Device for perforating a material comprising a tail-locking charge case

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a charge holder assembly comprising: a charge holder, wherein the charge holder is a hollow cylinder, and wherein the charge holder comprises: (a) at least one hole disposed through a wall of the charge holder; and (b) at least one slot disposed through the wall of the charge holder, wherein the at least one slot is located diametrically opposite from the at least one hole; and a charge comprising a charge case, wherein the charge case comprises: (a) a tail end portion, wherein the tail end portion comprises: (i) a cord retaining groove; and (ii) two legs, wherein each of the two legs comprises at least one slot engaging groove, wherein the slot engaging grooves are at an angle offset from the cord retaining groove. According to another embodiment, a method of perforating a material using a charge comprising: positioning a perforation gun adjacent to the material to be perforated, wherein the perforation gun comprises: the charge holder assembly; and causing the charge of the charge holder assembly to detonate.

1 . A charge holder assembly comprising:
 a charge holder, wherein the charge holder is a hollow cylinder, and wherein the charge holder comprises:
 (a) at least one hole disposed through a wall of the charge holder; and 
 (b) at least one slot disposed through the wall of the charge holder, wherein the at least one slot is located diametrically opposite from the at least one hole; and 
   a charge comprising a charge case, wherein the charge case comprises:
 (a) a tail end portion, wherein the tail end portion comprises:
 (i) a cord retaining groove; and 
 (ii) two legs, wherein each of the two legs comprises at least one slot engaging groove, wherein the slot engaging grooves are at an angle offset from the cord retaining groove. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the charge holder comprises a plurality of holes and a plurality of slots, wherein each slot is located diametrically opposite of a unique hole. 
     
     
         3 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the holes and the slots are arranged in a spiral pattern along the wall of the charge holder. 
     
     
         4 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord retaining groove is capable of receiving a detonation cord. 
     
     
         5 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tail end is capable of protruding through the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the size and shape of the slot is selected such that the at least a portion of the tail end is capable of protruding through the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein each slot engaging groove forms a foot on the leg. 
     
     
         8 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least a portion of the tail end is the feet. 
     
     
         9 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the size and shape of the feet are selected such that the feet are capable of protruding through the slot. 
     
     
         10 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the height and depth of the slot engaging groove is selected such that upon rotation of the legs, the feet slidingly engage the outer diameter of the charge holder. 
     
     
         11 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the engagement of the feet locks the charge case into the charge holder. 
     
     
         12 . The charge holder assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the two legs comprises two slot engaging grooves. 
     
     
         13 . A method of perforating a material using a charge comprising:
 positioning a perforation gun adjacent to the material to be perforated, wherein the perforation gun comprises:
 a charge holder, wherein the charge holder is a hollow cylinder, and wherein the charge holder comprises:
 (a) at least one hole disposed through a wall of the charge holder; and 
 (b) at least one slot disposed through the wall of the charge holder, wherein the at least one slot is located diametrically opposite from the at least one hole; and 
 
 a charge comprising a charge case, wherein the charge case comprises:
 (a) a tail end portion, wherein the tail end portion comprises:
 (i) a cord retaining groove; and 
 (ii) two legs, wherein each of the two legs comprises at least one slot engaging groove, wherein the slot engaging grooves are at an angle offset from the cord retaining groove; and 
 
 
   causing the charge to detonate.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the material to be perforated is a portion of a well. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a detonation cord is positioned in the cord retaining groove in a manner such that the detonation cord can ignite an explosive charge within the charge case. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of inserting the charge into the charge holder prior to the step of positioning. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of inserting comprises inserting the charge into the charge holder such that at least a portion of the tail end of the charge case protrudes through the slot. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of allowing the charge case to lock in the charge holder or causing the charge case to lock in the charge holder after the step of inserting.