Shaped charge liner to reduce hydraulic induced erosion on perforating holes

Abstract

A liner for a shaped charge is formed from a powder blend and dimensioned for forming a perforating jet to create a hole in a target in response to detonation of an explosive. The powder blend includes an erosion resistant material. The erosion resistant material is a powdered carbide material, a powdered nitride material, or a cobalt powder material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 559,704 filed Feb. 29, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 616,236 filed Dec. 29, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to shaped charges and, more specifically, liners for shaped charges used in perforating guns utilized in hydraulic fracturing.

[0003] Hydraulic fracturing is a commonly-used method for extracting oil and gas from geological hydrocarbon bearing formations such as shale and other tight-rock formations. Hydraulic fracturing is known to be a time-consuming and labor-intensive operation, which involves deploying explosive shaped charges into a wellbore and perforating the hydrocarbon formation and pumping high-pressure fracturing fluids into the wellbore and the perforations, to liberate the trapped hydrocarbons, e.g., natural gas.

[0004] Shaped charges are commonly used to enable hydraulic fracturing in highly horizontal wells in so called “plug-and-perf” operations. To fracture the rocks in the reservoir, the horizontal wellbore is divided into sections or stages, which are individually and sequentially perforated and fractured. To do so, each stage is pressure isolated and perforated starting from a toe section, i.e., the section farthest from the surface, and moving uphole with each stage being closer to the surface. Each stage of the wellbore is pressure isolated from previous downhole stages using a plug that is set in the wellbore to create a fluid and pressure seal at each interval between stages. Plug-and-perf operations are typically done by pumping the required plugs, perforating guns, and other wellbore tools down the wellbore as part of an interconnected tool string. The tool string is typically attached to a wireline that is controlled at the surface of the wellbore. The tool string typically includes several perforating guns, a setting tool for setting a plug, and a plug. The perforating guns are usually cylindrical and include a detonating cord arranged within the interior of the assembly and connected to shaped charges, hollow charges, or perforators disposed therein. Shaped charges are explosive components configured to focus ballistic energy onto a target. When the detonating cord initiates the explosive load within the shaped charge, a liner, and / or other materials within the shaped charge are collapsed and propelled out of the shaped charge in a perforating jet of thermal energy and solid material. In particular, the shaped charges may be used for, among other things, any or all of generating holes in downhole pipe / tubing (such as a steel casing) to gain access to an oil / gas deposit formation and to create flow paths for fluids used to clean and / or seal off a well and perforating the oil / gas deposit formation to liberate the oil / gas from the formation. The shaped charges may be designed such that the physical force, heat, and / or pressure of the perforating jet, expelled materials, and shaped charge explosion will perforate or form entrance openings / holes in the target, which may include, among other things, steel, concrete, and geological formations.

[0005] The size, shape, and consistency of the perforations formed in the wellbore may be important factors for the operational efficiency of plug-and-perf methods, and can help provide necessary information so that operators and developers can adjust the parameters of the hydraulic fracturing after perforation. The perforation itself acts like an orifice between the wellbore interior and the rock formation, through a steel wellbore casing and cement layer that are installed to line the well after drilling. As the diameter of the perforation hole is much smaller than the inner diameter of the wellbore casing, a pressure drop can be observed as fluid flows across the perforation hole. The pressure drop is strongly dependent on the diameter of the perforation hole. Keeping the diameter of the perforation hole constant during the complete fracturing process can help avoid variation in pressure and flow rates through the perforation hole, and thereby reduce the chance of uneven fracture growth between different fractures.

[0006] After the perforating step, fluids are pumped from the surface downhole to fracture the rock using high hydraulic pressure which exceeds the strength of the rock as well as the local minimal stress in the formation. In some cases, fracturing includes pumping a clean fluid, referred to as pre-pad or pad fluid, first and later pumping a slurry fluid, which contains coarse sand grains. These sand grains are pushed into the open fracture and intentionally keep the fracture open when the hydraulic pressure is reduced. However, the sand grains in the slurry fluid constantly act as an abrasive against the edge of perforation holes in the wellbore casing and slowly erode the hole, which leads to an increase in the hole diameter and hence to an increase in flow rate or decrease in flow pressure.

