KINETIC ENERGY PERFORATING ROUND ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF USE

1 . An assembly suitable for use in downhole operations including hydraulic fracture stimulations, comprising:

a sabot comprising an ignition stack; and

a projectile partially received within the sabot, and the projectile comprising an electrical contact in electrical communication with the ignition stack.

2 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein after firing of the projectile, a portion of the sabot is reusable for firing of another projectile.

3 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sabot comprises an annular interface surface that conforms to a shape of a portion of the projectile.

4 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the projectile comprises a crown configuration disposed about a circumference of the projectile.

5 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ignition stack is electrically grounded to a terminal of the sabot.

6 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the projectile comprises a kinetic energy perforating round (KEPR).

7 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a carrier in which the sabot and the projectile are configured to be received.

8 . The assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the carrier comprises a propellant chamber configured to receive a portion of the sabot so that an ignitor of the ignition stack extends into the propellant chamber.

9 . The assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the carrier comprises a barrel in which the projectile and sabot are configured to be partly received.

10 . A method for performing a perforation operation in a downhole environment, comprising:

positioning an assembly in a downhole environment, and the assembly comprises a sabot and a projectile that contacts the sabot;

using an ignition stack of the sabot to ignite a propellant carried by the assembly; and

propelling the projectile through a target, using a propellant gas generated by ignition of the propellant, so that the projectile creates a perforation in the target.

11 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein when a fluid passes through the perforation, a structure of the perforation induces, in the fluid, any one or more of: laminar flow;

turbulent flow; and/or transition flow.

12 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the target comprises a well casing.

13 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the projectile passes partway into one or more other materials beyond the target, and the one or more other materials comprises one or both of cement, and a formation.

14 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the target exhibits a crown and valley configuration adjacent to the perforation.

15 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the sabot is reused to fire another projectile.

16 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the perforation has a uniform depth in the target.

17 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the ignition stack ignites the propellant in response to an electrical current applied to a contact point of the projectile that is in electrical communication with the ignition stack.

18 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the sabot and projectile remain connected to each other after the projectile has been fired.

19 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein a portion of the sabot is positioned in the perforation after the projectile has been fired.

20 . The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the projectile creates a jet nozzle in the target as the projectile passes through the target.