Perforating gun assembly and method of forming wellbore perforations

Abstract

A perforating gun assembly used to form perforations in a wellbore includes a charge carrier having a longitudinal axis, and multiple groups of shaped charges that are disposed on the charge carrier. Two or more of the shaped charges within each group are arranged to generate jets oriented substantially along respective axes that converge towards one another. Also, two or more of the groups of shaped charges overlap one another in a longitudinal direction of the charge carrier.

1 . A charge carrier for a perforating gun assembly, the charge carrier comprising:
 a substantially hollow tubular member having a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of apertures in the tubular member for accommodating a plurality of shaped charges, the apertures oriented with axes corresponding to the desired axes of their respective shaped charges;   wherein the plurality of apertures is configured to accommodate a plurality of groups of shaped charges disposed on the charge carrier, wherein at least two shaped charges within each group are arranged to generate jets oriented substantially along respective axes that converge towards one another and interact to form a perforation channel;   wherein the plurality of apertures is configured such that the at least two groups of shaped charges overlap one another in a longitudinal direction of the charge carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The charge carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures is configured to accommodate the at least two groups of shaped charges such that they are intermeshed or interlaced in a longitudinal direction of the charge carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The charge carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures comprises:
 a first group of apertures arranged over a first axial portion of the charge carrier for a first group of shaped charges;   and a second group of apertures arranged over a second axial portion of the charge carrier for a second group of shaped charges;   wherein the first and second axial portions overlap in a longitudinal direction of the charge carrier.   
     
     
         4 . The charge carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures is configured to accommodate a plurality of groups of shaped charges such that at least two groups of the plurality of groups of apertures are rotationally offset or phased around the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The charge carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures is configured to accommodate a plurality of groups of shaped charges such that one or both groups of the at least two groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges are arranged in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The charge carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of apertures is configured to accommodate a plurality of groups of shaped charges such that each group of shaped charges is arranged in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The charge carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the apertures or holes are laser cut. 
     
     
         8 . A method of forming the charge carrier of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing a substantially hollow tubular member; and   forming the plurality of apertures in the tubular member by machining the apertures in the substantially hollow tubular member.   
     
     
         9 . A method of forming the charge carrier of  claim 7 , the method comprising:
 providing a substantially hollow tubular member; and   forming the plurality of apertures in the tubular member by laser cutting the apertures in the substantially hollow tubular member.   
     
     
         10 . A perforating gun assembly comprising:
 a charge carrier having a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of groups of shaped charges disposed on the charge carrier, wherein at least two shaped charges within each group are arranged to generate jets oriented substantially along respective axes that converge towards one another and interact to form a perforation channel;   wherein at least two groups of shaped charges are intermeshed or interlaced in a longitudinal direction of the charge carrier.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least two groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges are rotationally offset or phased around the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein one or both of the at least two groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges are arranged in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the assembly comprises a collection comprising first and second groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges arranged to form first and second perforation channels, respectively, such that the first and second perforation channels are intersected by a plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wellbore, and wherein the first and second perforation channels are rotationally offset by 180 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the assembly comprises a collection comprising a first and a second group of the plurality of groups of shaped charges, arranged to form first and second perforation channels, respectively, such that the first and second perforation channels are intersected by a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wellbore, and wherein the first and second perforation channels are rotationally offset by 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least two groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges form a first collection, wherein at least two further groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges form a second collection, and wherein the at least two further groups of the second collection comprise at least two shaped charges arranged to generate jets oriented substantially along respective axes that converge towards one another and interact to form a perforation channel. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second collections of shaped charges are axially separated along the charge carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second collections of shaped charges are rotationally offset or phased around the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least two groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges are rotationally offset or phased around the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier;
 and wherein each group of shaped charges is arranged in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the charge carrier.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the assembly comprises a collection comprising first and second groups of the plurality of groups of shaped charges arranged to form first and second perforation channels, respectively, such that the first and second perforation channels are intersected by a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wellbore, and wherein the first and second perforation channels are rotationally offset from one another. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , configured such that the first and second perforation channels have first and second major diameters oriented substantially in the same plane.