Total control perforator and system

A method of perforating a well pipe wall comprising the steps of:

• providing a perforating tool with an axially elongated central tube and a plurality of substantially equal length ribs;
• distributing said ribs substantially equally around a circumference of the central tube in substantially parallel alignment with said central tube;
• securing a plurality of shaped explosive charges along the length of each of said ribs, said shaped explosive charges aligned to discharge radially along an axis substantially normal to said central tube axis;
• providing a first linkage between said central tube element one end of said ribs, and a second linkage between said central tube and an opposite end of said ribs;
• providing a first displacement force from a resilient bias on said first linkage in a direction toward the second linkage, and providing a second displacement force from a resilient bias on said second linkage in a direction toward the first linkage, to automatically radially translate the parallel ribs out from a first position at a first radial distance from said central tube where said ribs are substantially parallel with said central tube to a second position at a second radial distance from said central tube that is greater than said first radial distance where said ribs remain substantially parallel with said central tube and engage inside walls of a well pipe;
• securing at least one stop on the central tube so that the at least one stop extends perpendicularly from the central tube, the at least one stop for preventing the ribs from contacting the central tube in the first position;
• suspending said perforating tool at the end of a suspension string within a well pipe;
• and
• discharging said shaped explosive charges to perforate said well pipe walls.

A method of perforating a well casing served by a riser tube of lesser inside diameter than said well casing, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a perforating tool having an axially elongated central tube and a plurality of parallel ribs positioned evenly around the circumference of the central tube;
• securing one or more shaped explosive charges along a length of each parallel rib for discharge along an axis substantially normal to said central tube axis;
• providing a first linkage to secure one end of each parallel rib to said central tube, and a second linkage to secure an opposite end of each parallel rib to said central tube;
• providing a first displacement force from a first resilient bias on said first linkage in a direction toward the second linkage, and a second displacement force from a second resilient bias on said second linkage in a direction toward the first linkage, for automatic translation of said parallel ribs radially out from a first position at a first radial distance from said central tube where said ribs are substantially parallel with said central tube to a second position at a second radial distance from said central tube that is greater than said first radial distance where said ribs remain substantially parallel with said central tube;
• securing at least one stop on the central tube so that the at least one stop extends perpendicularly from the central tube, the at least one stop for preventing the ribs from contacting the central tube in the first position;
• radially contracting said parallel ribs for descent of said perforating tool along a length of a riser tube;
• radially expanding said parallel ribs against the inside bore wall of a well casing served by said riser tube upon entry, by said perforating tool;
• and
• detonating one or more of said shaped explosive charges.