Western Atlas International, Inc.

Terry L Slagle

James Warren Reese

Girven R Kissell

A liner for a shaped charge formed from a mixture of powdered tungsten and powdered metal binder. The liner is formed by compression of the mixture into a substantially conically shaped solid body. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixture comprises a range of approximately 70 to 90 percent by weight of tungsten and 30 to 10 percent of the powdered metal binder. In a specific embodiment of the invention, graphite powder is intermixed with the powdered metal binder and tungsten to act as a lubricant. The powdered metal binder preferably comprises a malleable, ductile metal such as lead, bismuth, tin, zinc, silver, antimony, cobalt, nickel or uranium.

Tungsten enhanced liner for a shaped charge

A liner for a shaped charge formed from a mixture of powdered tungsten and powdered metal binder. The liner is formed by compression of the mixture into a substantially conically shaped solid body. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixture comprises approximately 80 percent by weight of tungsten and 20 percent of the powdered metal binder. In a specific embodiment of the invention, graphite powder is intermixed with the powdered metal binder and tungsten to act as a lubricant. The powdered metal binder preferably comprises a malleable, ductile metal such as lead, bismuth, tin, zinc, silver, antimony, cobalt, nickel or uranium.

The invention is a lid for a shaped charge which enables application of torque to the shaped charge for mounting in an expendable bar carrier borehole penetrating gun assembly. The lid comprises a plurality of flat surfaces facially parallel with the axis of a threaded stud forming part of the lid, the stud engaging mating threads in a hole in the carrier. The flat surfaces are arranged around the circumference of the lid so that a wrench or socket can be used to apply torque to the lid for mounting in the carrier. Each juncture of two contiguous ones of the flat surfaces includes a score line extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the stud. In a preferred embodiment of the invention each juncture includes a crimp on part of the juncture on a side of the score line opposite to the stud, to retain the lid on the charge. The invention is also an apparatus for simultaneously torquing a plurality of shaped charged in a bar carrier. Each of the shaped charges comprises the charge lid of the invention. The apparatus includes a plurality of wrench sockets, corresponding final drives coupled to the sockets, an intermediate drive coupled to all of the final drives, and a motor to turn the intermediate drive, all mounted in a frame. The final drives are coupled to the intermediate drive to cause all the sockets to rotate in the same direction. Positioning the frame to enable the sockets each to engage a shaped charge will cause all the charges to be torqued simultaneously.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Terry L Slagle