Perforating gun assembly with performance optimized shaped charge load

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12338716-B2
Application number	US-202318466112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2023
Priority date	Feb 4, 2021
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

A perforating gun assembly is configured for use in unconventional wells, for example in rock formations with low permeability. The perforating gun assembly includes a perforating gun housing and a shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing. The shaped charge and the perforating gun housing are configured to improve total target penetration in unconventional wells by 20-100%.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A perforating gun assembly for use in a downhole tool-string deployed by wireline pump-down services for unconventional reservoirs, the perforating gun assembly comprising:
a perforating gun housing comprising steel and having:
an outer diameter from 87 mm to 91 mm;
an inner diameter from 2.6 inches to 2.9 inches; and
a wall thickness from 0.3375 inches to 0.4125 inches; and

a shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing;
wherein the shaped charge is open ended.

2. The perforating gun assembly of claim 1 , wherein the perforating gun housing has a length of 8.5 inches.

3. The perforating gun assembly of claim 1 , wherein the perforating gun housing has at least one of:
a minimum steel hardness of 250 HBW or 25 HRC (Rockwell);
a minimum yield strength of 650 MPa;
a minimum tensile strength of 900 MPa; or
a minimum impact strength of 70 Joule.

4. The perforating gun assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shaped charge includes an explosive load having a weight of 28 grams to 32 grams.

5. The perforating gun assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shaped charge loading tube positioned in the perforating gun housing, the shaped charge loading tube defining a shaped charge receptacle for receiving the shaped charge.

6. A perforating gun assembly, comprising:
a perforating gun housing comprising steel and having an outer diameter from 87 mm to 91 mm; and
a shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing and including an explosive load having a weight from 28 grams to 35 grams, the shaped charge comprising:
a shaped charge case defining a hollow cavity, the explosive load being positioned in the hollow cavity; and
an open end that faces a wall of the perforating gun housing.

7. The perforating gun assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a shaped charge loading tube positioned in the perforating gun housing, the shaped charge loading tube defining a shaped charge receptacle, the shaped charge being received in the shaped charge receptacle.

8. The perforating gun assembly of claim 6 , wherein the shaped charge includes a liner disposed adjacent the explosive load and configured to retain the explosive load in the hollow cavity of the shaped charge case.

9. The perforating gun assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a shaped charge inlay disposed over a portion of the liner such that the portion of the liner is positioned between the inlay and the explosive load.

10. The perforating gun assembly of claim 6 , wherein the perforating gun housing has at least one of:
an inner diameter from 2.6 inches to 2.9 inches; or
a wall thickness from 0.3375 to 0.4125 inches.

11. The perforating gun assembly of claim 6 , wherein the perforating gun housing has a length of 8.5 inches.

12. The perforating gun assembly of claim 6 , wherein the perforating gun housing has at least one of:
a minimum steel hardness of 250 HBW or 25 HRC (Rockwell);
a minimum yield strength of 650 MPa;
a minimum tensile strength of 900 MPa; or
a minimum impact strength of 70 Joule.

13. A method of perforating a wellbore, the method comprising:
positioning a perforating gun assembly in a section of a wellbore, the perforating gun assembly including a perforating gun housing comprising steel, and a shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing, the shaped charge including an explosive load having a weight of 28 grams to 32 grams;
a shaped charge case defining a hollow cavity, the explosive load being positioned in the hollow cavity; and
an open end that faces a wall of the perforating gun housing; and
detonating the shaped charge to form a perforation tunnel in the wellbore.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the wellbore is a steel casing and the perforation tunnel has an entry hole diameter from 0.30 inches to 0.85 inches.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the perforating gun housing has an outer diameter from 87 mm to 91 mm.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein upon detonating the shaped charge, the shaped charge expands an outer diameter of the perforating gun housing to a swell diameter of up to 3.78 inches by an explosive force generated by the shaped charge.

Assignees

• DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH

Inventors

• Eitschberger Christian
• Mcnelis Liam
• Scharf Thilo

Classifications

• E21B43/26

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title

• E21B43/1185

  Ignition systems · CPC title

• E21B43/119

  Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction · CPC title

• E21B43/117 Primary

  Shaped-charge perforators (E21B43/118 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B43/116 Primary

  Gun or shaped-charge perforators · CPC title