Introduction to and
Benefits of Tubing-
Summary. Tubing-conveyed per-
forating (TCP) technology has grown
dramatically during the past 5 years.
This paper presents a general over-
view of state-of-the-art TCP systems
and operating techniques and dis-
cusses the TCP benefits and the
tradeoffs involved in the use of con-
ventional wireline perforating. The
TCP gun string, with spacers and se-
lected accessories, is run into the well
on the end of a testing or completion
string, and the guns are positioned
across the zones of interest (Fig. 1).
When the TCP string is positioned
with a nuclear-type logging device,
the surface well-control equipment in-
stalled, and the desired pressure un-
derbalance established, the guns are
fired. The result is simultaneous per-
foration of all selected intervals with
high-performance gun systems in an
optimal pressure environment.
134
Conveyed Perforating
Michael K. Robson, SPE, Schlumberger
Benefits of TCP
Operational Efficiency. TCP allows the
well operator to perforate long, or widely
spaced, intervals simultaneously on a sin-
gle trip into the well rather than having to
make mUltiple runs on wireline. The differ-
ence between TCP and wireline-perforating
rig time depends on interval length and the
number of wireline descents vs. the addi-
tional time to position the string and to ready
the well for TCP operations. However, TCP
exposes the gun to the well environment
longer than wireline perforating, a concern
in high-temperature operations.
TCP gives the well operator an opportu-
nity to perform a flow test immediately after
perforating. Impulse-type testing techniques
can be used to identify the extent of well-
bore damage before large investments in
stimulation or gravel packing are made. In
addition to impulse testing, a variety of other
testing and completion equipment can be
combined with the TCP string to provide for
comprehensive reservoir evaluation immedi-
ately after perforating.
Underbalanced Perforating. An under-
balance, established between the formation
and wellbore pressures before the TCP guns
are fired, creates an instantaneous and con-
trolled surge of formation fluids into the
well, which cleans the perforations and en-
'hances the well's productivity and injec-
tivity.
Safety. Surface well-control equipment is
installed and tested before perforating,
guaranteeing complete safety throughout all
phases of the TCP operation.
High-Performance Perforating Systems.
Gun size is limited by the ID of the casing,
pennitting use of the largest possible charges
(either deeply penetrating or big-entry-hole
type) and high shot densities. Guns can be
configured to provide the optimum shot den-
sity and pattern for the specific application.
TCP Completion Types
Temporary TCP Completions. In a tem-
porary TCP completion, the guns are run
Copyright 1990 Society of Petroleum Engineers
into the well at the end of a workstring. Af-
ter the guns are fired and time is allowed
for cleanup and testing, the well is killed
with a nondamaging completion fluid and
the TCP string is removed. Completion
procedures-backwashing, acidizing, frac-
turing, or gravel packing-can then be im-
plemented.
Large Intervals or Multizone Wells.
Large intervals or wells where several wide-
ly spaced zones are commingled into a single
production string are completed efficiently
on a temporary workstring. After perforat-
ing, the well is killed with a nondamaging
completion fluid and the gun string is re-
moved. This system affords the benefits of
TCP while providing an alternative to leav-
ing the gun string in the well where it could
interfere with future operations.
Gravel-Packed Wells. High-shot-density
TCP guns loaded with big-entry-hole
charges shot underbalanced are used to per-
forate a zone to be gravel packed. After
cleanup, the well is killed with a nondamag-
ing completion fluid and the guns are re-
trieved to permit the running of screens and
installation of the gravel pack.
Testing. A well-control valve can be used
in conjunction with TCP to provide a quick
look at the near-wellbore region by impulse
testing. A longer-duration drill stem test
(DST) provides for a more detailed analysis
of the commercial potential of the reservoir
through observation of the types of fluids
recovered and the flow rates.
The DST/TCP combination ensures opti-
mum perforation cleanup and provides
reservoir performance characteristics. The
system involves TCP guns run below a re-
trievable packer and a set ofDST tools. Im-
mediately after firing, the well is tested by
alternately flowing and shutting in to devel-
op the desired reservoir information.
Permanent TCP Completions. In a perma-
nent TCP completion, the guns are run on
the end of the final completion string. The
wellhead and safety equipment are installed
before firing. The guns remain in the well
after the perforating operation and may be
dropped into the rathole if desired.
In permanent completions, there is no
need to kill the well and the perforating op-
February 1990 • JPT
 sPETechtrology
Today SERIES

- - - - Well Head / Flow Head

f------- Casing

...- - - - - - Tubing / Drill Pipe

"TCP allows the well
operator to perforate
long, or widely
- - - - DSTTools spaced, intervals
simultaneously on a
Packer single trip into the well
rather than having to
- - - - - Accessories make multiple runs
~----- Firing Heads on wirellne."

