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SFE 10033

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Perforating Techniques for Maximiz ng Well Productivity

by W,T, Bell,
* Schlumberger

Well Services

MemberSPE.AIME
Copyright 1982,Society of Pelrolm!rn Engineers
This paper was presented al the International Petroleum Exhibition and Technical Symposium of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in
Bejing. China, 1826 March, 1982.The material is subject 10correction by the author. Permission 10copY is restricted to an abstract of not
more than 300 words, Write SPE,6200 North Central Expressway, Dallas, Tex: .75206 USA.Telex 730989

ABSTRACT

wellbore fluid type, pressure, formation

characteristics, and damage conditions.

any
well
objective
of
A major
to
attain
maximum
completion
is
production. The perforating equipment and
techniques that are used have a very
determining
the
important bearing on
production that results.

is
to
In general, the ot~ective
perforate in a way that produces minimum
to
at
the
flow
resistance
interface.
reservoir/perforated-system
This can be done by:

the
nature
of
According to the
reservoir, wells may be completed either
nt:turally, with sand-control measures, or
with formation stimulation by acidization
The welland/or hydraulic fracturing.
bore-to-formation pressure relationship at
be
perforating
may
the
time
of
overbalanced, balanced, or underbalanced.
be
retrievable,
Perforating guns may
semi-expendable, or expendable; designed
for operation through tubing or in open
casing; run on wireline or on tubing.

- estab~ishing well conditions

enhance
cleanup
of
perforations, and

that
the

- choosing
perforators
and techniques
for best flow performance.
The intent of this paper
is
to
describe the nature of the choices to be
made, to discuss some of the factors that
these
choices,
and
where
bear
on
justified, to make recommendations and
draw conclusions as to the appropriate
action.

various
the
This paper describes
combinations of guns and techniques that
are in commorr use, with the ~dvantages and
The four basic
disadvantages of each.
shot
performance
parameters,
i.e.,
density, perforation diameter, penetration
depth, and gun phasing, are ranked in
order of relative importance for natural,
sand-control, and stimulated completions.
makes
Where
justified,
the
author
recommendations and draws conclusions.

NATURAL COMPLETIONS
natural
completion
involves
The
formations that do not require artificial
worthwhile
to
permit
alteration
hydrocarbon production.
This definition
excludes
completions
requiring
thus
fracturing or massive
stimulation
by
acitlization, as well as those requiring
sand-consol idation
gravel-packing
or
Not excluded, however, are
treatment.
with mud
wells that are lightly treated
acid to cope with wellbore damage.

INTRODUCTION
Perforating techniques to get best
well productivity depend on the type of
well completion;
i.e., natural flow, sand
control, or hydraulically fractured.

Ideally, the well is perforated

placed
directly
on production.

Even within a particular completion

method, choices of technique and equipment
are constrained by the well configuration,

and

Factors Influencing Perforated-System Flow

5!!+W2!iJrec?icts that productivity of
the perforated system is governed by those

Referencesand illustrations
at end of paper
143

PERFORATING TECHNIQUES FOR MAXIMIZING WELL PRODUCTIVITY

which
introduce
skin,
or
factors
resistance to flow I . These skin factors
can be considered in three categories
.
(Ficj. la):
meaning
flow
- Convergent
(s1)?
caused by the directi~n
losses
changes of reservoir fluid as it
enters the perforations.

?.08 k. hf (Ap)
Q~ = ------ ------- ----ST + p (ln re/rw )
where:

Q~ = flow rate corrected for

skin factors, and
ST = s,

Wellbore damage (sz), the region of

reduced permeability
(ks) around
the wellbore, caused by invasion of
incompatible fluid.
- Crushed zone (S3), a region of
permeability surrounding
reduced
the perforation. This zone results
from the compressive action of the
Lab
results
jet.
perforating
indicate that the ~rushed zone is
about half an inch (13 mm) in
thickness, with permeability (kc)
reduced to about 0.1 to 0.2 times
that of the undisturbed rocks.