[0007] Accordingly, a shaped charge that increases the wear resistance of perforation holes in wellbore casing would be beneficial. In addition, a perforating gun system and an associated method that creates perforation holes having an erosion resistant surface would be beneficial.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0008] In an aspect of the disclosure, a liner for a shaped charge may include an apex portion and a skirt portion extending outwardly from the apex portion. The liner may be dimensioned for forming a perforating jet in response to initiation of the shaped charge to create a hole in a target and may be formed from a powder blend including an erosion resistant metal powder.

[0009] In another aspect of the disclosure, a shaped charge for reducing erosion of perforation holes may include a shell, an explosive positioned within the shell, and a liner positioned within the shell. The liner may be formed from a powder blend and may be dimensioned for forming a perforating jet to create a hole in a target in response to detonation of the explosive. The powder blend may include an erosion resistant metal powder.

[0010] In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for reducing erosion of perforation holes may include providing a shaped charge, wherein the shaped charge includes a shell and a liner and an explosive positioned within the shell. The liner may be formed from a powder blend including an erosion resistant material and may be dimensioned for forming a perforating jet in response to detonation of the explosive. The method further includes deploying the shaped charge in a wellbore, detonating the explosive, creating a hole in a target with the perforating jet, and depositing the erosion resistant material around and within the hole.

[0011] In an aspect of the present disclosure, a liner for a shaped charge includes an apex portion and a skirt portion. The skirt portion extends outwardly from the apex portion. The liner is formed from a powder blend. The powder blend includes an erosion resistant material. The erosion resistant material is a powdered carbide material, a powdered nitride material, or a cobalt powder material.

[0012] In an aspect, the erosion resistant material is powdered tungsten carbide.

[0013] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a liner for a shaped charge includes a liner body and a powder blend forming the liner body. The powder blend includes an erosion resistant material. The erosion resistant material is a powdered carbide material, a powdered nitride material, or a cobalt powder material. The powder blend is configured to deposit the erosion resistant material around and within a perforation hole formed by the shaped charge in response to detonation of the shaped charge.

[0014] In aspects, the powder blend includes a binder configured to retain a shape of the liner body. The powder blend may include a binder configured to increase deposition of the erosion resistant material around and within the perforation hole in response to detonation of the shaped charge. The binder may be a mixture of powdered aluminum and powdered nickel.

[0015] In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a liner for a shaped charge as shown and described herein.

[0016] In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing a liner for a shaped charge as shown and described herein.

[0017] In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of using a shaped charge liner as shown and described herein.

[0018] In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a shaped charge system as shown and described herein.

[0019] Further, to the extent consistent, any of the embodiments or aspects described herein may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other embodiments or aspects described herein.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Devices, systems, and methods for perforating, among other things, wellbore structures and oil and gas deposit formations are generally disclosed.

[0021] A more particular description will be rendered by reference to exemplary embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Understanding that these drawings depict example embodiments and do not limit the scope of this disclosure, the exemplary embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective cutaway view of a shaped charge in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a conical shaped liner in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a hemispherical shaped liner in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a trumpet shaped liner in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a perforation hole formed using a liner in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a top view of perforation hole formed using a liner in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a top view of a perforation hole formed using a conventional liner; and

[0029] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of forming a shaped charge liner in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation and does not constitute a definition of all possible embodiments.

[0031] Embodiments described herein relate generally to perforating gun assemblies, shaped charges for use with perforating gun assemblies, shaped charge liners for use with shaped charges, and methods for creating perforations including a halo in a wellbore. For purposes of this disclosure, the phrases “devices,”“systems,” and “methods” may be used either individually or in any combination referring without limitation to disclosed components, grouping, arrangements, steps, functions, or processes.