>------ TCP Guns

Fig. 1-TCP gun string positioned downhole.

eration is performed with the wellhead and
all safety equipment in place.
Short Intervals. In development wells
where gross intervals to be perforated are
short (no more than 200 ft [61 m)), suffi-
cient rathole can be provided to drop the
guns, leaving the perforated interval unre-
stricted with the production string in place.
Subsequent through-tubing work, such as
production logging, wireline reperforating,
and fluid isolation with a through-tubing
bridge plug, can be readily performed.
Gravel Pack. New techniques permit in-
stallation of the gravel pack on the same trip
as the TCP operation, providing for a per-
manent completion.
Hostile-Environment Wells. Well safety
is particularly critical on jobs where high
pressure, high temperature, or sour gas pre-
vails. A permanent TCP completion pro-
vides for maximum safety under these
conditions.
Dual Completion. Two production zones
can be perforated selectively with TCP guns
with a dual string in a permanent com-
pletion.
TCP Hardware
Guns. The selection of a gun system for a
specific perforating job depends on the fol-
lowing:
I. Completion hardware dimensions, such
as casing ID (or packer ID for "sting-
through" TCP operations).
2. Type of perforation desired (big hole
for sand control or deep penetration for a
natural or stimulated completion).
3. Desired shot density and shot phasing.
4. Clearance requirements in view of
fishing.
5. Environmental conditions (guns are
available for service to 425°P and 20,000
psi [218°C and 138 MPa] with exposure
times up to 200 hours).
Considerable flexibility in equipment
selection provides for optimum completion
of any particular well. A wide choice of per-
forating charges, shot densities, and shot
phases in a given gun size is available.
Large, extra-deep-penetrating charges
loaded at a reduced shot density provide ef-
fective perforating in natural completions.

JPT • February 1990 135

 Author Higher shot densities with optimum shot
phasing provide enhanced productivity for
Michael K. Robson wells completed in laminated or shaly sands.
is general manager Big-entry-hole charges fired at high shot
at the Schlumber· densities provide for effective perforations
ger Perforating & for gravel-packed completions. Guns that
Testing Center in
perforate only one side of the casing can be
Rosharon, TX. Rob·
son oversees the
provided for the completion of deviated
engineering and wells in which sand production is antic-
manufacturing of ipated.
equipment used in
evaluating and Firing Systems. Firing heads are located at
the top of the gun string, allowing guns to
completing wells. He holds a BS degree
In geological engineering from Queens be assembled safely before the head is in-
U., Kingston, Onto stalled. The choice of firing systems hinges
on safety, reliability, redundancy, flexibil-
ity, and cost considerations.
Firing heads may be fired electrically or
actuated by tubing or annulus pressure, me-
chanical stuffing or jarring on slickline, or
a drop bar. Safety is ensured with pressure-
fired or mechanical systems by the require-
ment that a minimum hydrostatic pressure
exist before the system can be actuated. A
predetermined time delay can be provided
with the pressure-fired systems to afford
time to establish the desired pressure under-
balance. New-generation firing systems af-
ford increased safety and reliability by
permitting the gun string to be run into the
hole without the firing head being attached.
Once the gun is positioned, the firing head
is run into the well on wireline or slickline
and attached to the gun. Cable is removed
or left in place, and then the guns are fired.
Electrically fired systems use a female wet
connector conveyed by wireline that mates
with a male connector run in with the guns.
This system has the benefits of direct feed-
back of wireline perforating and capability
for real-time pressure, temperature, and
flow measurements. Interpretation of these
measurements provides well performance
information immediately after the guns are
fired.
136
Firing system redundancy reduces the
possibility of a misfire, a major considera-
tion in light of the time required to retrieve
and rerun a TCP string. All modern TCP
firing heads can be combined to provide
redundancy.
Accessories. A wide variety of accessories
enhances TCP operations. Circulating subs
permit the TCP string to be isolated during
tripping and completion procedures. Debris
can be circulated out and fluid circulated in
before firing to provide a controlled under-
balanced condition.
Valves are available to allow tubing to be
pressure tested or opened before firing.
These valves afford excellent control of
surge conditions and are effective in multi-
zone and workover applications.
Other accessories include a variety of gun-
release subs for permanent completions,
shock absorbers, swivels, and dual-comple-
tion hardware.
Conclusions
The primary purpose of TCP is to establish
the best possible communication between the
reservoir and the wellbore. Many factors in-
fluence the TCP system choice and highlight
the need for communication between the
various engineering groups.
Provenance
This paper is SPE 19109. Technology To-
day Series articles provide useful summary
information on both classic and emerging
concepts in petroleum engineering. Pur-
pose: To provide the general reader with a
basic understanding of a significant concept,
technique, or development within a specif-
ic area of technology.
JPT
February 1990 • JPT