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A non-linear shaped charge perforator for use in perforating an oil and gas formation into which a wellbore has been drilled comprises a monolithic, axisymmetric metal case in which is disposed a main explosive charge between the front of the case, which is closed with a concave metal liner, and the

A non-linear shaped charge perforator for use in perforating an oil and gas formation into which a wellbore has been drilled comprises a monolithic, axisymmetric metal case in which is disposed a main explosive charge between the front of the case, which is closed with a concave metal liner, and the closed back end of the case. The main explosive charge contains multiple initiation points, preferably two initiation points located about 180° apart on the outside surface of the charge, so that when the perforator is detonated the main charge is initiated such that the metal liner is collapsed into a non-circular jet, preferably a fan-shaped jet, that pierces the casing of the wellbore and forms non-circular perforations, preferably slot-shaped perforations, in the surrounding formation.

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1. A method for forming perforations in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation surrounding a wellbore using a non-linear, shaped charge perforator, said method comprising:(a) placing said non-linear, shaped charge perforator in said wellbore, said shaped charge perforator comprising (1) a sing

1. A method for forming perforations in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation surrounding a wellbore using a non-linear, shaped charge perforator, said method comprising:(a) placing said non-linear, shaped charge perforator in said wellbore, said shaped charge perforator comprising (1) a single, axisymmetric case having a hollow interior, an open front end, side walls, and a closed back end, (2) a jet-producing, axisymmetric liner disposed within said axisymmetric case and closing said open front end and (3) a main explosive charge disposed within said hollow interior between said liner and the closed back end of said axisymmetric case, wherein said main explosive charge has a back that conforms to and is substantially flush with said closed back end, sides that conform to and are substantially flush with said side walls, and a front that conforms to and is substantially flush with said liner; and(b) detonating said non-linear, shaped charge perforator by initiating said main explosive charge at at least two points between about 165° and about 195° apart such that said liner is formed into a jet that penetrates said hydrocarbon-bearing formation.2. The method defined by claim 1 wherein said main explosive charge is initiated at two points on its outside surface between about 165° and about 195° apart.3. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said points of initiation are in a single plane perpendicular to the central horizontal axis of said shaped charge perforator.4. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said main explosive charge is initiated at two points between about 165° and about 195° part on said back of said main explosive charge.5. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said main explosive charge is initiated at two points between about 165° and about 195° apart on said sides of said main explosive charge.6. The method defined by claim 5 wherein said initiation points are located on said sides near the back of said main explosive charge.7. The method defined by claim 5 wherein said initiation points are located on said sides near the middle of said main explosive charge.8. The method defined by claim 5 wherein said initiation points are located on said sides near the front of said main explosive charge.9. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said axisymmetric liner comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of conical, bi-conical, tulip, hemispherical, trumpet, bell-shaped, hyperboloid, hyperbolic-paraboloid and parabolic.10. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said axisymmetric case comprises an interior shape selected from the group consisting of conical, bi-conical, tulip, hemispherical, trumpet, bell-shaped, hyperboloid, hyperbolic-paraboloid, cylindrical and parabolic.11. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said axisymmetric liner is substantially in the shape of a cone and the interior of said axisymmetric case is partially in the shape of a cone and partially in the shape of a cylinder.12. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said jet penetrates said hydrocarbon-bearing formation in such a manner as to form perforations substantially in the shape of a slot.13. The method defined by claim 12 wherein said perforations are the shape of a substantially linear slot.14. The method defined by claim 12 wherein said slot has an aspect ratio greater than about 1.5.15. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said main explosive charge is simultaneously initiated at said two points by separate electronic detonators.16. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said main explosive charge is simultaneously initiated at said two points by a booster explosive that is initiated at a single point.17. