The Classification of Shaped Charge Perforators

The technology of shaped charge perforating originated from 1946-1948 and it evolved from anti armor weapons. The technology of shaped charge perforating refers to the combination of shaped charge and other components to perforate the formation. The key unit of this technology is shaped charge. The shaped charge consists of three basic parts: shell, explosive and liner. There are five kinds of explosives used in perforating charge, such as RDX (RDX), HMX (Octogen), HNS (hexanitrodi), pyx (piwick), Acot (tacot). The shaped charge is perforated by the effect of shaped charge. The effect of energy accumulation is to improve the effect of charge on the local destruction of the medium in front of the cavity by using the cone or parabolic holes at one end of the charge.

1. Shaped charge perforator

The shaped charge perforator is a kind of perforator which uses the shaped charge jet with high temperature, high pressure and high speed produced by the shaped charge effect of explosive detonation to complete the perforating operation. According to its structure, it can be divided into two types: the perforator with gun body and the perforator without gun body.

(1) The shaped perforator with body is a perforating assembly composed of shaped perforator, sealed steel pipe (perforating gun), ammunition frame, detonation transmission parts (or devices) and other parts.

(2) The perforator without gun body is composed of perforator gun without body, bullet frame (or unsealed steel pipe), detonation transmission parts (or devices), etc.  

The performance of the shaped charge perforator is directly related to the effect of perforating and the influence and damage to the downhole environment after perforating. Therefore, the perforator is generally evaluated by penetration performance (including penetration depth and hole diameter), perforator deformation (external diameter expansion, crack, etc.), casing damage (external diameter expansion, internal burr height, crack).

2. Classification of shaped charge perforators without body

(1) The main features of steel wire frame type of shaped charge perforators

The spring frame is two thick straight steel wires or formed steel wires, 0°or 180°.This kind of shaped charged perforator can be used in open hole or through tubing perforation, and it is more suitable for thin layer perforation.

(2) The main features of steel plate type of shaped charge perforators

Main features: The spring frame is made of strip steel sheet. It is suitable to 0 degree , 90 degrees and 180 degrees or phase perforation.

(3) The main features of linked type of shaped charge perforators

Main features: The perforating charges are made of aluminum alloy shell. The upper and lower ends of the shell form male and female joints respectively, so as to form a string of charges after stopping the series connection. The perforating charges form a perforator together with the head and tail parts. The weighting device shall be connected at the upper part of the gun when running in the well, otherwise it is impossible to run in the well. This kind of perforator has poor overall strength and will form larger and more fragments after perforating. It belongs to "total destruction" perforator, and its damage to casing is more serious than other types. There are many changes in perforation phase density, which can be selected.

Vigor perforating guns are crafted to meet the highest industry standards through rigorous design, manufacturing, testing, and inspection processes. We are eager to partner with you to advance the oil and gas industry. For top-quality perforating guns, drilling, and completion logging equipment, please reach out to us for exceptional product support and personalized service.

For more information, you can write to our mailbox info@vigorpetroleum.com &marketing@vigordrilling.com