[0032] For purposes of illustrating features of the embodiments, exemplary embodiments are introduced and referenced throughout the disclosure. Features from one embodiment or aspect can be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments can be applied to apparatus, product, or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa. The disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,”“the,” and the like include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, while reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise stated, any one or more if not all of these may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to manufacturing or engineering tolerances or the like.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 1, a shaped charge 200 is provided in accordance with the present disclosure. The shaped charge 200 includes a shell 210 that defines a cavity 220. An explosive load 230 may be positioned within the cavity 220. The shaped charge 200 includes a shaped charged liner 100 that is disposed within the cavity 220 with the explosive load 230 positioned at least partially between the shell 210 and the liner 100. The liner 100 may be disposed in the shaped charge 200 such that it extends across the full diameter of the cavity 220 to completely cover the explosive load 230 within the shell 210. Alternatively, the liner 100 may extend only partially across the diameter of the cavity 220, such that it does not completely cover the explosive load 230.

[0034] The shell 210 defines an ignition channel 222 in ballistic communication with the cavity 220 and receives a detonation device (not shown). The detonation device may be a piece of detonation cord to initiate the detonation of the explosive load 230. In some embodiments, the explosive load 230 includes at least one of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine / cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX), 2,6-Bis(picrylamino)-3,5-dinitropyridine / picrylaminodinitropyridin (PYX), hexanitrostibane (HNS), and triaminotrinitrobenzol (TATB). In certain embodiments, the explosive load 230 includes at least one of hexanitrostibane (HNS) and diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105). In certain embodiments, the explosive load 230 may include a mixture of PYX and TATB.

[0035] The liner 100 is formed of a composition having a powder blend 130. The powder blend 130 may be a composition of various powdered metallic, non-metallic, metal alloys, and / or binders. The powder blend 130 includes at least one erosion resistant material 101 (FIGS. 5 and 6) such as carbide powders or nitride powders. Powdered carbide may include tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, boron carbide, or any other carbide material. Powdered nitride may include titanium nitride, silicone nitride, cubic boron nitride, or any other suitable nitride material. The powder blend 130 may be formed by any powder production techniques such as grinding, crushing, atomization, or various chemical reactions. The powder blend 130 may have a grain size in the range of 50 micrometers to 300 micrometers. In some embodiments, a grain size may be in the range of 10 μm to 150 μm. In some embodiments, the powder blend 130 may have a uniform grain size. In certain embodiments, the powder blend 130 may have varying grain sizes. The grain sizes may vary within the same material or may vary from material to material. For example, the powder blend 130 may include aluminum powder having a grain size of 100 micrometers and tungsten carbide powder having a grain size of 50 micrometers.

