charges (102) each having a case, an initiation end and a discharge end. A detonating cord (116) is operably associated with the initiation ends of the shaped charges (102). An ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7350448 | Perforating apparatus, firing assembly, and method A firing assembly for activating a perforating device comprising a module having a first chamber and a second chamber. The firing assembly comprises a firing head for transferring ballistic energy to the perforating device, said firing head having a detonator and a ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7261042 | Insensitive munition design for shrouded penetrators A munition and method of making same comprising at least partially surrounding a warhead with a protective barrier comprising pumice and surrounding the protective barrier with a shroud. ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7246548 | Well perforating gun Embodied herein is a perforating gun wall that withstands short, high energy pulses of an explosion retained within a loading tube with numerous explosive shaped charges. The perforating gun wall includes two or more layers with an impact strength sufficient to main... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7246659 | Damping fluid pressure waves in a subterranean well A system and method of damping fluid pressure waves in a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, pressure waves are damped by positioning a dampener in the well during a perforating operation. The dampener may attenuate the pressure waves by absorbing the pres... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7197982 | Method for detection of media layer by a penetrating weapon and related apparatus and systems The present invention is directed to a system and a method for accurately locating a penetrating-type weapon within a shelter for detonation at a desired target site. The method includes reliably and accurately detecting thin layers of a shelter by use of a weapon f... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7159657 | Shaped charge loading tube for perforating gun The loading tube comprises cups forming cup cavities for enclosing an explosive charge within each of the cups. The loading tube has ridges and valleys providing longitudinal and lateral strength to the loading tube. The loading tube is constructed of a formed mater... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7131494 | Screen and method having a partial screen wrap The present invention provides a screen for a well that utilizes a partial screen wrapping used to advantage with side conduits (e.g., alternate flowpaths), control lines, intelligent completions devices, and the like. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7013977 | Sealed connectors for automatic gun handling A sealed perforating gun assembly for use with automatic pipe handling equipment on oil and gas drill rigs. An upper sealed connector and a lower sealed connector have sealed threaded connections for mating with ends of a perforating gun. The connectors have externa... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6941871 | Faceted expansion relief perforating device The present invention is an improvement in the design of a perforating gun to perforate the casing in oil and gas wells. Perforating guns have a cylindrical body member with explosive charges at specified intervals designed to shoot outwardly through the body member... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6918334 | Perforating gun firing head with vented block for holding detonator A firing head for a perforating gun includes a detonating block having a first end and a second end, with the second end being structured and arranged so as to be located adjacent to a detonation material. A central passage extends through the detonating block from ... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6779605 | Downhole tool deployment safety system and methods A safety system controls the activation of one or more downhole tools by providing selective transmission of an activation signal or an energy stream. In a preferred embodiment, transmission of the activation signal or the energy stream is allowed after the tool has... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6675896 | Detonation transfer subassembly and method for use of same A detonation transfer subassembly for coupling two detonation activated tools in a work sting such that the work string may be severed between the two detonation activated tools without risk of a detonation. The detonation transfer subassembly comprises f... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6662883 | Charge tube assembly for a perforating gun A charge tube assembly for a perforating gun includes a tubular body having opposed ends. Integrally formed engagement members are positioned at each of the opposed ends. Detachable end plates are secured to each of the opposed ends. Each of the end plate... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6220370 | Circulating gun system A tubing conveyed perforating apparatus is shown which includes a tubular firing section which carries a plurality of explosive charges. The explosive charges are initially aligned with regions of reduced wall area provided in a tubular firing section whi... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6213203 | Lock mechanism for use with a downhole device A downhole device and method for performing a function in a well. The device has a series of dedicated hydro-mechanical locks that prevent occurrence of an associated function. The hydro-mechanical locks are capable of being released directly by a respect... | 04/10/2001 |
| 6179064 | System for indicating the firing of a perforating gun A system for use in a subterranean well includes a tubing, a perforating gun, a detonator and circuitry. The detonator is adapted to fire the perforating gun. The circuitry is adapted to determine whether the perforating gun has fired and based on the det... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6148916 | Apparatus for releasing, then firing perforating guns A perforating gun can be conveyed on tubing and fired while disconnected from the tubing. The gun is retained to a running tool at the lower end of the tubing in a locked position. Actuating a plunger by pressure, a weight bar or other techniques, breaks ... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6095258 | Pressure actuated safety switch for oil well perforating A perforating gun assembly for perforating wellbores, comprising a shaped charge carrier assembly, a detonating cord for initiation OF shaped charges in the carrier assembly, an initiator attached to the detonating cord for initiating the cord on applicat... | 08/01/2000 |
