Grounding sabot and methods of use

Abstract

A sabot that includes a body configured to be partly received within a propellant chamber of a perf gun, and the body includes an interface configured to engage a projectile, a divider that defines part of the interface, an ignition pass through that extends through the divider, an ignition stack electrically connected to the ignition pass through, a ground terminal electrically connected to the ignition pass through, a deflector defined by the divider and having a cup-shaped configuration, and the deflector is configured to expand diametrically upon ignition of a propellant in the propellant chamber when the sabot is positioned within the propellant chamber, a gas valve configured and arranged to be actuated by expansion of the deflector, and a compensator positioned between the interface and the gas valve.

1 . A method, comprising:
 using a perf gun to create a perforation in one or more target materials in a wellbore by firing an assembly comprising a sabot within which a portion of a projectile is received, and, prior to the firing, the sabot is partly received within a propellant chamber defined by the perf gun.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the firing comprises using an ignition stack of the sabot to ignite a propellant in the propellant chamber, and ignition of the propellant causes generation of a gas. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a deflector of the sabot flexes upon ignition of a propellant in the propellant chamber and actuates a gas valve of the sabot. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the gas valve operates to control expansion of gas generated by ignition of a propellant in the propellant chamber, and to control flow of the gas into a compensator of the sabot. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the compensator prevents some of the gas from bypassing the sabot and the projectile. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the firing is performed using an electrical circuit that comprises the sabot and a ground terminal.