Abstract: In the preferred embodiment of the new and improved perforating apparantus that is described herein, a set of end closure members are cooperatively arranged to be inserted into the open ends of a length of typical piping and expanded radially outwardly into contact with the rough and irregular internal wall surface in each end of the pipe. Anchor members and sealing members are arranged on each and closure member for releasably securing and sealingly engaging these end closure members in the ends of the pipe when the end closure members are respectively expanded outwardly so that no machining operations are required to prepare the internal wall surfaces of the pipe before it can be employed as an expendable perforating carrier.

Abstract: Various charge phasing arrangements in a perforating gun include those uniquely associated with phasing solely along a 180 degree circumference of the perforating gun, for use in but not limited to deviated boreholes. One phasing arrangement comprises four rows of charges, four corresponding rows of recesses in the perforating gun carrier and four corresponding rows of holes in the loading tube, the recesses, holes and charges being constrained within a 180 degree circumference of the perforating gun. The two outermost rows have more recesses, more holes and more charges than do the two innermost rows, since more well fluid is interposed between the two outermost rows and the casing than is interposed between the two innermost rows and the casing of the borehole.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the new and improved perforating apparatus described herein, shaped charge cases are provided with matching upper and lower supports with parallel abutment surfaces and alignment means cooperatively arranged to enable a plurality of these charge cases to be stacked together for erecting an intertwined assembly of cases. By appropriately selecting the combined heights of the matching supports, adjacent ones of the charge cases can be closely spaced one above the other and directed outwardly along selected radial perforating axes at uniform angular spacings.