Shaped charge perforation gun with phasing alignment and related equipment and methods

A perforating gun for deployment in a wellbore extending within an underground reservoir, comprising:

• a shaped charge holding assembly, comprising:
• shaped charge holders that are arranged in a side-to-side configuration and wherein at least some adjacent pairs of the shaped charge holders are infinitely rotatable with respect to each other in a rotation state;
• a mounting unit coupled to the holding assembly;
• and
• an alignment system comprising:
• alignment connectors securable with respect to respective shaped charge holders or shaped charges;
• an alignment member comprising:
• a mounting section configured to be mounted with respect to the mounting unit to secure the alignment member with respect thereto;
• and
• an elongated alignment section extending from the mounting section along the holding assembly and configured to secure the shaped charges via the alignment connectors to orient the shaped charges in a predetermined phasing in an aligned state.

A shaped charge holder, comprising:

• an annular body comprising a first open end for receiving a shaped charge therein, and a second opening through which an end of the shaped charge can pass for connection with a detonation cord;
• a first coupling component extending from a first side of the annular body;
• and
• a second coupling component extending from a second side of the annular body,
• wherein the first coupling component and the second coupling component are configured such that adjacent shaped charge holders are rotatably connectable together by engagement of the first and second coupling components to provide infinite rotation with respect to each other about a longitudinal axis.

A method for manufacturing a perforating gun, comprising:

• mounting a series of shaped charge holders together so as to be rotatable with respect to each other;
• mounting shaped charges within the holders;
• aligning the shaped charges in a predetermined phasing, comprising:
• rotating the holders to respective positions;
• and
• securing the adjacent shaped charges so as to be nonrotatable to produce a phased shaped charge assembly;
• and
• installing the phased shaped charge assembly in a carrier.