[0036] The composition may further include a binder and / or a lubricant that aids with enhancing the producibility and the homogeneity of the composition of the liner 100. The binder or the lubricant may be a powder or may be liquid. In various embodiments, the binder or the lubricant may serve as a carrier agent that facilitates the homogeneity of the composition of the liner 100. In some embodiments, the binder may aid shape retention of the liner 100, e.g., a cone shape, to resist deformation, flaking, or breakage of the liner 100 after formation. The binder may include a polymer resin, polymer powder, wax, a mixture of aluminum and nickel, or graphite. Other binders may include soft metals such as lead or copper. The binder may be in a powdered form. In some embodiments, the binder is an oil-based material. The lubricant may enhance processability of the powder blend 130 in the composition. The lubricant may help to hold down one or more of the powders in the powder blend 130 of the composition during mixing of the powder blend 130 to reduce the risk of powder loss due to fineness or low granularity. Addition of the lubricant to hold down the powder blend 130 during mixing and formation of the liner 100 may reduce the chance of contamination of the work environment and / or may lower the risk of inhalation of the powder blend 130 by workers. The lubricant may be powdered graphite. In embodiments, lubricant may be an oil-based lubricant that may prevent oxidation of the liner 100. The oil may be uniformly intermixed with each of the powder blend 130 and the graphite powder. The oil may aid with thorough blending / mixing when the powder blend 130 having varying ranges in grain size such that each powder forming the powder blend 130 is uniformly distributed throughout the composition.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the liner 100 may be formed in a variety of shapes. For example, the liner 100 may be a conical shaped liner 100′ (FIG. 2), a hemispherical or bowl-shaped liner 100″ (FIG. 3), or a trumpet shaped liner 100″ (FIG. 4). The liner 100 has an apex portion 110 and a skirt portion 122 extending from the apex portion 110. The skirt portion 122 terminates at a perimeter portion 124 spaced apart from the apex portion 110. The perimeter portion 124 may be in physical communication with the shell 210 when installed in the shaped charge 200. Collectively the apex portion 110, the skirt portion 122, and the perimeter portion 124 form a liner body 120. In exemplary embodiments and without limitation, the liner 100 may have a thickness T in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The thickness T may be uniform along a liner length L. In some embodiments, the thickness T varies along the liner length L. For example, the thickness T may be thicker closer to the perimeter portion 124 and thinner closer to the apex portion 110 or vice versa. In some embodiments, the thickness T may be greater in the middle of the liner length L and thinner near the apex portion 110 and the perimeter portion 124. In an aspect, the liner 100 may include multiple discrete layers (not shown).

[0038] With reference to FIG. 5, the liner 100 is configured to increase the erosion resistance of a perforation hole 420 defined in the wall of a wellbore casing 400. Upon detonation of the shaped charge 200 to form the perforation hole 420, the erosion resistant material 101 is deposited around and within the perforation hole 420. The erosion resistant material 101 may have a hardness greater than a hardness of the wellbore casing 400. For example, the erosion resistant material 101 may be tungsten carbide, which has a relatively high hardness compared to that of the wellbore casing 400 made of steel. When high pressure fracturing fluids, clean fluids or slurry fluids, are pumped through the perforation hole 420 the erosion resistant material 101 deposited by the detonation of the shaped charge 200 reduces the rate of erosion of the wellbore casing 400 to maintain a diameter D (FIG. 6) of the perforation hole 420. Maintaining the diameter D of the perforation hole 420 helps to maintain constant flow rates and pressures during hydraulic fracturing.

[0039] With additional reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a comparison between a perforation hole 420 formed with a shaped charge having a conical shaped liner 100′ including an erosion resistant material 101 (FIG. 6) and a perforation hole formed with a shaped charge having a conventional conical shaped liner that does not includes an erosion resistant material (FIG. 7) is shown. The erosion resistant material 101 is deposited on the wellbore casing 400 around the perforation hole 420. The deposition of the erosion resistant material 101 in the perforation hole 420 is apparent as buildup around the entrance of the perforation hole 420 when compared to a perforation hole formed with a conventional liner. In some embodiments, a portion of the erosion resistant material 101 passes entirely through the wellbore casing 400 and is additionally deposited within the geological formation.