| 6035880 | Pressure activated switch valve A pressure activated valve and associated methods of using same provide increased functionality and convenience in actuating a tool operatively positioned within a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a switch valve is utilized to control actuati... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5911277 | System for activating a perforating device in a well Apparatus and method for activating a device in a well, such as firing a perforating gun in a well. An electrically-activated firing system is coupled to an actuating assembly, which includes a release piston movable by fluid pressure, a firing pin, and a... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5908365 | Downhole triggering device A self-contained tool incorporates an electronic system for significantly reducing the number of batteries required to detonate an explosive downhole, making the tool short enough for transport by helicopter, rather than by boat, to an offshore well. This... | 06/01/1999 |
| 5887654 | Method for performing downhole functions A downhole device and method for performing a function in a well. The device has a series of dedicated hydro-mechanical locks that prevent occurrence of an associated function. The hydro-mechanical locks are capable of being released directly by a respect... | 03/30/1999 |
| 5680905 | Apparatus and method for perforating wellbores An apparatus for actuating a firing head is disclosed. The apparatus contains a firing head that is operatively connected to a detonating cord of a perforating gun containing a series of shaped charges. The perforating gun will be connected to a work stri... | 10/28/1997 |
| 5603384 | Universal perforating gun firing head A firing head for actuating an explosive charge in a perforating gun. A firing pin is positioned within the firing head housing to actuate a booster charge leading to the perforating gun. The firing pin can be actuated by mechanical techniques, by control... | 02/18/1997 |
| 5571986 | Method and apparatus for activating an electric wireline firing system A method and apparatus of activating electric wireline firing systems in which a firing pin is restrained against movement toward a detonator until application of sufficient voltage to the apparatus. The firing pin is not permitted to move immediately upo... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5551520 | Dual redundant detonating system for oil well perforators The invention is an apparatus for initiating a wellbore perforator comprising a first firing head for generating a first explosive signal when a first actuation signal is applied to the first firing head, a second firing head for generating a second explo... | 09/03/1996 |
| 5540293 | Firing Head An explosive or combustion actuated subsurface well tool includes a firing head for initiating operation of the tool in response to a projectile, such as a ball or go-devil, being pumped down a tubing string extending from the surface. The firing head inc... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5490563 | Perforating gun actuator An actuating tool which is conveyed into a tubing string to attach to portions of an emplaced perforating gun. The tool includes an actuator with an electronic delay timer and an explosive device. The tool attaches to an emplaced perforating gun and deton... | 02/13/1996 |
| 5449039 | Apparatus and method for horizontal well fracture stimulation An apparatus and method for perforating in deviated and horizontal wells. A firing pin and charge housing is integrally secured to a generally tubular body. The firing pin and charge housing has a structure defining at least one recess extending through t... | 09/12/1995 |
| 5301755 | Air chamber actuator for a perforating gun A firing head actuator for a perforating gun includes an atmospheric pressure chamber which is run into the well on a slick line. The atmospheric pressure chamber can then be communicated with a low pressure side of an actuating piston to move the piston ... | 04/12/1994 |
| 5237136 | Hydrostatic pressure responsive bypass safety switch In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a safety bypass switch for use with explosive well tools includes a hollow conductive body having a copper conductor rod extending axially therethrough, a spring-loaded contact element ... | 08/17/1993 |
| 5223665 | Method and apparatus for disabling detonation system for a downhole explosive assembly A method and apparatus adapted to disable the actuation assembly for a perforating gun or any other detonation device used in subterranean wells to prevent premature surface detonation of the device. An apparatus is provided which can be quickly and easil... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5215148 | Subsurface well pressure actuated and fired apparatus A firing apparatus for use with a tubing-conveyed perforating apparatus is disclosed. Wellbore pressure applies an upward force to a first piston connected by a shearable coupling to a firing piston. At a predetermined pressure the coupling shears, allowi... | 06/01/1993 |
| 5191936 | Method and apparatus for controlling a well tool suspended by a cable in a wellbore by selective axial movements of the cable In the representative embodiment of the method and apparatus of the invention which are disclosed herein, a well tool arranged for suspension in a well bore from a cable includes a mandrel that is telescopically arranged on the tool body and is operable a... | 03/09/1993 |
| 5167282 | Apparatus and method for detonating well perforators A pressure-actuated head for detonating a gun for perforating a well bore is suspended on a tubing string for lowering down the well. The head includes a detonator pin biased towards a detonator but restrained until detonation is required. Detonation is e... | 12/01/1992 |
| 5161616 | Differential firing head and method of operation thereof A differential firing head for a tubing conveyed perforation assembly includes a pressure-balanced firing pin propelled by a separate actuator assembly into a detonator to ignite charges in the gun. The actuator assembly includes a shock absorber which fu... | 11/10/1992 |
| 5159145 | Methods and apparatus for disarming and arming well bore explosive tools In the representative embodiments of the several methods and apparatus of the invention, a barrier formed of a low-temperature fusible metal alloy having a selected melting point is arranged between a receptor explosive and a typical electrically-initiate... | 10/27/1992 |
