Bi-directional explosive transfer subassembly and method for use of same

A bi-directional explosive transfer subassembly for coupling two explosive tools comprising:

• a first explosive carrying member having a ball end and a first explosive cavity that extends into the ball end;
• a second explosive carrying member having a socket and a second explosive cavity, the ball end of the first explosive carrying member slidingly received in the socket of the second explosive carrying member such that the first and second explosive carrying members are rotatable and angularly displaceable relative to one another;
• a first explosive device including a first shaped charge disposed in the ball end of the first explosive cavity;
• and
• a second explosive device including a second shaped charge disposed in the second explosive cavity and spaced from the first explosive device wherein the first and second shaped charges face one another and are each adapted for sending an explosive jet toward the other shaped charge, thereby providing an explosive transfer therebetween.

A well perforating apparatus comprising:

• first and second perforating guns;
• and
• a bi-directional explosive transfer subassembly interconnecting the first and second perforating guns, the bi-directional explosive transfer subassembly comprising:
• a first explosive carrying member coupled to the first perforating gun, the first explosive carrying member having a ball end and a first explosive cavity that extends into the ball end;
• a second explosive carrying member coupled to the second perforating gun, the second explosive carrying member having a socket and a second explosive cavity, the ball end of the first explosive carrying member slidingly received in the socket of the second explosive carrying member such that the first and second explosive carrying members are rotatable and angularly displaceable relative to one another;
• and
• first and second explosive devices disposed respectively in the first and second explosive cavities and spaced apart such that when one of the first and second explosive devices is initiated, the other of the first and second explosive devices will in turn be initiated, thereby transferring explosive between the first and second perforating guns.

A method of perforating a well comprising the steps of:

• deploying a string of perforating guns in a wellbore, the string having first and second perforating guns with a bi-directional explosive transfer subassembly disposed therebetween, the bi-directional explosive transfer subassembly comprising a first explosive carrying member having a ball end and a first explosive cavity that extends into the ball end and a second explosive carrying member having a socket and a second explosive cavity, the first and second explosive carrying members are rotatable and angularly displaceable relative to one another, the first and second explosive carrying members respectively carrying first and second explosive devices;
• firing one of the first and second perforating guns;
• igniting one of the first and second explosive devices;
• igniting the other of the first and second explosive devices;
• and
• firing the other of the first and second perforating guns, thereby transferring the explosive and sequentially firing the string of perforating guns.

An explosive transfer subassembly for coupling two explosive tools comprising:

• a first explosive carrying member having a ball end and a first explosive cavity that extends into the ball end;
• a second explosive carrying member having a socket and a second explosive cavity, the ball end of the first explosive carrying member slidingly received in the socket of the second explosive carrying member such that the first and second explosive carrying members are rotatable and angularly displaceable relative to one another;
• a first explosive device disposed in the first explosive cavity;
• and
• a second explosive device disposed in the second explosive cavity and spaced from the first explosive device such that when the second explosive devices is initiated, the first explosive devices will in turn be initiated.

A well perforating apparatus comprising:

• first and second perforating guns;
• and
• an explosive transfer subassembly interconnecting the first and second perforating guns, the explosive transfer subassembly comprising:
• a first explosive carrying member coupled to the first perforating gun, the first explosive carrying member having a ball end and a first explosive cavity that extends into the ball end;
• a second explosive carrying member coupled to the second perforating gun, the second explosive carrying member having a socket and a second explosive cavity, the ball end of the first explosive carrying member slidingly received in the socket of the second explosive carrying member such that the first and second explosive carrying members are rotatable and angularly displaceable relative to one another;
• and
• first and second explosive devices disposed respectively in the first and second explosive cavities and spaced apart such that when the second explosive device is initiated, the first explosive device will in turn be initiated.