[0040] In particular embodiments, the powder blend 130 includes a binder that is mixture of aluminum and nickel alongside the erosion resistant material 101, e.g., powdered tungsten carbide. The aluminum-nickel mixture may be powdered aluminum and powdered nickel added to the powder blend 130 during mixing. In some embodiments, the aluminum-nickel mixture is a nickel aluminide material, e.g., Ni3Al or NiAl. During detonation of the shaped charge 200, an exothermic reaction occurs between the aluminum, the nickel, and the tungsten carbide that enhances the buildup of tungsten carbide around and within the perforation hole 420. The enhanced buildup of tungsten carbide may additionally improve the erosion resistant properties of the perforation hole 420 formed through the use of the liner 100.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 8, an exemplary method 1000 of forming the liner 100 is described in accordance with the present disclosure with reference to the liner 100 of FIGS. 1-4. The method 1000 includes mixing a composition of powders to form the powder blend 130 (Step 1100). The powder blend 130 may include any of the compositions described hereinabove. For example, the powder blend 130 may include tungsten carbide, aluminum, and nickel. A mixer may be used to thoroughly mix the powders forming the powder blend 130, and may, without limitation, mix the powders at a speed in the range of 2 revolutions / second (revs / sec) to 4,000 revs / see, e.g., 2,000 revs / sec. The powder blend 130 may be formed into a desired liner shape, such as a conical shape 100′, a hemispherical or bowl-shape 100″, or a trumpet shape 100″ (Step 1200). The liner shape may be formed by compressing the powder blend 130 using, without limitation, a force less than or equal to 1,500 kN. It is contemplated that providing a hard surface coating on the liner manufacturing tooling compressing the powder blend 130 may improve the production process for the liner 100 by increasing wear resistance and extending the lifespan of the tool. Such hard surface coating may include a Tin-Nickel coating or a diamond coating. The liner formation process may be aided by the fact the carbide or nitride materials are in a powder form and mixed into the powder blend 130. Mixing the carbide or nitride material into the powder blend 130 may further reduce tool wear during manufacturing, as opposed to having a carbide or nitride layer or coating disposed on top of the liner 100. The binder or the lubricant mixed into the powder blend may act as a buffer between the tooling and the liner 100 to reduce tool wear as a result of the hardness of carbide and nitride materials.

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment, the liner 100 is heated such that the powder blend 130 forming the liner 100 is sintered together (Step 1300). During sintering the liner 100 is heated to increase adhesion between individual powder grains to retain the shape of the liner 100, but not to the point of liquefaction of the grains of powder forming the liner 100. The liner 100 may be heated, without limitation, to temperatures in the range of 50%-80% of the melting temperature of the materials making up the powder blend 130. The sintering temperature may be based on the material in the powder blend 130 having the lowest melting temperature. For example, the liner 100 may include graphite, having a melting point of 3600° C., as a binder and tungsten carbide, having a melting point of 2870° C., as the erosion resistant material 101. In such embodiments, the sintering temperature may be based on the melting temperature of the tungsten carbide and may be in the range of 1350° C.-2160° C. Sintering may last for a duration of time long enough to heat the liner 100 to a uninform temperature, e.g., 1 hour-4 hours. Sintering the powder blend 130 may be in addition or in lieu of a binder added to the powder blend 130. The production tool that compresses the powder blend 130 to shape and form the liner 100 may be heated to contemporaneously sinter the powder during shaping of the liner 100. In embodiments, the liner 100 may be heated after formation to sinter the powder blend 130. In some embodiments, heat for sintering may be provided by friction between the tooling and the powder blend 130 during formation of the liner 100.

[0043] The liner 100 of the shaped charge 200 may be formed to a desired shape prior to being installed within the shell 210. In embodiments, the liner 100 is pre-pressed to its desired shape, and thereafter installed in the shell 210 by being installed over the explosive load 230 to form the shaped charge 200. The liner 100 may be installed manually or by an automated machine, or any techniques consistent with this disclosure.

[0044] Once assembled, the shaped charge 200 may be loaded into a shaped charge system. The shaped charge system may be a perforating gun for carrying and detonating the shaped charge 200 downhole within a wellbore. In certain embodiments, the shaped charge system may include more than one perforating gun. The shaped charge system may include a plurality of the shaped charges 200. For example, the shaped charge system may include one, two, three, four, five, or more than five shaped charges 200. The shaped charge system may include components for selectively detonating the one or more perforating guns including shaped charges 200.

[0045] Although the method steps are described in a specific order, it should be understood that other steps may be performed in between described steps, described steps may be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times, or the described steps may occur in any order unless otherwise specified.

[0046] This disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems, and / or apparatuses as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. This disclosure contemplates, in various embodiments, configurations and aspects, the actual or optional use or inclusion of, e.g., components or processes as may be well-known or understood in the art and consistent with this disclosure though not depicted and / or described herein.

