PERFORATING OIL & GAS WELLS

PERFORATING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OPERATIONS FOR ADEQUATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RESERVOIR AND THE WELL BORE, HENCE PRODUCTION RATES/ RECOVERY. BULLET PERFORATIONS WERE INTRODUCED IN EARLY 1930, REMAINED THE ONLY WAY OF PERFORATING HOWEVER, BULLET PERFORATIONS ARE STILL CONSIDERED FOR

1. COMPARATIVELY LOW STRENGTH RESERVOIRS 2. SHOT BY SHOT FIRING WHERE UNIFORM HOLE GEOMETRY NEEDED. B) Jet Perforators WERE INTRODUCED IN 1940 AND STILL CONTINUING. THIS METHOD WAS INTRODUCED TO PERFORATE THRU CEMENT BEHIND CASING AND THUS TO HAVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN WELL BORE WITH RESERVOIR CEMENT. Work in early 1950 developed the need for the following: a. Plugging of perforations with mud or shaped charge debris b. Perforating with a pressure differential into well bore in clean fluid c. The necessity of maintaining the flow without interruption into the well bore till all the perforations are cleaned d. Consideration of effect of formation compressive strength on perforation hole size and penetration The consideration of above studies led to development of non plugging shaped charges, thru tubing perforations, improved bullet guns and designing perforation strategy based on API-RP-43 simulated conditions.

JET PERFORATORS & PERFORATING PROCESS

Figure shows the following components, namely: 1. Charge carrier 2. Electrical Conductor

3. Shaped/Explosive charges 4. Detonating cord or prima cord ( Ballistically connecting each charge) 5. Electrical circuit to the surface to control initiation of perforating sequence

JET PERFORATOR
PROCESS OF DETONATION

DETONATOR STARTS A CHAIN REACTION TO DETONATE THE 1 2 3 4 DETONATING CORD HIGH VELOCITY BOOSTER IN THE CHARGE MAIN CHARGE EXPLOSIVE. HIGH PRESSURE GENERATED BY EXPLOSIVE CAUSES METAL IN CHARGE LINER TO FLOW

PRESSURE BUILT UP ON LINER CAUSES NEEDLE LIKE HIGH SPEED JET TO SPEW @ 20000 FT/SEC.

1. STREAM OF LINER PARTICLES KEY TO PERFORATION PROCESS. 2. ANY FAULT IN EVENTS, SYSTEM CAUSE MALFUNCTION RESULTING IRREGULAR/ INADEQUATE HOLE SIZE, POOR PENETRATION OR NO HOLE AT ALL.

DETONATOR:
INITIATES FIRING SEQUENCE -CAN BE ACTIVATED BY HEAT OR SHOCK. IN WIRELINE PERFORATORS, HEAT IS GENERATED BY PASSING CURRENT THROUGH RESISTOR TO FILAMENT WHICH IGNITES A MATCH COMPOUND TO DETONATE THE PRIME CHARGE IN TUBING CONVEYED PERFORATORS (TCP), FIRING CAN BE INITIATED BY A FIRING PIN DEVICE ACTIVATED BY 1 2 3 4 DROP BAR PRESSURE INCREASE OR COMBINATION OF TWO. THROUGH WIRELINE RUN FROM SURFACE THRU TUBING AND CONNECTED WITH TCP

DETONATING CORD
CORD ACTIVATED BY DETONATOR CARRIES SHOCK WAVE TO DETONATE EACH SHAPED CHARGE. PRIMACORD CONTAINS SECONDARY EXPLOSIVE.

SHAPED CHARGES
CHARGES CONSIST OF FOUR PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS: 1 2 3 4 CASE PRIMER CHARGE MAIN EXPLOSIVE CONE SHAPED LINER

THE EXPLOSIVE AND LINER ARE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF SYSTEM. ELEMENTS OF SHAPED CHARGES

PENETRATION MECHANISM
1. TIP OF THE JET STREAM IMPACTS THE TARGET, TARGET MATERIAL MOVES AWAY FROM LOCATION GIVING PASSAGE TO THE JET MATERIAL AND GETS DISPLACED AWAY FROM TARGET CREATING A HOLE IN THE BODY. 2. JET MOVES FURTHER INSIDE THE TARGET. IN THE PROCESS, INERTIA OF JET REDUCES TO ZERO AFTER PENETRATING SOME LENGTH IN TARGET. PROCESS OF PENETRATION STOPS.

TEMPERATURE- TIME LIMIT BASED EXPLOSIVES THESE CAN BE CRITICAL IN TCP BECAUSE OF THEIR SENSITIVITY TO TEMPERATURE AND THE TIME TAKEN FOR EXPLOSION AT THAT TEMPERATURE. CHANCES OF EXPLOSION BEFORE THE DEPTH IS ACHIEVES OR EXTRA TIME TAKEN IF TEMPERATURE DATA ARE NOT ACCURATE.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF PERFORATION

A) API RP 43 GOVERNS METHODOLOGY OF EVLUATION OF PERFORATORS. HOWEVER, THE PENETRATION AND HOLE DIA ARE THE MAIN PARAMETERS FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION. B) THE FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OF PERFORATION IN TERMS OF DIAMETER AND PENETRATION AS AGAINST THE EVALUATED VALUES UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS ARE AS UNDER: 1 2 3 RESERVOIR GEOMETRY, HARDNESS, CEMENTATION BEHIND CASING WELL CONFIGURATION ( SINGLE CASING, DOUBLE CASING AND THEIR THICKNESS,MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION, STRENGTH OF MATERIAL) TYPE OF FLUID IN THE ANNULUS AT THE TIME OF PERFORATION

