Internally pressurized perforating gun

1. A method for facilitating a perforation operation in a wellbore, comprising:

preparing a perforating gun carrier string with a perforating gun carrier;

conveying the perforating gun carrier downhole into a wellbore; and

selectively and periodically increasing the pressure within the perforating gun carrier via a pressure enhancement mechanism, carried by the perforating gun string, as the perforating gun carrier is moved downhole through the wellbore.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising detonating perforating charges to create perforations in a surrounding formation once the perforating gun carrier has been conveyed to a desired perforating region.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein increasing comprises increasing the pressure to a level sufficient to reduce a detrimental pressure pulse otherwise resulting from inflow of well fluid into the perforating gun carrier following detonation of the perforating charges.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein increasing comprises increasing pressure within the perforating gun carrier to a level above the external pressure acting on the perforating gun carrier.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein increasing comprises increasing the pressure with an internal gas generator.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein increasing comprises increasing the pressure via the release of compressed gas from a chamber proximate the perforating gun carrier.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing comprises increasing the pressure via activation of a subcritical fluid at downhole temperature.

8. A method for perforating, comprising:

determining a collapse resistance of a perforating gun carrier;

conveying the perforating gun carrier downhole into a wellbore to a desired perforation location;

selectively and in discrete increments_increasing pressure within the perforating gun carrier while in the wellbore and prior to reaching the desired perforation location to enhance the collapse resistance; and

perforating a formation surrounding the perforating gun carrier.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein increasing pressure comprises utilizing a pressure enhancement mechanism to release a gas to an interior of the perforating gun carrier.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein increasing pressure comprises utilizing an internal gas generator.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein increasing pressure comprises increasing pressure via release of compressed gas from a cooperating chamber.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein increasing pressure comprises increasing the pressure to a level sufficient to eliminate detrimental pressure pulse effects due to flow back of fluid into the perforating gun carrier following perforating.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein increasing pressure comprises increasing pressure continuously as the perforating gun carrier is moved downhole.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein increasing comprises increasing the pressure via activation of a subcritical fluid at downhole temperature.

15. A system to facilitate perforating, comprising:

a perforating gun assembly having a perforating gun carrier and a plurality of perforating gun charges; and

a pressure enhancement mechanism coupled to the perforating gun carrier to selectively release gas into an interior of the perforating gun carrier so as to provide a controlled increase in pressure as the perforating gun carrier is delivered into a higher pressure environment, wherein the pressure enhancement mechanism comprises a subcritical fluid activatable at downhole temperature, wherein increasing comprises continuously increasing the pressure.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the pressure enhancement mechanism comprises a propellant charge.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the pressure enhancement mechanism comprises an adjacent chamber filled with the gas under pressure.