Shaped Charge Liner with Nanoparticles

Abstract

A liner ( 18 ) for a shaped-charge ( 10 ) that is compressively formed from a mixture of powdered metal, powdered metal binder, and a selected quantity of nanoparticle material, is used to achieve improved penetration depths during perforation of a wellbore. Exemplary nanoparticles include lead, tin, copper, molybdenum, etc. Such nanoparticles increase the density, sound speed, or acoustic impedance of the liner. In another embodiment, the added nanoparticles comprise reactive materials which, after penetration into the formation, cause secondary reactions in the perforations.

1 . A method for forming a liner for use in a shaped-charge comprising:
 mixing powdered metal, powdered metal binder, and a selected amount of nanoparticle material, to create a mixture; and   compressively forming the mixture into a substantially conical rigid body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle material is a mixture of nanoparticle constituents. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, tantalum, bismuth, lead, nickel, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture includes approximately:
 50-98 percent by weight of powdered tungsten;   1-49 percent by weight of powdered metal binder; and   1-49 percent by weight of nanoparticle material.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the powdered binder metal is selected from the group consisting of lead, molybdenum, tantalum, copper, aluminum, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from a group of reactive materials consisting of aluminum, zinc, niobium, magnesium, zirconium, titanium, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the mixture further comprises a lubricant. 
     
     
         8 . A method of penetrating a subterranean formation from a wellbore extending therethrough, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) positioning a plurality of shaped charges in the wellbore, each of the shaped charges having:
 a housing; 
 a quantity of high-explosive positioned in the housing; and 
 a liner positioned in the housing such that the quantity of high explosive is positioned between the housing and the liner, and wherein the liner is a rigid body made from a mixture of powdered metal, powdered metal binder, and a selected amount of nanoparticle material; 
   b) detonating the quantity of high explosive positioned in each shaped charge;   c) ejecting from each shaped charge at high velocity a jet made essentially of the liner; and   d) penetrating the formation, creating perforations extending into the formation.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticle material is a mixture of nanoparticle constituents. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, tantalum, bismuth, lead, nickel, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mixture includes approximately:
 50-98 percent by weight of powdered tungsten;   1-49 percent by weight of powdered metal binder;   1-49 percent by weight of nanoparticle material.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the powdered binder metal is selected from the group consisting of lead, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, copper, aluminum, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from a group of reactive nanoparticle materials consisting of aluminum, zinc, magnesium, zirconium, titanium, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticle material is a reactive nanoparticle material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: e) positioning a quantity of the reactive nanoparticle material in the perforations. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: f) reacting the reactive nanoparticle materials in the perforation with in situ fluid. 
     
     
         17 . A liner for a shaped-charge comprising:
 a mixture of powdered metal, powdered metal binder, and a selected amount of nanoparticles, the mixture compressively formed into a substantially conical rigid body.   
     
     
         18 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticle material is a mixture of nanoparticle constituents. 
     
     
         19 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, tantalum, bismuth, lead, nickel, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the mixture includes approximately:
 50-98 percent by weight of powdered tungsten;   1-49 percent by weight of powdered metal binder; and   1-49 percent by weight of nanoparticle material.   
     
     
         21 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the powdered binder metal is selected from the group consisting of lead, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, copper, aluminum, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from a group of reactive materials consisting of aluminum, niobium, zinc, magnesium, zirconium, titanium, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A shaped-charge comprising:
 a housing;   a quantity of high explosive positioned in the housing;   a liner positioned in the housing such that the quantity of high explosive is positioned between the housing and the liner, and wherein the liner is compressively formed into a substantially conical rigid body from a mixture of powdered metal, powdered metal binder, and a selected amount of nanoparticle material.   
     
     
         24 . The shaped-charge of  claim 23 , wherein the nanoparticle material is a mixture of nanoparticle constituents. 
     
     
         25 . The shaped-charge of  claim 23 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, tantalum, bismuth, lead, nickel, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The shaped-charge of  claim 23 , wherein the mixture includes approximately:
 50-98 percent by weight of powdered tungsten;   1-49 percent by weight of powdered metal binder; and   1-49 percent by weight of nanoparticle material.   
     
     
         27 . The shaped-charge of  claim 23 , wherein the powdered binder metal is selected from the group consisting of lead, molybdenum, tantalum, copper, aluminum, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The shaped-charge of  claim 23 , wherein the nanoparticle material is selected from a group of reactive materials consisting of aluminum, niobium, zinc, magnesium, zirconium, titanium, and any combination thereof.