SPE-1OO33

+ s, . + S3

ST is reduced to a
practical
mini~~m value, productivity ratio (Q~/Qr)
value
of unity.
approaches its maxin,um
Importance
Relative
Parameters

of

Geometrical

the
minimizing
In terms of
ST,
importance of the controllable geometrical
f,lctorscan be ranked as follows 3:
1) Shot density.
Figure 2
2) Penetration depth.

Effects of these factors are dependent

system.
on the geometry of the perforated
Fig. lb illustrates the variables:
- Depth of penetration? ap.
- Shot density, h (shots per ft).
- Gun phasing, @ (angular displacement of successive shots).

zero-degree phasing
3) Gun phasing;
results in 10 to 15 percent loss in
productivity ratio compared with
90, 120, and 180-degree phasing.
4) Perforated hole diameter
tively insignificant).

(rela-

Positive-
%s Reverse-Pressure Perforating

- Diameter of perforation, dp.

ht = total interval

(overbalanced)
Positive-pressure
perforating in the natural completion can
and/or
damaged
plugged
result
in
Shooting in drilling mud,
perforations 4.
for example, usually results in plugging.
reversed by
when
Then
pressure
is
swabbing, onl;na few perforations become
system.
Swabbing
functional
the
reverses pressure in small, incremental
steps, encouraging the perforations in
better portions of the zone to break down
and begin producing. This in turn reduces
across
the
the differential pressure
remaining ones, leaving them unproductive.
shot
density
Thus, a low
effective
seriously
which
reduces
results,
even
though
the
productivity ratio,
penetration depth may be large.

All= pressure differential from

formation to wellbore

Subsequent acidizing in such instances

seldom fully corrects the problem.

To see how these factors interact with

flow, consider first the open wellbore,
where flow rate is predicted in one manner
by:
7.08 k. ht (Ap)
Q, = --------------p(ln re/rw
)
where:

Qr = flow rate
k. = permeability to oil

= fluid viscosity

re = radius of the drainage area

rw = radius of the wellbore

Incorporating the effects of

factors,
flow rate now becomes 2:

skin

clean,
compatible
Perforating
in
fluids is less damaging, although lab and
field results indicate that perforations
positive
pressure
are often
made under
difficult to clean up by swabbing, even
when compatible completion fluid is used.
can,
however,
be
Such
perforations
violent
by
cleaned
effectively
backsurging, as is descri~~d in a later
section.

W.

SPE-1!7033

T.

Whatever the fluid in the wellbore,

perforation cleanup is greatly enhanced by
perforating under conditions of reverse
For best effectiveness, such
pressure.
underbalancerl pressure conditions should
be
adjusted to just above a certain
system
assures
that
threshold value
[Fig. 3). Operating at too low
cleanup
flow
in
reduced
resu~t
can
a AP
operc~ting at ADs above the
efficiency;
threshold level usually will not improve
cleanup and subsequer,t production rate.

recovered.
In cases where more gun runs
needed, the procedure is the same
except that successive guns are positioned
and the well drawn down to re-establish
differential
before ham;
pressure
(Balanced-pressure perforating
used,
not
as desirable as
but
is
course,
reverse-pressure shooting.) Of
provisions must be made to handle any
p;oduced fluid at the s>rface.
are

In the case of long zones, it is

preferable to perforate low-permeability
intervals first, followed by the other
Eigber
intervals
of
permeability.
Otherwise, the back gressure caused by
flow from the higher-permeability sections
might prevent clea;l~p of
the
lowerpermeability perforations.
Lower-permeability
zones
often
require
higher
differential pressure to effect cleanup.

Ap
The threshold level of reverse
fo~~tion type am
varies Wm
requ=cl
characteristics, Particularly PorositY and
~ound
mustbe
permeabili].
Values
higherTypically,

empirically.
permeability zones, 200 to ~~rlpsi (1.38
to 3.45 MPa) is a good range for liquid
producers, and 1000 to 2000 psi (6.9 to
In
producers.
MPa)
for
gas
13.8
low-permeability zones, the values roughly
double; some gas wells in stubborn sands
such
as the
Morrow
of New Mexico have been
completed successfully with differential
pressures as high as 5000 psi (34.5 MPa).

