Debris free perforating system

Abstract

The present invention provides a debris free perforating system. In one embodiment, the debris free perforating system includes a caseless shaped charge carried by a solid loading tube, such as Styrofoam™ or paper. The loading tube can additionally be combustible and can be coated with an oxidizer to ensure incineration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A debris free perforating system, comprising: 
 a caseless shaped charge having explosive material.    
     
     
         2 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 1 , wherein the caseless shaped charge is housed within a solid loading tube.  
     
     
         3 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 2 , wherein the solid loading tube is made from low density plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 2 , wherein the solid loading tube is made from Styrofoam™.  
     
     
         5 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 2 , wherein the solid loading tube is made from paper.  
     
     
         6 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive material further comprises inert heavy materials.  
     
     
         7 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 6 , wherein the inert heavy material is powdered metal.  
     
     
         8 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 7 , wherein the powdered metal is tungsten.  
     
     
         9 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 7 , wherein the powdered metal is selected from iron, copper, and lead.  
     
     
         10 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive material further comprises a thermoplastic binder.  
     
     
         11 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermoplastic binder is selected from Viton™, Kel-F-800, THV, Polyethylene, Nylon, and PVC.  
     
     
         12 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive material further comprises a thermosetting plastic binder.  
     
     
         13 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 12 , wherein the thermosetting plastic binder is selected from polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyimides, and epoxies.  
     
     
         14 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive material further comprises a thermoplastic-thermosetting polymer.  
     
     
         15 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermoplastic-thermosetting polymer is cured from a blend of Elvamide™ 8061 and an epoxy resin.  
     
     
         16 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermoplastic-thermosetting polymer is cured from a blend of Elvamide™ 8063 and an epoxy resin.  
     
     
         17 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the epoxy resin is Epon™ 828.  
     
     
         18 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermoplastic-thermosetting polymer is a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         19 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 18 , wherein the fluoropolymer is selected from Dupont Viton™, 3M Fluorel 2175, and Dyneon THV.  
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a thermoplastic-thermosetting polymeric binder for pressed or extrudable explosives, comprising: 
 blending Elvamide™ 8061 with a stoichiometric amount of epoxy resin;    curing the blend with a latent curing agent; and    coating explosive particles with the uncured blend.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein Elvamide™ 8063 is blended with the epoxy resin.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the epoxy resin is Epon™ 828.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the latent curing agent is Dicyandiamide.  
     
     
         24 . The method of claim of  claim 20 , wherein the blend is cured in an oven.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the explosive is coated with the cured blend in an amount of 2 to 10 percent by weight.  
     
     
         26 . A method of forming a fluoropolymer binder for pressed or extrudable explosives, comprising: 
 formulating a plastic bonded explosive using the water slurry process;    pressing the resulting explosive molding powder to shape; and    exposing the molded shape to electron radiation.    
     
     
         27 . A debris free perforating system, comprising: 
 a shaped charge having a jacket made from a combustible material; and    a case made from a combustible material.    
     
     
         28 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 27 , wherein the combustible material is plastic.  
     
     
         29 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 28 , wherein the plastic is selected from Nylon, PEEK, Polyimide, Polysulfone, PVC, CPVC, Polyethylene, Torlon™, PVDF, Teflon™, CTFE, CTFE/E, Polyethylene, Phenolic, and Polypropylene.  
     
     
         30 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 27 , wherein the combustible material is an energetic material.  
     
     
         31 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 27 , wherein the jacket comprises paper.  
     
     
         32 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 27 , wherein the combustible material further contains or is coated with an oxidizer.  
     
     
         33 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 32 , wherein the oxidizer is selected from ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, strontium nitrate, barium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, RDX, and HMX.  
     
     
         34 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 27 , wherein the jacket and case is made from thin metal.  
     
     
         35 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 34 , wherein the thin metal is copper.  
     
     
         36 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 34 , wherein the thin metal is glass.  
     
     
         37 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 34 , wherein the thin metal is ceramic material.  
     
     
         38 . A debris free perforating system, comprising: 
 a shaped charge; and    a combustible loading tube coated with an oxidizer.    
     
     
         39 . The debris free perforating system of  claim 38 , wherein the oxidizer is selected from ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, strontium nitrate, barium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, RDX, and HMX.  
     
     
         40 . A debris free perforating system, comprising: 
 a caseless shaped charge; and    a densified explosive.    
     
     
         41 . The debris free perforating system of claim  40 , wherein the densified explosive comprises an explosive blended with inert heavy materials.  
     
     
         42 . The debris free perforating system of claim  41 , wherein the inert heavy materials are powdered tungsten.