Loaded perforating gun with plunging charge assembly and method of using same

A downhole perforating tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the downhole perforating tool comprising:

• a tool housing;
• and
• a loaded perforating gun positionable about the tool housing, the loaded perforating gun comprising:
• a gun housing;
• a detonator assembly positioned in the gun housing, the detonator assembly comprising a detonator and a detonation switch;
• and
• a plunging charge assembly positioned in the gun housing, the plunging charge assembly comprising:
• a charge tube,
• a shaped charge supported in the charge tube, and
• a plunger comprising a receiving cap and a detonator cord, the receiving cap connected to the charge tube, the detonator cord supported in the receiving cap, the shaped charge operatively connected to the detonator cord;
• wherein the plunging charge assembly is selectively movable between a disarmed position with the detonator cord disconnected from the detonator assembly and an armed position with the detonator cord operatively connected to the detonator of the detonator assembly whereby the detonator can selectively pass a detonation signal to the shaped charge;
• and
• wherein the plunger further comprises a compression mechanism.

A method of assembling a downhole perforating gun, comprising:

• positioning a plunging charge assembly and a detonator assembly in a tool housing;
• connecting a detonation cord between a plunger of the plunging charge assembly and a shaped charge in the plunging charge assembly;
• and
• selectively arming the detonator assembly by selectively moving the plunging charge assembly between a disarmed position with the detonator cord disconnected from a detonator in the detonator assembly and an armed position with the detonator cord connected to the detonator;
• wherein the selectively arming the detonator comprises shifting the plunging charge assembly to the disarmed position such that the detonator is isolated from the plunging charge assembly.

A method of perforating a wellbore, comprising:

• providing a loaded perforating gun comprising a gun housing with a plunging charge assembly and a detonator assembly therein, the detonator assembly comprising a detonator;
• shifting the plunging charge assembly to a disarmed position such that the detonator is isolated from the plunging charge assembly;
• selectively moving the plunging charge assembly from the disarmed position to an armed position such that, in the armed position, a detonator cord in the plunging charge assembly is connected to a shaped charge in the plunging charge assembly and to a detonator in the detonator assembly;
• positioning the loaded perforating gun in the wellbore with the plunging charge assembly in the armed position;
• and
• while the plunging charge assembly is in the armed position, detonating the shaped charge by sending a detonation signal from the detonator and to the shaped charge via the detonator cord.

A loaded perforating gun positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the loaded perforating gun comprising:

• a gun housing;
• a detonator assembly positioned in the gun housing, the detonator assembly comprising a detonator and a detonation switch;
• and
• a plunging charge assembly positioned in the gun housing, the plunging charge assembly comprising:
• a charge tube,
• a shaped charge supported in the charge tube, and
• a plunger comprising a receiving cap and a detonator cord, the receiving cap connected to the charge tube, the detonator cord supported in the receiving cap, the shaped charge operatively connected to the detonator cord;
• wherein the plunging charge assembly is selectively movable between a disarmed position with the detonator cord disconnected from the detonator assembly and an armed position with the detonator cord operatively connected to the detonator of the detonator assembly whereby the detonator can selectively pass a detonation signal to the shaped charge;
• and
• wherein the detonator assembly further comprises a detonator housing and a detonator nose, the detonator supported in the detonator housing and the detonator nose.

A downhole perforating tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the downhole perforating tool comprising:

• a tool housing;
• and
• a loaded perforating gun positionable about the tool housing, the loaded perforating gun comprising:
• a gun housing;
• a detonator assembly positioned in the gun housing, the detonator assembly comprising a detonator and a detonation switch;
• and
• a plunging charge assembly positioned in the gun housing, the plunging charge assembly comprising:
• a charge tube,
• a shaped charge supported in the charge tube, and
• a plunger comprising a receiving cap and a detonator cord, the receiving cap connected to the charge tube, the detonator cord supported in the receiving cap, the shaped charge operatively connected to the detonator cord;
• wherein the plunging charge assembly is selectively movable between a disarmed position with the detonator cord disconnected from the detonator assembly and an armed position with the detonator cord operatively connected to the detonator of the detonator assembly whereby the detonator can selectively pass a detonation signal to the shaped charge;
• and
• wherein the detonator assembly further comprises a detonator housing and a detonator nose, the detonator supported in the detonator housing and the detonator nose.