Alternatively, flowing of the well is

often omitted, particularly in the case of
hi~her-permeabil ity liquid producers. The
tuGing
is
simply allowed to fill, the gun
withdrawn, and then the well produced for
final cleanup.
results
are
Typical
productivity
aenerallv. observed t.obe satisfactory, and
;uperior
to
those
obtained - with
positive-pressure perforating. The margin
of improvement increases with decreasing
permeability, and in gas wells.

NETHODS OF REVERSE-PRESSURE PERFORATING

Three rather different techniques
in use:
1)

the common
method,

wireline

BELL

are

through-tubing

production
improved
Frequently,
results are reported where wells initially
completed
positive-ptessure
under
through
are
conditions
reperforated
tubinq, using reverse pressure.

7) the tubing-conveyed technique, and

~) a hybrid positive-pressure/reversesurge technique.

Through-Tubing Equipment Types

WIRELINE THROUGH-TUBING
TECHNIQUE
.THE .

Shaped-charge perforators are of three

types, as shown In Fiq. 5: steel hollowc~~rier retrievable, =emi-expendable, and
gun
Common
expendable
guns.
fully
diameters range from 1 318to 2 7/8 inches
the
size
of
(35 to 73 mm) to accommodate
used in the field.
production
tubing

Fig. 4 compares the through-tubing

method with conventional wireline positive-pressure perforating.
AS implied,
small-diameter guns are run through the
tubing, located as to depth (by means of
gamma-ray or neutron tools and magnetic
casing-collar locators) , and fired under
conditions of reverse pressure. Note that
equipment
is
surface pressure-control
required, along with small-diameter cables
(0.18 to 0.22 inch: 4.6 to S.6 mm), to
allow equipment to be run in and out of
the well with pressure at the surface.

and
characteristics
Perforator
~erformance features vary with gun type 5.
The steel refi~.~~e ~uns, most commonly
used, offer pressure~temperature ratings
to 25,000 psi and 500F (172 MPa and 260
c) wi th some special explosive packages
available which will go to 600F (316 C).
and
reliable,
are
rugged,
They
no
debris-free.
As the guns produce
casing deformation,
they are well suited
for ~se in older wells where casing may be
weak
corrosion.
Generally,
due
to
penetrating capability is from 0.7 to O.R
that of the expendable types. Guns are
usually designed for in-line firing for
clearance control, and are equipped with
positioning devices of the magnetic or
mechanical
types to assure most favorable
casing
wall.
positioning against the

The technique involves running tubing

and packer, installing wellhead equipment,
reverse presadjusting the differential
the gun assembly
and
sure,
running
locator,
(weights, positioners, collar
etc.].
The well is perforated and permitted
(15 - 30
a brief period
to flow for
minutes) prior to recovering the gun, to
that the perforated system is
assure
gun
assembly
is
up.
The
cleaned

145

PERFORATING TECHNIQUES FOR MAXIMIZING WELL PRODUCTIVITY

Positioning improves the

performance (Fig. 6) .

consistency of

Two principal operational

characterize these guns:
1)

SPE-1OO33

In short, for deep wells or in c~ses of

high wellhead p~essure, the steel retrievable guns arc usually to be Fr.eferred.
Likewise, where the well is to be flowed
prier to gun retrieval, the debris-free
feature of the retrievable guns reduces
the likelihood of sticking the gun in the
with
risk
tubing.
Sticking
is
a
expendable guns unless the well is shut in
long enough after firing to allow debris
to fall back into casing.

limitations

A minimum
hydrostatic
pressure must
be maintained on the gun during
excessive
preclude
firing,
to
swelling could
Such
swelling.
result in sticking the gun in the
tubing.
In liquid, from (1to 500
psi (3.5 MPa) is required; in gas,
the figure may range from 500 to
MPa) ,
31.0
4500 psi
(3.5
to
depending on the gas type.

