Perforation Design

Contents:

Basic Perforating.
1. The main components of a perforating system.

Penetration Physics.
1. The main components of a modern shaped charge.
2. Describe how a shaped charge works.
3. The main factors that affect the performance of a shaped
charge.
4. The difference between a deep penetrating shaped charge
and a big hole shaped charge, and what are the main
applications for each

Perforating Hardware.
1. The main components of detonators and firing heads.
2. The main types of guns.

Perforation Techniques.

Perforation Design.
1. Describe typical objectives for perforating.
2. Review a typical well completion.
3. What are completion components and parameters impact
the choice of perforating gun?
4. Reservoir parameters impact the choice of perforating gun.
5. Formation parameters impact the choice of perforating gun.

Appendix.

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Perforation Design:

Basic Perforating:

1. The main components of a perforating system.

Before we start in explain the main components of a perforating

system, why we need to perforate oil or gas wells?

 The productivity of a given reservoir is primarily dependent on

the near wellbore pressure drop.

 This is governed by drilling & completion damage and

perforation results (Less pressure drop the better, reduces skin
effect or damage).

 Furthermore, successful stimulation and sand management

operations are strongly dependent on perforation parameters.

Pressure Loss in
System

Inflow Performance= ∆P1 + ∆P2 =

Pressure drop due to flow in
porous media + pressure drop
near the well
Perforating
Internal Training
∆P1 = PR – Pwfs
∆P2 = Pwfs – Pwf Confidential

Figure (1): Pressure Loss in System.

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Perforating Gun Components (Explosives):

1. Detonator – initiates detonation train Primary High Explosive

(except SECURE).

2. Primacord – transmits detonation to shaped charges Secondary

High Explosive.

3. Shaped Charge (Shot density) – creates perforation tunnel

Secondary High Explosive.

Perforating Gun Components

(Explosives)
Detonator – initiates detonation train
Primary High Explosive
(except SECURE)

Primacord – transmits detonation to shaped charges

Secondary High Explosive

Shaped Charge (Shot density) – creates perforation tunnel

Secondary High Explosive

Capsule Gun Carrier Gun

Figure (2): Perforating Gun Components

Shaped Charge Perforator:

Case

Primer

Main Explosive

Conical Liner

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 Figure (3): Shaped Charge

Penetration Physics:

1. The main components of a modern shaped charge.

Shaped Charge Perforator components are:

Case: The metal case contains the components of the shaped

charge. During manufacturing, the high explosive is pressed
into the case under high pressure to form a cone.

Primer: The primer is a high explosive used to initiate

detonation of the main explosive in a shaped charge.

Main Explosive: The main explosive is the secondary high

explosive used to create the hyperjet upon detonation.

Conical Liner: This powdered metal liner is pressed into the

cone depression formed in the main explosive. The liner serves
to enhance the performance of the hyperjet.

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Figure (4): Shaped Charges Materials

Figure (5): Shaped Charge Liners

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2. Describe how a shaped charge works.

Shaped-charge effectiveness depends on charge symmetry and

jet characteristics.

The perforating event happens within 100 microseconds.

Enormous jet impact pressure causes steel, cement, rock &

pore fluids to flow plastically outward, creating the crushed
zone.

The mechanical processes as shown in the figure (left):

High jet tip velocity - 7,000 m/sec.

High Impact pressure - millions psi.

Short duration – microseconds.

Moderate temperature – does not melt.

Particulated jet does the work.

About 25% of liner mass in jet.

About 25 – 30% energy efficient.

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Figure (6): Shaped Charge Works

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3. The main factors that affect the performance of a shaped charge.

1. Consistent manufacturing:
– Liner
• Powders and pressing

– Tooling
– QC Testing
• API type targets
• Regular checking

2. Major effects:
– Water Stand off
– Gun clearance
– Casing (single or double casing)
– formation strength UCS & Effective formation stress
– Wellbore Fluid
– Temperature (selection of explosive)

Figure (7): Gun Clearance

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 Figure (8): Gun Positioned in Wellbore with Definition of the
Geometry

4. The difference between a deep penetrating shaped charge and

a big hole shaped charge, and what are the main applications for
each?

Deep Penetrating Charges (optimized for penetration):

– PowerJet Omega – new deeper penetrating.
– PowerJet, UltraJet, HyperJet.
– Power Spiral (new), Enerjet, Pivot, (Through-tubing guns
with casing gun performance).
• Reduces charge-to-charge interference.
• Minimizes shock waves in the wellbore.
• Increases the performance of shots across the
wellbore.

Big Hole Charges (optimized for casing hole size):

– PowerFlow.
– UltraPack, CleanPack.

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Perforating Hardware:

1. The main types of detonators and firing heads.

Detonator required initiating detonation train through guns; there are

three types of detonator:
1. Conventional Detonator. (Figure 9.1)
2. SECURE Detonator. (Figure 9.2)
3. Percussion Detonator for TCP. (Figure 9.3).

