Perforating gun assembly with performance optimized shaped charge load
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%.
1 . A perforating gun assembly comprising:
a perforating gun housing comprising steel and having an outer diameter from 3.35 inches to 3.75 inches; and
at least one shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing, each shaped charge of the at least one shaped charge comprising an explosive load having a weight greater than 22.7 grams;
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 perforating gun housing has an inner diameter from 2.6 inches to 2.9 inches and a wall thickness from 0.3375 inches to 0.4125 inches.
5 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 4 , wherein the explosive load has a weight of 28 grams to 32 grams.
6 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 4 , 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.
7 . A perforating gun assembly, comprising:
a perforating gun housing comprising steel and having 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 and including an explosive load having a weight greater than 22.7 grams;
wherein the shaped charge case has an open end that faces a wall of the perforating gun housing.
8 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 7 , 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.
9 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 7 , wherein the shaped charge includes
a shaped charge case defining a hollow cavity, the explosive load being positioned in the hollow cavity.
10 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 9 , 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.
11 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 10 , 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.
12 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 7 , wherein the perforating gun housing has a length of 8.5 inches.
13 . The perforating gun assembly of claim 7 , 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.
14 . A method of perforating a wellbore, the method comprising:
positioning a perforating gun assembly in a section of a wellbore, the perforating gun assembly comprising:
a perforating gun housing comprising steel and having an outer diameter from 3.35 inches to 3.75 inches, and
a shaped charge positioned in the perforating gun housing, the shaped charge including an explosive load having a weight greater than 22.7 grams; and
detonating the shaped charge to form a perforation tunnel in the wellbore;
wherein the shaped charge is open ended.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the wellbore is a steel casing and the perforation tunnel has an entry hole diameter from 0.30 inches to 0.85 inches.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the perforating gun housing has wherein the perforating gun housing has an inner diameter from 2.6 inches to 2.9 inches and a wall thickness from 0.3375 inches to 0.4125 inches.
17 . The method of claim 14 , 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.