Operational precautions to be observed

include:
- to avoid a fishing operation, you
determine that the level of reverse
differential pressure is not so
high as to blow the gun/cable up
the tubing when flow bsgins after
A computer program iS
firing.
available
to
the
facilitate
calculation,

2) Gun length is limited to about 20

m) , although longer
(6.1
feet
be
The
can
run.
assemblies
principal limitation is imposed by
the
gun
that
the requirement
assembly be no longer than the
practical height of the lubricator.
Well pressure dictates the number
of gun weights necessary for the
assembly to descend, and the length
of these weights must take away
from the effective gun length.

to avoid loss of control

well, you insure that:

of

the

a) appropriate wireline pressurecontrol gea~ has been selected.

b) pressure gear has been recently
pressure testsd.

perforators are
The semi-expendable
generally rated from POOO to 15,000 psi
(5s.1 to 103.4 MPa) and 300 to 350*F (150
As explosive components are
to 177* c).
expossd to the wellbore environment and
gun frames are less sturdy, these guns are
generally considered somewhat less rugged
and reliable than the steel retrievable
charges,
from
the
Debris
models.
fragmented by charge detonation, remains
in the well. It is usually not considered
unless firing is above a
objectionable
packer. Casing deformation is produced 6,
although the modern front-mounted strip or
bar carrier guns produce only about half
guns
as
o~her
expendable
much
as
Penetration as compared with the steel
retrievable types varies from 1.25 to 1.35
times as deep.

c) pressure tests are conducted

after mounting on the wellhead.
TUBING-CONVEYED PERFORATING TECHNIQUE
An alternate, non-wireline method of
reverse-pressure7 ~rforating is illustra.
A
large-diameter,
ted in Fig.
multiphased casing gun is typically run
into the well below the packer on a tubing
string.
Tubing is run dry or partially
filled, to establish the desired level of
reverse differential pressure.
The assembly is positioned as to depth
by means of wireline collar-locator and
gamma-ray or neutron tools, and the packer
set. Just before firing, a vent is opened
below the packer to equalize pressure and
allow passage of fluids between casing
bore and tubing.

Fully expendable guns offer essentsame

and
ially
the
features
semi-expendable
as
characteristics
versions, except that more debris is left
in the well, and more casing deformation
is produced. Many of the models available
are phased at angles other than zero
de~rees, nonpositioned, thus resulting in
entrance-hole
vauiable penetration and
size due to the gun clearance problem
6)
Consequently,
productivity
(Fig.
could be adversely affected (even though
phasing itself is desirable in general).
Both expendable and semi-expendable guns
are usually made up to the length desired
and salvo-fired.

;.hegun is typically equipped with a

percussion-type
firing device located in
the top of the perforator. It is fired by
dropping a bar, or go-devil, down the
tubing.
On firing, fluid rushes into
tubing through the vent. The gun may be
subsequently dropped to bottom to permit
future wireline operations through the
tubing.

Guns usuall
y -eng
%%nO;n
;~~
larg~ameter
cas
general
same
The guns have the
8.
characteristics as those steel retrievable
that
except
guns discussed previously?
they
are
larger,
and
therefore
offer

for a particular
Selection of ~
depe=s
on wellbore conditions
operation
of fluid type, pressure,
temperature,
casing
condition,
and wellhead
pressure.
146

SPE-1OO33

W.

T.

Then the tubing and packer are run in

the hole, with a seal disk installed as
shown in Fig. 9. The seal disk permits
the tubing to be run dry, or with any
desired water cushion. The packer is set,
and differential pressure adjusted to the
desired reverse value. Then a sinker bar
This
is
dropped to shear the disk.
results in a sudden imposition of large
the
at
levels
reverse-pressure
perforations, which terds to surge the
perforations clean.

Productivity results, based on field

indications, are equal to or better than
wireline
those of the
through-tubing
method . The margin of improvement appears
more
to increase under conditions of
extensive wellbore damage.
compared

performance;
- Higher gun
penetration and multiphasing.

WpAcTll
Completion
Action
(Positive
The
involves
Technique) .
method
perforating the well conventionally with
positive pressure, using large-diameter
casing guns such as those shown in Fig.
8. To keep formation damage to a minimum,
guns are preferably fired in the presence
of a compatible completion fluid.

advantages of greater penetration and 90or I?O-degree multiphasing.

The commoner
in the
casing guns offer penetrations
range of 11 to 15 inches (280 to 406 mm) ,
and entry holes from 0.38 to 0.46 inches
(9.7 to 11.7 mm).
(See API RP-43, Sec.
II data for more details.) The comparable
through-tubing guns produce penetrations
about 4(Ito 55 percent as deep, and entry
holes
60 to 75 percent as large in
diameter.