4 5

UNDER BALANCE/ OVER BALANCE STATUS WHILE PERFORATING (UNDER BALANCE IS PREFERRED IF TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE). WELL FLUID TEMPERATURE, GRAVITY AT DEPTH

6. GUN POSITIONING TO CASING CLEARANCE (REFER FIG. ATTACHED) 7. PERFORATION SPACING AND ANGULAR ORIENTATION OF PERFORATION 8. PERFORATION TOOL CONFIGURATION LIKE a. E LINE/ WIRE LINE RUN FOR TTP OR DIRECT CASING PERFORATION b. TCP (TUBING COVEYED PERFORATION GUN) ALL THE ABOVE AFFECT THE DIAMETER AND PENETRATION LENGTH AND HENCE THE PRODUCTIVITY / PRODUCTION RATE OF THE WELL.

CONSIDERATION OF SIZE AND DENSITY OF PERFORATIONS FOR VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PRODUCTION LARGER DIAMETER CAN BE ACHIEVED AGAINST SACRIFICE OF PENETRATION LENGTH. THE SURFACE AREA AVAILABLE FOR FLOW OF FLUIDS DEPENDS ON THE SURFACE AREA CREATED BY PERFORATING FOR FLOW AND THE RESERVOIR PRESSURE AND THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE FRICTION INSIDE THE RESERVOIR. THERE ARE OTHER DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ENCOUNTERED BY FLUID DURING FLOW REGIME:
1. FINE MIGRATION / SAND PRODUCTION: HIGHER VELOCITY CAUSES THE

SAND MIGRATION. CAN BE CONTROLLED BY REDUCTION THRU LARGER SIZE PERFORATIONS.

FLUID

VELOCITY

2. SUDDEN DROP IN PRESSURE NEAR WELL BORE DUE TO SMALLER

PERFORATION HOLES, CAUSES COOLING EFFECT RESULT IN PARAFFINIC/ ASPHALTINIC EFFECT AND SCALE FORMATION. THE SCALE MAY BE SOLUBLE IN ACIDS OR DIE HARD LIKE BARIOUM/ STRONTIUM/ CALSIUM SULPHATES , NOT SOLUBLE IN ACID

IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY BY UNDER BALANCE PERFORATIONS

WHILE PERFORATING, FORMATION DAMAGE BE AVOIDED BY a.
b.

HIGHER DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE ACROSS WELL BORE AND RESERVOIR WELL FLUID TO BE SOLID FREE & CLEAN c. WELL TO BE THOROUGHLY CLEANED KEEPING WELL FLOWING FOR LONG

TECHNOLOGY FOR WELL COMPLETION AND PERFORATING EQUIPMENT (UNDER BALANCE PERFORATIONS)

1. LARGE SIZE LUBRICATOR TO ACCOMMODATE LARGE SIZE GUN AFTER PERFORATION & WELL UNDER PRESSURE. GUN IS RETRIEVED.
2. PERMANENT TYPE PACKER, EQUIPPED WITH BLANKING PLUG OR

FRAGILE SEALS LOWERED ON E-LINE & INSTALLED AT LOCATION. 3. BLANKING PLUG REMOVED BY WIRELINE OPERATION OR DEAL BROKEN WITH HAMMERING BY W/LINE JAR TO CREATE SUDDEN DRAW DOWN TO ACTIVATE AND FLOW THE WELL 4. TCP SHOT IN CLEAN FLUID AND WITH DIFFERENTIAL PRESURE IN TO WELL BORE. WELL TO FLOW FOR LONG TO CLEAN OUT PERFORATING DEBRIS.

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES OF TCP PERFORATORS OVER THRU TUBING/ E-LINE CASING PERFORATORS

1 LONG GUN (TTP LIMITED TO LUBRICATOR LENGTH OF 30) 2 LONGER ZONES PERFORATIONS IN ONE SHOT COMPARED TO MULTIPLE RUNS WITH E-LINE TCP PREFERRED WHEN HIGH PRESSURE EXPACTED AT WELL HEAD (3000 PSI) 3 HOLE GEOMETRY BETTER
4

* TCP COSTLIER BUT COST OFFSETS ADVANTAGES

TCP GUN

WELL CONTROL EQUIPMENT FOR SAFE PERFORATING

1. WELL, EQUIPMENT AND MANPOWER SAFETY ARE OF PRIME

IMPORTANCE 2. SAFETY ASPECTS ARE GOVERNED UNDER API-RP-54

3. WELL CONTROL EQUIPMENT TO BE TESTED PRIOR TO OPERATION

SAFETY ASPECTS OF PRESSURE CONTROL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED WHEN IT IS UNDER BALANCED PERFORATIONS OR THE WELL IS EXPACTED TO KICK PRESSURES AFTER PERFORATION. IT CONSISTS THE FOLLOWING: HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED WIRELINE BOP A. HYDRAULIC TOOL TRAP B. LUBRICATOR RISER C. HEAD CATCHER & CHECK VALVE D. GREASE INJECTOR FLOW TUBE CONTROL HEAD

E. HYDRAULIC PACKING NUT ASSEMBLY F. GREASE INJECTION PUMPING SYSTEM

CAUTION NOTE
1. LUBRICATOR SECTION MUST BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE GUN, CABLE HEAD, COLLAR LOCATOR AND MAGNETIC DECENTRALIZER. 2. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TO BE UNIFORMLY RATED FOR ANY EXPACTED PRESSURE (I.E. 5000, 10000 OR 15000 PSI)

WELL HEAD PRESSURE CONTROLEQUIPMENT