Kinetic energy perforating round assembly and methods of use

Abstract

An assembly suitable for use in downhole operations including frac'ing. The assembly includes a sabot that includes an ignition stack, and a projectile partially received within the sabot, and the projectile includes an electrical contact in electrical communication with the ignition stack. The assembly may be received in a dispensing device that includes a propellant chamber and a barrel, and the assembly may be positioned in the dispensing device so that the ignition stack extends partway into the propellant chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly suitable for use in downhole operations including hydraulic fracture stimulations, comprising:
 a sabot comprising an ignition stack; and   a projectile partially received within the sabot, and the projectile comprising an electrical contact in electrical communication with the ignition stack.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein after firing of the projectile, a portion of the sabot is reusable for firing of another projectile. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sabot comprises an annular interface surface that conforms to a shape of a portion of the projectile. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the projectile comprises a crown configuration disposed about a circumference of the projectile. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ignition stack is electrically grounded to a terminal of the sabot. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the projectile comprises a kinetic energy perforating round (KEPR). 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier in which the sabot and the projectile are configured to be received. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the carrier comprises a propellant chamber configured to receive a portion of the sabot so that an ignitor of the ignition stack extends into the propellant chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the carrier comprises a barrel in which the projectile and sabot are configured to be partly received. 
     
     
         10 . A method for performing a perforation operation in a downhole environment, comprising:
 positioning an assembly in a downhole environment, and the assembly comprises a sabot and a projectile that contacts the sabot;   using an ignition stack of the sabot to ignite a propellant carried by the assembly; and   propelling the projectile through a target, using a propellant gas generated by ignition of the propellant, so that the projectile creates a perforation in the target.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein when a fluid passes through the perforation, a structure of the perforation induces, in the fluid, any one or more of: laminar flow;
 turbulent flow; and/or transition flow.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the target comprises a well casing. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the projectile passes partway into one or more other materials beyond the target, and the one or more other materials comprises one or both of cement, and a formation. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the target exhibits a crown and valley configuration adjacent to the perforation. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the sabot is reused to fire another projectile. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the perforation has a uniform depth in the target. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the ignition stack ignites the propellant in response to an electrical current applied to a contact point of the projectile that is in electrical communication with the ignition stack. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the sabot and projectile remain connected to each other after the projectile has been fired. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the sabot is positioned in the perforation after the projectile has been fired. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the projectile creates a jet nozzle in the target as the projectile passes through the target.