Apparatus and method for perforating a subterranean formation
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJason Cook, Robert Albers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus are presented for perforating a subterranean formation so as to establish fluid communication between the formation and a wellbore by perforating a tubular with a mechanical perforator. The mechanical perforator comprises a perforator housing, a mandrel slidably positioned within the perforator housing, and at least one penetrator outwardly extendable from the perforator housing. When shifted axially the mandrel causes at least a portion of the at least one penetrator to extend outwardly from the perforator housing to perforate the tubular.
Claims14
A downhole perforator tool, comprising:
- a perforator housing having a central longitudinal axis and at least one opening,
- a mandrel slidably positioned within the perforator housing forming an annular space, wherein the mandrel includes a radially expanded portion, and
- at least one penetrator slidably attached to the mandrel such that the mandrel is capable of shifting along an axis parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the perforator housing, the at least one penetrator comprising a base, a punch member, and a connector that flexibly connects the base and the punch member, and radially outwardly extendable from the perforator housing through the at least one opening, wherein axially shifting the mandrel along the axis parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the perforator housing in a first direction causes at least a portion of the at least one penetrator to extend outwardly from the perforator housing and continuing to axially shift the mandrel in the first direction causes the at least one penetrator to retract into the perforator housing.
A method for perforating a tubular disposed within a wellbore comprising:
- providing in the wellbore a downhole perforator tool having a perforator housing, a mandrel slidably positioned within the perforator housing, and at least one penetrator slidably attached to the mandrel such that the mandrel is capable of shifting along an axis parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the perforator housing, the at least one penetrator radially outwardly extendable from the perforator housing;
- axially shifting the mandrel in a first direction along the axis parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the perforator housing causing extension of at least a portion of at least one penetrator outwardly from the perforator housing;
- perforating the tubular with the at least one penetrator comprising a base, a punch member, and a connector that flexibly connects the base and the punch member;
- and
- axially shifting the mandrel further in the first direction to retract the at least one penetrator into the perforator housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.