Principal features as
the wireline method are:

BELL

with

Productivity results are reported as

favorable, roughly equal to those of the
tubing-conveyed method.

i.e.,

- Higher differential pressures may

be used without risking blowing the
gun/cable assembly up the hole.
(However, some completion specialists hold that reverse differential
pressures in excess of the estab1ished threshold levels are not
beneficial, and si]ould be avoided.
can
These excessive flow rates
actually impair permeability, due
to migration of fine particles.)

Operational features as compared wi th

the wireline through-tubing method are:
i.e.,
performance;
- Higher gun
penetration and multiphasing.
- Higher differential pressures may
be used without risk of blowing the
gun/cable assembly up the hole.
Rig time is equivalent or less.

- Operational rig time is equal to or

less than that for wireline.
- Cost is normally about
greater.

25

- Cost is slightly less.

percent

- The method is simple.

OPERATIONAL. PRECAUTIONS:

- Tc check the gun for malfunctions

such as partial detonations, it is
necessary to withdraw the assembly
from the well.

- proper selection of the shear disk

important consideration.
is
an
Different disks are used, depending
on hydrostatic pressure.

- Gun misfires are time consuming and

expensive.

- As an added precaution, the running

of a tubing plug immediately above
the disk is recommended, to protect
against premature shearing. Once
the packer is set, you recover the
plug by slick
line and proceed
with
the operation.

SPECIA~ PRECAUTIONS:
- The tubing should be clean, free of
scale, debris, etc.; otherwise the
sinker
bar will
not
detonate
the
S>ch
a misfire
requires
gun.
the
sinker
bar
and
retrieving
the
tubing
before
out
cleaning
making another firing attempt.

PERFORATING .
FOR SAND CONTROL
are
formations
Unconsolidated
gravel-packing
completed
mostly
plastic
less
com!&ly
by
techniques;
are
The latter
consolidation
methods.
usually
confined
to short
zones and upper
zones of dual completions.

flowline
should
be
- The surface
securely
tied
down,
to
preclude
accidents
caused by whipping
action
at high-pressure
flows.
THE HYBRID
SURGE TECHNIQUE

another
Yet
perforated-system

method
response

to
is

Gravel-pack
adder
skin
factorqti:;ffe;~;o;;~
w
the
perforated
efficiency
of
Gravel occupies
the perforations,

improve
called
147

fl%
system 9.
as shown

PERFORATING TECHNIQUES FOR MAXIMIZING WELL PRODUCTIVITY

in the schematic of Fig. 10, introducing
another resistance to flow. AS formation
fluid enters the perforation tunnel,
linear, resulting in a
flow
becomes
substantial pressure drop. This pressure
drop is governed by the area of the tunnel
It can be kept to a
cross section.
larger-diameter
using
by
minimum
perforations and more of them.
In the
(lO-mm) holes are
example, three 0.4-in.
equivalent to one of 0.7 in. (18 mm).

1) Shot density (most important).

7) Perforation diameter.
(Total perforated area is the key.]
3) Gun phasing.
4) Depth of penetration.
perforating
consolidation
Plastic
tech~
essentially follow the same
guidelines as for natural completions,
using conventional casing guns of the type
shown in Fig. 8, or through-tubing types
as in Fig.
5.
Perforations should be
cleaned by flowing, as by back surging
before trying to inject plastic. Thi~
practice has proved its importance toward
obtaining a uniform treatment over the
Successful
treatment
entire interval .
reduces the number of well failures caused
by partial treatment of a zone where only
a
few perforations take the plastic.
Perforations made with positive pressure
perform well under
unlikely
to
are
injection, since they may be filled with
debris before back-flowing.

ravel-pack compl ePerforating for

toward both more
tions 1s thus ~nd?ng
~igger
holes -- typically 8 shots P@r
foot (26 per meter), but going to 12 shots
per foot or more, with hole diameters of
0.6 to 0.8 inrh (15 to 20 mm).
Guns usually used are of two general
7 to 9 S/P-inch
For the~mmon
types.
(]7g
to
744 mm) casing completion, the
wireline-operated
5-inch (l?7-mm) carrier
gun (Fig. 8) is usually run. Four shots
per foot (13 shots per meter) are placed
salvo,
gun
in the casing with each
C.l
lowed
by additional salvos in the same
1...
interval to achieve the desired total shot
density. Maximum gun length per trip into
(i2 meters).
the well is about 40 feet
Selective firing techniques are normally
shot
densities
used to achieve high
without additional trips in the hole.