Ignition Pellet

27 ohms Safety Resistors Primary High Explosive

Figure (9.1): Conventional Detonator

Booster Receiver Ballistic Transfer

3 in.

Fluid Desensitization

Wireline Input Electronics

Figure (9.2): SECURE Detonator

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Wireline Input Electronics
Detonating Cord EFI

Booster Secondary Explosive Pellet

Aluminum Flyer

Figure (9.2): SECURE Detonator

Figure (9.3): Percussion Detonator for TCP

Run in Hole Actuate Head Fire Guns

Figure (10): Firing Head Two Stage Principal

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TCP Firing Systems:

Bar Hydrostatic Firing Head (BHF)

Hydraulic Delay Firing Head (HDF)
– Extreme Overbalance Firing Head (EOF)

Trigger Charge Firing Head (TCF)

– Jar Down
– Bar Hydrostatic
– Hydraulic Delay Firing Head
– Timer Firing Head

Electrical Firing Head (eFire)

Differential Firing Head (DPF)

2. The main types of guns.

There are two types of gun system:

1. Capsule Guns.
2. Carrier Guns.

Table (1): The Main Types of Guns:

Capsule Guns Carrier Guns

Enerjet 1 11/16 - 2 ½” HSD* 1.56 to 7”
Pivot Gun1 11/16” PURE 1.56 to 7”
PowerSpirol 1 11/16 – 2 ½” HEGS* 3 1/8 & 4”

HSD*: High Shot Density.

HEGS*: High Efficiency Gun System.
TCP*: Tubing Conveyed Perforating.

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Figure (11): Capsule Guns

Figure (12): Carrier Guns

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Perforation Techniques:

There are three types of perforation techniques:

1. Wireline Conveyed.
2. Tubing or Drill Pipe Conveyed.
3. Coil Tubing Conveyed.

• In wireline conveyed technique the perforating guns are

conveyed into the well on electric wireline.

• There are two types of wireline conveyed technique.

1. Wireline through-tubing perforation: the guns are lowered into

the well through the production string.

2. Wireline casing carrier gun perforation: large-diameter guns are

lowered into the cased well before the production string is run.

• In tubing conveyed perforation technique, guns are run in a

well on either tubing or a drill-pipe.

• Guns are positioned across the zone of interest and fired

while still attached to the pipe.

• In coil tubing conveyed technique, the guns are fired using

specially designed firing head that is actuated by dropping a
ball in the coil tubing.

The advantages and disadvantages of the various types of

perforating techniques shown in the following Table:

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Table (2): The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Various Types
of Perforating Techniques:

Perforating Advantage Disadvantages

Technique
Through- • The wellhead and completion • Limited options guns.
tubing sting are in place and tested • High debris.
before the casing is
perforated.
• Permit perforating under
balance and offer cleanup of
the tunnel.
• Permit additional perforation
without a rig.
Casing gun • Big range of penetration and • Permit perforating over
entry-hole charges. balance only.
• Allows the use of longer • Not practical in long
guns. intervals.
• Simple & cost effective.
• Low debris.
Tubing • Combines advantages of • Not practical in short
conveyed casing and through-tubing. interval perforations.
• Efficient if long interval
perforation.
• Guns can be dropped after
fire and allow access through
string.
Coil tubing • Cost effective rigless • Heavy set-up.
operation on life wells. • Potential problems with
• Combines advantages of buckling.
casing and through-tubing.
• Ideal for horizontal and
highly deviated wells.

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Perforation Design:

For any perforation job, it should be consider many factors

those are affects on Perforation Design to got a successful
perforation job; some of these factors are shown below:

1. Describe typical objectives for perforating; (Deep Penetrating

Charges or Big Hole Charges).
2. Review a typical well completion (Open Hole or Casing with
Cement).
3. What are completion components and parameters impact the
choice of perforating gun? , like casing type, casing OD,
number of perforation SPF, and Wellbore fluid)
4. Reservoir parameters impact the choice of perforating gun.
5. Formation parameters impact the choice of perforating gun.

All of these factors it will show below:

Damage depth

Penetration Depth

Reduced permeability crushed zone, Kc

Damaged zone, Kd Crushed rock debris

Perforating
Internal Training
Non damaged zone, K
Confidential

Figure (13): Cross Section around the Wellbore.

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Start this seminar with a discussion of skim damage. Formation
damage skin has several sources:

Drilling damage (part of kd) - usually mechanical damage close

to the wellbore, perhaps (2-3 inches) deep.

Drilling and completion fluids damage (also part of kd) – can be
deep, say (6-24 inches), depending on the fluid loss and the
interaction of the fluid with the rock.

Perforation damage (kc) – all perforating causes a damage zone
around the perforation tunnel which reduces perm. Also the
perforation process leaves a mix on crushed material in the
tunnel (comminuted debris) which can have a large impact in
injection efficiency.

