Perforating Gun Fabricated from Composite Metallic Material

Abstract

A perforating gun and method of manufacture is provided for downhole perforation operations in a wellbore. The perforating gun includes tubular components fabricated from a multi-layer metallic/intermetallic laminate material. For example, the perforating gun may include a tubular gun carrier and/or loading tube fabricated from a multi-layers of two different metals (e.g., iron and aluminum) bonded together to form an intermetallic laminate.

1 . Apparatus for use in a well, comprising: 
 a tubular housing for holding an explosive, the tubular housing being adapted to be deployed in the well;    wherein the housing includes at least two laminated layers of material.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a perforating gun carrier.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a perforating gun loading tube.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least two laminated layers are intermetallic layers.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two laminated layers comprise a metal and an intermetallic layer.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first metal layer consists of: iron, copper, nickel, titanium, vanadium, or any alloy thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second metal layer consists of: aluminum, or alloys of aluminum, or any other element that forms an ordered intermetallic compound with the first metal layer.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing is adapted to hold a plurality of shaped charges.  
   
   
       9 . A method for perforating a formation in a wellbore, comprising: 
 providing a perforating gun formed from at least two laminated layers;    deploying the perforating gun in the wellbore adjacent to the formation; and    firing the perforating gun.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a perforating gun comprises: forming the perforating gun from at least two laminated metallic-intermetallic layers.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one of the metallic-intermetallic layers consists of: iron, copper, nickel, titanium, vanadium, or any alloy thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein another of the metallic-intermetallic layers consists of: 
 aluminum, alloys of aluminum, or any other element that forms an ordered intermetallic compound with the metal of the first layer.    
   
   
       13 . A method of forming a perforating gun for perforating well formations, comprising: 
 wrapping alternating layers of a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer around a tubular structure to form a layered tube;    inserting the layered tube into a tubular die;    pressurizing the layered tube from within;    heating the tubular die to diffuse the layers of the layered tube together to form a laminate tube; and    cooling the laminate tube.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tubular structure is formed with at least two turns of the alternating layers to form the layered tube.