Methods for perforating an earth formation

Claim 1

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth formations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: perforating a first surface of the well bore for producing a first perforation extending into the earth formations; and, thereafter, perforating a second surface of the well bore to produce a second perforation in the earth formations having a portion thereof contiguous with and substantially parallel a portion of said first perforation for displacing disrupted formation materials from between said contiguous portions into said first perforation.

Claim 2

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth formations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: perforating a first surface of the well bore for producing a first perforation extending into the earth formations; and, thereafter, perforating a second surface of the well bore to produce a second perforation in the earth formations having a portion thereof contiguous with and substantially parallel a portion of said first perforation for displacing disrupted formation materials from between said contiguous portions into said first perforation.

Claim 4

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth formations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: perforating a first surface of the well bore for producing a first perforation extending into the earth formation and surrounded by an envelope of compacted crushed formation materials; and, thereafter, perforating a second surface of the well bore to produce a second perforation substantially parallel to said first perforation extending at least partially into said envelope of compacted formation materials for displacing at least a portion of said compacted formation materials in said envelope away from said second perforation and into said first perforation to clear at least a part of said second perforation of flow-blocking materials.

Claim 5

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth formations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: perforating a first surface of the well bore for producing a first perforation extending into the earth formation and surrounded by an envelope of compacted crushed formation materials; and, thereafter, perforating a second surface of the well bore to produce a second perforation substantially parallel to said first perforation extending at least partially into said envelope of compacted formation materials for displacing at least a portion of said compacted formation materials in said envelope away from said second perforation and into said first perforation to clear at least a part of said second perforation of flow-blocking materials.

Claim 7

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth forMations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: positioning a first shaped explosive charge at a first location in the well bore adjacent to the earth formations; detonating said first shaped charge for providing a first perforation extending along a perforating axis into the earth formations and which is surrounded by an envelope of disrupted formation materials; positioning a second shaped explosive charge at a second location in the well bore adjacent to said first location for aligning the perforating axis of said second shaped charge with a region of said envelope of disrupted materials and substantially to said perforating axis of said first shaped charge; and detonating said second shaped charge to develop a perforating jet for producing a second perforation adjacent to said first perforation as well as for displacing at least a portion of said disrupted materials lying in said region between said perforations into said first perforation to clear said second perforation of flow-impeding matter.

Claim 8

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth forMations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: positioning a first shaped explosive charge at a first location in the well bore adjacent to the earth formations; detonating said first shaped charge for providing a first perforation extending along a perforating axis into the earth formations and which is surrounded by an envelope of disrupted formation materials; positioning a second shaped explosive charge at a second location in the well bore adjacent to said first location for aligning the perforating axis of said second shaped charge with a region of said envelope of disrupted materials and substantially to said perforating axis of said first shaped charge; and detonating said second shaped charge to develop a perforating jet for producing a second perforation adjacent to said first perforation as well as for displacing at least a portion of said disrupted materials lying in said region between said perforations into said first perforation to clear said second perforation of flow-impeding matter.

Claim 11

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth formations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: mounting an equal number of first and second shaped explosive charge means at spaced intervals on a body adapted for positioning in the well bore; positioning said body in the well bore for directing said first shaped charge means at the earth formations; detonating said first shaped charge means for producing a corresponding number of first perforations extending into the earth formations and which are respectively surrounded by an envelope of crushed compacted formation materials; repositioning said body in the well bore for respectively directing each of said second shaped charge means at an adjacent one of said envelopes of crushed compacted formation materials; and detonating said second shaped charge means to develop a corresponding number of perforating jets respectively passing into said envelopes for producing a corresponding number of second perforations substantially parallel to said first perforations as well as for displacing at least a portion of said crushed materials from between said first and second perforations into said first perforations to clear at least said second perforations of flow-impeding matter.

Claim 12

A method for completing a well bore traversing earth formations believed to be formed of competent materials and comprising the steps of: mounting an equal number of first and second shaped explosive charge means at spaced intervals on a body adapted for positioning in the well bore; positioning said body in the well bore for directing said first shaped charge means at the earth formations; detonating said first shaped charge means for producing a corresponding number of first perforations extending into the earth formations and which are respectively surrounded by an envelope of crushed compacted formation materials; repositioning said body in the well bore for respectively directing each of said second shaped charge means at an adjacent one of said envelopes of crushed compacted formation materials; and detonating said second shaped charge means to develop a corresponding number of perforating jets respectively passing into said envelopes for producing a corresponding number of second perforations substantially parallel to said first perforations as well as for displacing at least a portion of said crushed materials from between said first and second perforations into said first perforations to clear at least said second perforations of flow-impeding matter.