Traditional underbalance perforating techniques were developed to

minimize or remove perforation damage. The traditional approach
does bring benefits but is not fully effective; PURE removes damage
and the comminuted material leaving a clean perforation.

It is accepted, through experimental data and field observations, that

the best cleanup one can expect using traditional underbalance
methods gives a kc/k relationship of (0.3); Using the PURE method
this relationship will be 1.0 or close to 1.0.

 Damage Mitigation:

1. From Perforating Job Design :

– Penetrate through damage zone (Kd): PowerJet Omega
• Open hole perforating.
• Perforate in acid.

– Clean-up (Perforating Damage).

• Static Underbalance.
• PURE – Dynamic Underbalance.

2. Perforation acid wash - Near wellbore skin frac.

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 Productivity vs. Penetration at various (kc/k):

Figure (14): Productivity vs. Penetration at various (kc/k)

.

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 Formation Penetration vs. Rock Strength UCS:

Penetration vs Rock Strength

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18

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Formation Penetration (in )

0
0 50000 1e+5 1.5e+5 2e+5 2.5e+5
Rock Strength UCS (kPa)

Perforating System(s) API Pen Total Pen Form Pen

(in ) Avg (in ) Avg (in )
2-7/8" High Shot Density, PowerJet Omega 2906, HMX 36.00 17.18 15.21
2-7/8" High Shot Density, PowerJet 2906, HMX 25.30 13.58 11.61
2-7/8" High Shot Density, UltraJet 2906, HMX 22.10 11.02 9.05
2-7/8" High Shot Density, HyperJet 2906, RDX 15.00 8.92 6.95

Formation Tubular(s)
Rock Type: Sandstone OD Weight Grade Annulus Density
Bulk Density: 2.53 g/cm3 (in) (lbm/ft) (g/cc)
Rock UCS: 49994 kPa 5 15.00 P110 Cement 1.90
Overburden: 106062 kPa
Reservoir: 34998 kPa
Well Damage: 0 in

Figure (15): Formation Penetration vs. Rock Strength UCS

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 Productivity Ratio vs. Effective Shot Density:

Productivity Ratio vs Effective Shot Density

1.05

0.9

0.75

0.6
Productivity Ratio

0.45

0.3
2 4 6 8 10 12
Effective Shot Density (spf)

Perforating System(s) Phasing Shots Offset kc/k Crush Form Pen/Dia

(spf) (deg) (in) Avg (in)
2-7/8" High Shot Density, PowerJet Omega 2906, HMX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 15.21/0.6493
2-7/8" High Shot Density, PowerJet 2906, HMX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 11.61/0.6779
2-7/8" High Shot Density, UltraJet 2906, HMX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 9.048/0.6423
2-7/8" High Shot Density, HyperJet 2906, RDX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 6.953/0.6996

Formation Completion
kh: 1.00 md Vertical Well
kh/kv: 10.00 Formation Thickness (TVD): 24.5 m
Bulk Density: 2.53 g/cm3 Perforated Length: 24.5 m
Rock UCS: 49994 kPa Drainage Area: 31.42 acre
Overburden: 106062 kPa Shape Factor: 31.62
Reservoir: 34998 kPa
kd/k: 0.20
Well Damage: 0 in

Figure (16): Productivity Ratio vs. Effective Shot Density

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 Productivity Ratio vs. Rock Strength:

Productivity Ratio vs Rock Strength

1.2

0.8

0.6
Productivity Ratio

0.4

0.2
0 50000 1e+5 1.5e+5 2e+5 2.5e+5
Rock Strength (kPa)

Perforating System(s) Phasing Shots Offset kc/k Crush Form Pen/Dia

(spf) (deg) (in) Avg (in)
2-7/8" High Shot Density, PowerJet Omega 2906, HMX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 15.21/0.6493
2-7/8" High Shot Density, PowerJet 2906, HMX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 11.61/0.6779
2-7/8" High Shot Density, UltraJet 2906, HMX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 9.048/0.6423
2-7/8" High Shot Density, HyperJet 2906, RDX 60 6.00 0 0.05 0.5 6.953/0.6996

Formation Completion
kh: 1.00 md Vertical Well
kh/kv: 10.00 Formation Thickness (TVD): 24.5 m
Bulk Density: 2.53 g/cm3 Perforated Length: 24.5 m
Rock UCS: 49994 kPa Drainage Area: 31.42 acre
Overburden: 106062 kPa Shape Factor: 31.62
Reservoir: 34998 kPa
kd/k: 0.20
Well Damage: 0 in

Figure (17): Productivity Ratio vs. Rock Strength

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Appendix:

Registered Data Sheet Perforating System Evaluation

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 Capsule Gun Performance and Mechanical Data Summary

High Shot Density Perforating System Performance and Mechanical

Data Summary

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High Shot Density Perforating System Performance and Mechanical
Data Summary

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