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said initiation of said main explosive charge is carried out at said two points and there is initiation at no other point.18. The method defined by claim 1 wherein said main explosive charge is initiated simultaneously at two or more points.19. The method defined by claim 2 wherein said initiation of said main explosive charge is carried out at said two points and there is no initiation at the back of said main explosive charge on the central horizontal axis of said shaped charge perforator.20. A method for forming substantially linear perforations in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation surrounding a wellbore using a non-linear, shaped charge perforator, said method comprising:(a) placing said non-linear, shaped charge perforator in said wellbore, said shaped charge perforator comprising (1) a single case having a hollow interior, an open front end and a closed back end, (2) a jet-producing liner disposed within said case and closing said open end and (3) a main explosive charge disposed within said hollow interior between said liner and the closed back end of said case, wherein said main explosive charge has a back that conforms to and is substantially flush with said closed back end, sides that conform to and are substantially flush with said side walls, and a front that conforms to and is substantially flush with said liner; and(b) detonating said non-linear, shaped charge perforator by initiating said main explosive charge at two points between about 165° and about 195° apart on the outside surface of said main explosive charge such that said liner is formed into a jet that penetrates said hydrocarbon-bearing formation in such a manner as to make a substantially linear perforation in said formation, wherein said main explosive charge is initiated at no other point.21. The method defined by claim 20 wherein said case does not have an elliptical profile.22. The method defined by claim 20 wherein said main explosive charge is simultaneously initiated at said two points by a booster explosive that is initiated at a single point.23. A non-linear shaped charge perforator comprising:(a) a single axisymmetric case having a hollow interior defined by (1) side walls, (2) a closed back end and (3) an open front end, wherein said closed back end and/or side walls of said case contain at least two passageways communicating with said hollow interior;(b) a jet-producing, axisymmetric liner disposed within said axisymmetric case and closing said open front end;(c) a main explosive charge disposed within said hollow interior between said liner and the closed back end of said axisymmetric case, wherein said main explosive charge has (1) a back conforming to and substantially flush with said closed back end (2) sides conforming to and substantially flush with said side walls and (3) a front conforming to and substantially flush with said liner; and(d) a booster explosive occupying said passageways in said single axisymmetric case and communicating with the back or sides of said main explosive charge at two initiation points located between about 165° and about 195° apart on either the back or the sides of said main explosive charge.24. A non-linear shaped charge perforator for forming perforations in subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formations comprising:(a) a single axisymmetric case having a hollow interior defined by (1) side walls, (2) a closed back end and (3) an open front end;(b) a jet-producing axisymmetric liner disposed within said axisymmetric case and closing said open front end;(c) a main explosive charge disposed within said hollow interior between said liner and the closed back end of said axisymmetric case, wherein said main explosive charge has (1) a back conforming to and substantially flush with said closed back end (2) sides conforming to and substantially flush with said side walls and (3) a front conforming to and substantially flush with the said liner; and(e) means for initiating said main explosive charge at two locations between about 165° and about 195° apart on either the back or sides of said main explosive charge, wherein said shaped charge perforator contains no means of initiating said main explosive charge at any other location.25. The shaped charge perforator defined by claim 24 wherein said closed back end and/or side walls of said single axisymmetric case contain two passageways communicating with said hollow interior, and said means for initiating comprises a booster explosive occupying said passageways and communicating with said main explosive charge at said two initiation locations.26. The shaped charge perforator defined by claim 25 wherein said initiation locations are both positioned on the sides of said main explosive charge and said passageways originate at one location in the rear of said closed back end of said case and pass through said back end and said side walls to said initiation locations.27. The shaped charge perforator defined by claim 25 wherein said initiation locations are both positioned on the back of said main explosive charge and said passageways originate at two separate locations in the rear of said closed back end of said case and pass through said closed back end to said initiation locations.28. A perforating gun comprising a plurality of the shaped charge perforators of claim 23.29. The perforating gun defined by claim 28 wherein said shaped charge perforators are arranged in a helical fashion on the charge tube of said perforating gun.30. A perforating gun comprising a plurality of the shaped charge perforators of claim 24.31. The perforating gun defined by claim 30 wherein said shaped charge perforators are arranged in a helical fashion on the charge tube of said perforating gun.32. The shaped charge perforator defined by claim 24 wherein said means for initiating comprises a detonator cord.33. The shaped charge perforator defined by claim 24 wherein said means for initiating comprises an electronic detonator.