PERFORATING FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

too
Formations having permeabilities
low to produce naturally are rOutinelY
fractured and/or acidized.

slick-bodied
(15?-mm)
The 6-inch
retrievable gun (Fig. 11) fires 12 shots
per foot (39 per meter) at once, phased at
The entry-hole
60
or
90
degrees.
(15 t:ft:;
diameters age 0.6 to 0.8 in.
The rigure shows the gun
mm) .
firing. Lengths up to 40 feet (12 meters)
are practical for wireline operation.
If
greater lengths are desired, these guns
can be run, fired, and retrieved on tubing
to save rig time; a useful option where
rig costs are exceptionally high, such as
offshore. Guns are depth-positioned
and
fired as in the tubing-conveyed technique
in such cases.

The associated perforating technique

the
typically selected to control
is
hydraulics of the treatment, and at the
same
time
to provide good formation
communication for subsequent production.
Generally, the entry-hole sizes and the
the
distribution of perforations over
target interval are the main elements of
design. The usual objective is to control
pressure drop across the perforations,
thus holding down hydraulic horsepower
losses.

are
Large-diameter expendable guns
seldom used for gravel-packing operations,
because of their characteristic casin9
damage and debris.

with%%%%%a#%%%$
YzE~~~l~~::G
guns (Fig. 8). Perforating is usually at
4 shots per foot (13 per meter), phased at
90 or 120 degrees, with hole diameters of
0.4 to 0.5 in. (10 to 13 mm). The e~:~f~
zone is perforated, often including
Positivethe zone.
sections
within
clean
fluid,
shooting
in
pressure
sometimes acid, is common and effective,
since :racturing overrides any damage that
perforations might have suffered.

Completion conditions established for

include using
gravel-pack
perforating
clean fluids that are compatible with the
formations.
Pressure in the wellbore is
positive.
Prior to gravel par~ing, perforations
are washed through and behind pipe by
means of a wash packer, using a clean,
compatible fluid.
Relative
Parameters

Importance

of

SPE-1OO33

Although deeper gun penetration is not

a perforating
emphasized
normally
requirement, it is con~~dered desirable
well
is
to
be
tested
before
when the
treatment
to establish
design
criteria
for
the operation.

Geometrical

the
of
preferred
ranking
The
geometrical parameters differs
frog the
order listed
for natural
completions
:

Perforating
at 4 per foot is generally
enough
to provide
desirably
low levels
of
148

SPE-1OO33

W.

T.

perforation pressure drop, thus reducing

hydraulic horsepower requirements.

Sand-cor,trol completions place very

different demands on the perforating job.
The overriding requirement in gravel-pack
completions is for large perforation area,
meaning big holes and lot~ of them.
Completions using plastic consolidation are
less common. They call for clean, uniform
perforations, making limited backsurging
attractive.

of
other
means
Ball sealers or
isolation are sometimes used to assure
vertical fracture extension throughout the
Perforating in this way assures
zone.
after
communication
perforation
good
fracturing with any higher-permeability
channels that might exist within the zone.

completions
Fracturing/acidizing
perforations
which will keep
require
hydraulic horsepower losses to a minimum.
Uni form hole sizes and 90-degree shot
selective-firing
phasing are desirable;
offer
advantages
for
systems
gun
limited-entry frac jobs.

fracturing, fewer
For limited-entry
They are
are
used
.
perforations
the
throughout
distributed
usually
of higher
the
interval(s)

permeability, ~~th diamet~~~e~ontrolled at

0.375, 0.5, or 0.7 in. (9.5, 13, or 18
mm) . Since the perforations are often
widely scattered, selective-firing guns of
usually
1? are
the type shown in Fig.
used to reduce rig tire.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author thanks C. R. Fast for his
assistance in reviewing current perforating techniques for hydraulic fracturing.

by
controlled
diameter
is
Hole
positioning the guns against the wall of
zero
perforating
at
the casing for
clearance with zero-degree phasing. Some
of these devices are designed to provide
enhance
burr-free
perforations
to
ball-sealer operation. Ball sealers are
more commonly used than in single-zone
fracturing, since the objective is usually
to create fractures in more than one zone.