[0047] The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and / or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and / or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

[0048] In this specification and the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The terms “a” (or “an”) and “the” refer to one or more of that entity, thereby including plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an embodiment” and the like are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Terms such as “first,”“second,”“upper,”“lower” etc. are used to identify one element from another, and unless otherwise specified are not meant to refer to a particular order or number of elements.

[0049] As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and / or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”

[0050] As used in the claims, the word “comprises” and its grammatical variants logically also subtend and include phrases of varying and differing extent such as for example, but not limited thereto, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.” Where necessary, ranges have been supplied, and those ranges are inclusive of all sub-ranges therebetween. It is to be expected that the appended claims should cover variations in the ranges except where this disclosure makes clear the use of a particular range in certain embodiments.

[0051] The terms “determine”, “calculate” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.

[0052] This disclosure is presented for purposes of illustration and description. This disclosure is not limited to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the Detailed Description of this disclosure, for exemplary, various features of some exemplary embodiments are grouped together to representatively describe those and other contemplated embodiments, configurations, and aspects, to the extent that including in this disclosure a description of every potential embodiment, variant, and combination of features is not feasible. Thus, the features of the disclosed embodiments, configurations, and aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, and aspects not expressly discussed above. For example, the features recited in the following claims lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this disclosure.

[0053] Advances in science and technology may provide variations that are not necessarily express in the terminology of this disclosure although the claims would not necessarily exclude these variations.

Claims

1. A liner for a shaped charge, the liner comprising:an apex portion; anda skirt portion extending outwardly from the apex portion, the liner dimensioned for forming a perforating jet in response to initiation of the shaped charge to create a hole in a target, whereinthe liner is formed from a powder blend including an erosion resistant metal powder.

2. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the erosion resistant metal powder is a carbide material, a nitride material, or a cobalt material.

3. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the erosion resistant metal powder is tungsten carbide.

4. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the powder blend further includes a binder.

5. The liner according to claim 4, wherein the binder includes a mixture of powdered aluminum and powdered nickel.

6. The liner according to claim 4, wherein the binder includes a polymer material.

7. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the liner is conically shaped.

8. The liner according to claim 1, wherein the powder blend further includes a lubricant.

9. A shaped charge for reducing erosion of perforation holes, comprising:a shell;an explosive positioned within the shell; anda liner positioned within the shell, wherein the liner is formed from a powder blend and is dimensioned for forming a perforating jet to create a hole in a target in response to detonation of the explosive and the powder blend includes an erosion resistant metal powder.

10. The shaped charge according to claim 9, wherein the erosion resistant metal powder is a carbide material, a nitride material, or a cobalt material.

11. The shaped charge according to claim 9, wherein the erosion resistant metal powder is tungsten carbide.

12. The shaped charge according to claim 9, wherein the powder blend further includes a binder.

13. The shaped charge according to claim 12, wherein the binder includes at least one of powdered aluminum, powdered nickel, a polymer material, and graphite.

14. The shaped charge according to claim 9, wherein the liner is conically shaped.

15. The shaped charge according to claim 9, wherein the powder blend further includes a lubricant.

16. The shaped charge according to claim 9, wherein the liner is configured for depositing the erosion resistant material around and within the hole.

17. A method for reducing erosion of perforation holes, comprising:providing a shaped charge, wherein the shaped charge includes a shell and a liner and an explosive positioned within the shell, wherein the liner is formed from a powder blend including an erosion resistant material and is dimensioned for forming a perforating jet in response to detonation of the explosive;deploying the shaped charge in a wellbore;detonating the explosive;creating a first hole in a first target with the perforating jet; anddepositing the erosion resistant material around and within the hole.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the erosion resistant material includes a powdered carbide material, a powdered nitride material, or a cobalt powder material.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first target is a wellbore casing.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising creating a second hole with the perforating jet in a geological formation surrounding the wellbore casing; anddepositing the erosion resistant material within the second hole.

Images