PERFORATING

Secondary Explosives Data

Explosive

Density
gms/cc

Detonating
Velocity
( Ft/Sec.)

Detonating
Pressure
( M Psi)

RDX
Cyclo Tri-methylene
Tri- Nitramine

1.80

28,700

HMX
Cyclo tetramethylene
Tetranitramine

1.90

30,000

5.7

HNS
Hexa Nitro Stilbene

1.74

24,300

3.5

PYX
Bis(picrylamino)-3,5Dinitro pyridine

1.77

24,900

3.7

Shaped Charge

ShapedCharge
Explosive
Booster
Powder

Explosive
Main Load

Explosive powders will

depend on temperature
requirements (RDX, HMX,
HNS, PYX)

Liner DP
Charge
Case

Charge cases can

be made from
steel or zinc

DP Liners are pressed

from Powdered Metal

Bore through charge

case to expose
booster powder to det
cord energy.

Liner BH
BH Liners are pressed from
sheet metal.

ShapedCharge
PressPress
Press

Charge
Case

Explosive
Booster
Powder

Liner is pressed into charge case,

compressing explosive in cavity at
high density.
Liner

Explosive
Main Load
Quickie dot adhered to
hold booster powder in
place

ShapedCharge
The finished shaped charge has
high density explosive in the
cavity behind the liner.
Charge
Case

Explosive
This Booster
area of the shaped
Powder
charge
is VERY
sensitive to impact!!!

Liner

Explosive
Main Load
Booster powder
protrudes past end of
case (dimple)

ShapedChargeDynamics
Charge
Case
Detonating
Cord

Detonator

Liner

Explosive
Main Load
Explosive
Booster
Powder

ShapedCharge

Perforation - Basics

Perforation - Basics

PERFORATING

Total Target Penetration ( TTP )

Area open to Flow( AOF )
Entry Hole Diameter ( EHD )
Phasing

PerforatingCurrent Paradigm

Perforating under balance is the technique of

choice for maximizing productivity.
(initial wellbore pressure < pore pressure)

Over balanced perforating is damaging.

(initial wellbore pressure > pore pressure)

Under Balance Calculation

Behrmann (1995)
a) K > 100 md

p=

1480 phi D0.3

k1/2

b) K < 100 md
p=

630 phi D0.3

k1/3

Where
K = permeability, md
phi = porosity, %
D
= tunnel diameter, in

What is PURE?

The PURE*, Perforating for Ultimate Reservoir

Exploitation, system is a new patented technique by
Schlumberger used to obtain clean perforations.
This system utilizes methods to control down hole
well dynamics and is a combination of perforating
system and completion design.

Background
1970s : Use of under balance (UB) for perforation identified
198090s research
Establishing UB criterion
Rapid fluid influx responsible for perforation cleanup
- Well bore pressure remains constant during perforating
- Static UB effective across entire area

1985

(SPE-14321)

BP Amoco study on 90 wells acidized after perforating

Conclusion -Whenever sufficient UB was achieved, acid
stimulation was not required

Background( Cont)
The belief of 90 s research
Duration of surge flow post UB perforation dominated cleanup
Behrmanns optimal underbalance formula for zero skin
perforations became BIBLE
Dynamic forces ( transient pressure differential & fluid associated
drag) are crucial for perforation cleanup
Little focus on how much pressure UB actually occurred

Post 2001 Experiments.

UB pressure controls clean up
Magnitude depends on rock strength rather than permeability
PURE.

Perforating Objectives
Maximize well productivity or injectivity by

minimizing perforation skin

Eliminate the need for secondary perforation cleanup
methods in low permeability gas and oil wells.
Minimize cement-to-sand face micro annulus
Reduced shock in the wellbore

Perforation Tunnel

Undamaged (K)

Damaged (Kc)

Terminology
K = Permeability of the undamaged reservoir
Kc = Permeability of the crushed zone around

rock
the

perforation tunnel
Kd = Permeability of damaged zone
PR = Productivity ratio = ln(re/rw)/(ln(re/rw + skin)
CFE = Core Flow Efficiency

Ratio of flow through the perforation tunnel vs flow

though a drilled tunnel with the same dimensions and
zero damage
Ideal CFE = 1

Lab Set-up for Single Shot Test

Best Perforation?
All tests at 1000 psi under
balance

Test
1

CFE =
0.70

P = 11.5

Test 2
CFE = 0.69

P = 11.8

Test 3
CFE = 0.61

P = 11.25

Test 4
CFE = 0.21

P = 11.1

Perforation Dynamics
Diferential Pressure,
psi

2000

Initial static under balance =

1000 psi

1000

Test 4

Test 3

-1000

Test 1
Test 2

-2000
0

0.2

0.4

0.
6

0.8

1.0

1.2

Time, sec

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Best Perforation?
Tests shot at 500 psi over balance

Test
7

CFE =
0.92
P = 11.5

Test
8

CFE = 0.24

P = 11.5

Test
9

CFE = 0.41

P = 10.4

Diferential Pressure, psi

Perforation Dynamics
2500

Initial static over balance = 500 psi

1500

Test 9
500
0

Test 8

-500

Test 7

-1500
-1500

-2500
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Time, sec

1.0

Time Sequence of Perforating Events

0 15 microsec. Birth of jet.

15 250 microsec. Creation of cavity in

rock.
3 15 millisec. initial response of wellbore
fluid.
25 100 millisec. Perforation damage
removal.
> 50 millisec. response of reservoir.

PURE Features
Induces a dynamic under balance in the first few 100
milliseconds after shot.

Allows independent control of the post-perforation surge

(flow during seconds after perforating)

Does not require high initial (static) under balance

Can be overbalance when shooting with TCP under a
packer

Reduces dynamic well bore pressure

Reduce shock in the wellbore

Conveyance Wireline, TCP, Coiled Tubing, Slickline

Benefits
Increases productivity or injectivity
maximize perforation cleanup

Effectively treats all the perforated intervals

Increases effective shot density
Cleans up a wide range of permeability in one
interval

Reduces the initial under balance requirements,

saving costs of N2, completion fluids, etc

Minimizes the tendency to sand-in the guns by

controlling the post perforation surge
Can eliminate the need of perforation acid wash
clean-up in gas and oil wells

Candidate Well Selection

Pressures >1200 psi and perm >1 md gas & 10

md oil.
Wells with long perforated intervals.
Water/gas injectors
Where multiple WL gun runs are necessary.
Guns must be shot in liquid.

Well Comparison LPAA LPDC

Well LPAA

Well LPDC

PURE Perforation - Well LPX2

Reservoir pressure ~
5119 psi

PURE Perforation - Well LPX2

Reservoir pressure ~
5119 psi

 SPE 71642

Papers & Publications

Laboratory Experiments Provide New Insights into

Underbalanced Perforating
SPE 77364
New Underbalanced Perforating Technique Increases
Completion Efficiency and Eliminates Costly Acid Stimulation
SPE 84910
A Step Change in Perforating Technology Improves
Productivity of Horizontal Wells in the North Sea
SPE 86543
Dynamic under balance perforating eliminates near wellbore
acid stimulation in low-pressure Weber formation
Oilfiled Review Winter 2003/2004
Dynamic Underbalanced Perforating