REFERENCES

fracturing operations
Through-tubing
use the retrievable steel guns shown in
fired
Fig.
!5, but assembled to
be
or
Expendable
selectively.
semi-expendable guns are not usually used
on selective firing operations.

The preferred
follows:

of

ranking

1.

Locke, S.: WAn Advanced Method for

Predicting the Productivity Ratio of a
Perforated Well, SPE R804 , SPE 4th
Symposium on Formdtion Damage, 1980.

2.

Productivity
of
Hong, K.
C.:
a
in
Completions
Perforated
Pet.
Homogeneous Reservoir, .
Jour.
Tech., Aug., 1975.

3.

The
Bell, W. T. and Bell, R. M.:
Paradox of Gun Power vs. Completion
the
Efficiency ,
Transactions
of
Explosives Conference of the IADC ,
Ju~e 9-11, 1981.

4.

C.:
and Worzel, H.
Allen, T. 0.
Productivity Methods of Evaluating
and
Drilling
Gun
Perforating,
Production Practice API, 1956, m
112-125.

5.

Buzarde, L. E., Kastor, R. L., Bell,

L. :
T
and DePriester, C.
w.
Well
-Produc~~on Operations I
Completions, SPE Continuing Education
Series, 1972.

6.

and Shore, J.
B.:
Bell, W.
T.
Preliminary Studies of Casing Damage
and
* Drilling
from Gun Perforatorsw
Production Practice, 1964, pp. 7-lT

Geometrical
here

is

equal .
TWO
basic methods are used:
through-tubing perforating by wireline,
and tubing-conveyed perforating. A third
hybrid method perforates under positive
pressure in the presence of a compatible
completion fluid, but uses a sheared-disk
hacksurge
to
technique
clean
the
The
advantages
and
perforations.
drawbacks of each method arc discussed.

particularly
at
90
Multiphasing,
minimize
desirable
to
degrees,
is
perforations
breakdown pressure, since
will be more likely to align with the
preferred azimuth of formation fracture.
This means that perforation communication
with the fracture will be less tortuous
than, for example, when shots are fired at
right angles to the plane of a vertical
fracture.

Relative
Importance
Parameters

BELL

as

(consistency
1) Perforation diameter
as
well
as size)l along with
specific numbers of shots.
2) Phasing.
3) Depth of penetration.

CONCLUSIONS
Natural com letions
w en per orating
done under
are is
ls
ore
productive +---f-being
other
factors
reverse
pressure,
149

PERFORATING TECHNIQUES FOR MAXIMIZING WELL PRODUCTIVITY

7.

R.:
Garcia, D. J. and Paslay, P.
t~prediction of Gun-Cable Behavior When
High
Under
Perforating Gas Zones
Reverse Pressures , Transactions of
the Explosives Conference of the IA~C,
June 9-11, 1981.

R.

A
A*
Cone,
E.
for &ercoming
Technique
l?amage, SPE 7009.

9.

Suman, G. 0., Jr.: Perforations -A Prime Source of Well Performance

Pet. Tech. , April,
Problems, Jour.
1972, pp. 399-411.

SPE-1OO33

Completion
Formation

and Rasmussen,
J.
10. Lagrone, K.
W.
in Completion
A New Development
w.:
Limited
Entry
Methods
-The
Pet. Tech., July,
Technique, Jour.
1963, pp. 695-702.
11. Webster, K. R., Goins, W.
C., Jr.,
A Continuous
and Berry, S.
C.:
Technique,
Fracturing
Multi-Staqe
Pit.
Tech. , .Tune, 1965, pp.
Jour.
.
619-625.

