Method and apparatus for expendable tubing-conveyed perforating gun

摘要

Methods and apparatus are presented for a “disappearing” perforator gun assembly. In a preferred method of perforating a well casing, inserted into the well casing is a tubing conveyed perforator having an outer tubular made from a metallic glass alloy having high strength and low impact resistance. An inner structure is positioned within the outer tubular and holds one or more explosive charges. Upon detonating the explosive charges, the outer tubular is fragmented. The inner structure is preferably also substantially destroyed upon detonation of the one or more explosive charges. For example, the inner structure can be made from a combustible material, corrodible, dissolvable, etc., material. A disintegration-enhancing material is optionally positioned between the outer tubular and the inner structure. Additional embodiments are presented having gun housings which dematerialize upon detonation of the charges.

主权项

1. A method of perforating a well casing positioned downhole in a well, comprising the steps of:
inserting into the well casing a tubing conveyed perforator having an outer tubular member and an inner structure positioned within the outer tubular, the inner structure holding one or more explosive charges, and a support structure without which the outer tubular member would collapse after insertion into the well; detonating the one or more explosive charges; damaging the support structure in response to the detonation; and collapsing the outer tubular in response to damaging the support structure.