A)GEOMETRICAL

B)PHYSICAL/
>ENVIRONMENTAL

rw

CRUSHEDZONE
K.

-[ P
NE

Fig. 1-

Factors affecting perforating system flow rate.

150

- . ----

-.

-.,

1,2

-..----7 ...

i-

1-

..-. -j..... ------

.-

--

/J--

10

..

_.

-/

I
0;
L___~- --7
,/~ J.,-?--t- !
~=-+-

,>..<
---{
/

/ t
/
,

---j

-------

?,.

T.
.

!
&lN PHASING: 9
--(:----- . i-------

Kc

- 0.2

* ...-..... ... .

..

-- i

I
AFTER KLOTZ ET.AL
1

-1

ol-

PERFORATION
Fig. 2- Composite

10

12

14

16

PENETRATION

effecls of skin factors on productivity

18

INCHES
ratio.

0.8

0.7 -

THRESHOLD PRESSURE
FOR OPTIMUM CLEANUP

O-G .

u
z
w
G
~ 0.4 -

>0,5

API BEREA SANDSTONE TARGET

REVERSE PRESSURE FIRING

L
IAf
>0.3

~
I.L

w (),2 -a
0
v
10
0.1

25

1
2fJtJ

100

50

DIFFERENTIAL

PRESSURE,AP

Fig. 3- Differential

(AP19RP-43

pressure vs. CFE.

SYSTEM)

POSITIVE

PRESSURE

REVERSE

METHOD

PRESSURE METHOD

Fig. 4- Posilive pressure andreverse pressure complelionmelhtis.

k
a
a
(. -rl

/
STEEL

$.-

\LUkNU
I

--
RETRIEVABLE
! 5J16 - ~ 9f16
2

FULLY
EXPENDABLE
~316111/16
2118

SEMIEXPE-ND BLE
WIRE CARRIER & STRIP
13f8-1 flf1621}8

Fig. 5- Through4ubing perforators.

7 DIAMETER

0,1
2

,,,...> , ~ i

.0.33
8.0

Fig. 6- Positioning of through-tubing

performance.

guns controls

clearance

assuring

PACKER
ACTIVATED
VENT
ASSEMBLY
MECHANICAL
FIRING SYSTEM
D.
-

Fig. 7-Tubing

COMPLETION
DEBRIS
/
-.
BACKSURGE
~
AT FULL WELL
., PRESSURE =

conveyed perforating technique

ENT. HOLE
PENE.

consistent

MECHANICAL
TUBING
RELEASE

...--.
. ..

-V(

h!

CERAMIC

---4
-1

ALUMIPJUM

RETRIEVABLE
HOLLOW CARRIER
31/8
T050.
DIA.

~SEMIEXPENDABLE
WIRE CARRIER & STRIP
3 I/e TO 4 O. DIA.

EXPENDABLE
31/8

TO

O. DIA,

Fig. 8- Guns, general casing operations,

:,:
owressure 4 II
Y..
.!4$$.- .

In Tubing~~

Z;yy

<4 >;...,

<J.<;
;.,.,;..:,
.;(.,,/. ,

(.8.,..:,;

.*

Diameter

Fig. 9- The PACT hybrid technique

1s4

Casing

Gun

40 MESH (.016 DIA.)

GRAVEL- PERMEABILITY
27,500
md
PERFORATION
/
sCREEN
LINER

. ..

-----/

FLIJID FLOW3 BBL.S PER DAY

0.8 CP OIL

TIJ~NEL-2 LONG

cASING
CEMENT
TUNNEL

PRESSURE

DIAMETER
o.4.
o.7.

.
---

__-14.79
4.84

DROP
Psi
Psl

Fig. 10- Pressl)re drop through perforation tunnel.

CROSS SECTIONALVIEW
OF PERFORATIONS

Fig. 11- 6.inch diameter slick-bodied relievable gun.

155

CCL>
CONTROLLER
ASSEMBLY>

<GUN

NO. 2

SWITCHING

SYSTEM
GUN NO, 2
<

INTERMEDIATE
ADAPTER
< GUN NO. 1
GUN NO. 1
<

(A)

(B)

Fig.

12-

Selective firing perforators.

(c)