PERFORATION (PERFORATING)
Presented by: Aghayev Mahammadali
Asadzadeh Raul
University/faculty: ASOIU- SABAH Groups
Group: 234.22ES
Specialty: Oil & Gas Engineering
Teacher: Prof. Suleymanov Eldar
Department: Department of Oil & Gas Engineering
Subject: Completion Engineering
TABLE OF CONTENT 2
• Introduction 3
• Types of perforation 4-5
• Conveying methods 6-
10
• Explosives & Initiators 11-
13
• Overbalanced perforation 14
• Balanced perforation 15
• Underbalanced perforation 16
• Summary of differences
17-18
• Conclusion 19
• References 20
INTRODUCTION 3
• For cased-hole completions, we have to
perforate (create holes) the part of
the casing adjacent to the reservoir.
• It should be noted that, while being
costly, cased-hole completion is
extensively used in many fields. It is
used in both onshore and offshore fields.
Advantages of cased-hole completions
include:
• Decreased sand production
• Ability to add new zones, plug old
zones using plugs, cement squeeze.
TYPES OF PERFORATION 4
• Bullet perforation- is the first type of
perforation used since the 1930s. In the
bullet-perforating method, propellant-
driven bullets which can reach the
velocities of 3300 ft/sec are shot.
Nowadays, this type of perforations are Bullet perforation
rarely used, mostly used for soft
formations.
• Water-jet (or sand) perforation) uses
high-pressure water-jet or sand slurry
using nozzles and pumps to cut through
the casing, cement and formation.
Advantage: this method
perforates the formation with little Water-jet perforation
TYPES OF PERFORATION 5
• Jet perforation- is the most used type of
perforation these days. It uses cone-shaped
charges which resemble armor-penetrating
shells. These shells are loaded in the
perforating gun linked as an “explosive
train”. These charges forms high pressure
(between 5-15 million psia at 30,000 ft/sec)
at a small point (jet).
• The perforation in done in 1 millisecond
(1/1000 of a second). However, debris from
casing (liner), cement, formation is left in
the reservoir which has to be cleaned.
Jet perforation gun and
• Jet perforation can be conveyed using cone-shaped charge
CONVEYING METHODS 6
• Drill pipe
perforation- benefits
from the drill stem
test (DST) equipment,
where perforated
zone is isolated with
packers. This
procedure takes extra
time and money.
Because of this, this
procedure is used
Drill stem test Drill pipe perforation
seldom. The only
advantage comes
from the fact that the
CONVEYING METHODS 7
Costs related to perforation
CONVEYING METHODS 8
• Slickline perforation- is a rather new
type of perforation. Unlike wireline, we
cannot control slickline remotely. Because
of this, we attach memory recorder in
order to set a timer for the perforation.
We also have temperature, pressure
sensors for perforating the correct zone.
• The advantages of slickline over wireline
are being cheaper and ability to hold
more weight.
Slickline perforating
CONVEYING METHODS 9
• Coiled tubing perforation- has
attacted attention for its ability to
perforate in horizontal wells. CT
perforation is also used for underbalance
perforations, which helps clean the
perforations and helps reduce near-
wellbore damage.
Coiled tubing perforation
• CT perforation is activated by dropping a
ball, which will hit the firing pin to
detonate the explosive charge.
• However, CT perforation are limited in the
depth they can achieve. Also, if we push
Buckling
the tube too hard, this will cause
CONVEYING METHODS 10
Coiled tubing perforating
EXPLOSIVES & INITIATORS 11
• In perforations, secondary
explosives are primarily used (in
detonator, detonating cord and
charges). These types of
explosives are less sensitive than
primary explosives, which makes
them safe while being more
powerful when detonated.
• As for the primary explosives, the
are used as initiators along with
electrical and mechanical
methods.
• The type of explosives used for Initiators
EXPLOSIVES & INITIATORS 12
Chart of initiators
Chart of used secondary
EXPLOSIVES & INITIATORS 13
Time & temperature curves for secondary
OVERBALANCED PERFORATION 14
• In overbalanced perforation, the pressure in
the wellbore is higher than the pressure in the
reservoir. This pressure difference causes
wellbore fluids (such as drilling mud or
completion fluid) to flow into the reservoir after
the perforations are created.
• Characteristics:
• Fluid Invasion: The overbalance pressure
forces wellbore fluids into the perforations and
surrounding formation.
• Formation Damage: There is a risk of
damaging the formation due to fluid invasion,
especially if solids or chemicals in the wellbore
fluid plug the reservoir pores, reducing
permeability.
• Common Usage: Historically, this was the most
common perforation method, especially in
formations that do not easily suffer from fluid
BALANCED PERFORATION 15
• Balanced perforation occurs when the
wellbore pressure is equal to the reservoir
pressure. This creates a neutral pressure
differential, and there is minimal fluid
movement between the wellbore and the
reservoir.
• Characteristics:
• Minimal Fluid Exchange: Since the
pressures are equal, there is little or no
movement of wellbore fluid into the
formation or reservoir fluids into the
wellbore.
• Formation Protection: This method
reduces the risk of formation damage
because there is no overbalance forcing
fluids into the formation.
UNDERBALANCED PERFORATION 16
• In underbalanced perforation, the
pressure in the wellbore is lower than the
reservoir pressure. This causes reservoir
fluids (oil, gas, or water) to flow into the
wellbore immediately after the perforations
are made.
• Characteristics:
• Immediate Flow: The pressure differential
causes the reservoir to "clean up" the
perforations by flushing out debris, potentially
enhancing well productivity.
• Formation Protection: There is minimal risk
of formation damage from fluid invasion
because no wellbore fluids are forced into the
formation.
• Enhanced Cleanup: Reservoir fluids can
SUMMARY OF DIFFERENCES 17
Overbalanced Balanced Underbalanced
Perforation Perforation Perforation
Reduced risk of blowouts. Reduced risk of formation Reduces the risk of
Simpler well control. damage compared to formation damage.
Often preferred in overbalanced perforation. Often results in better well
Advantages situations where well Adequate well control. productivity due to
control is critical. immediate flow and
cleanup.
Ideal for tight reservoirs or
formations sensitive to fluid
invasion.
Potential for formation Requires precise pressure Higher risk of uncontrolled
damage due to fluid control to maintain the flow (blowout) if the well is
invasion. balance. not properly managed.
Disadvantage Lower production rates if Can be challenging to Requires more
formation damage occurs. execute in formations with sophisticated pressure
rapidly changing pressure control and safety
conditions. measures.
s
SUMMARY OF DIFFERENCES 18
Wellbore
Main Fluid Risk of Well Safety
Perforatio Pressure
Flow Formation Productivi Considera
n Type vs.
Direction Damage ty tions
Reservoir
Overbalan From
Higher Easier
ced wellbore Can be
than High well
Perforatio to lower
reservoir control
n reservoir
Minimal
Balanced
Equal to fluid Moderate
Perforatio Low Moderate
reservoir movemen control
n
t
Underbala From
Lower Higher
CONCLUSION 19
• As we mentioned, perforation plays a critical role in well completions.
The main challenge is not only perforating the correct layer perfectly
for the best productivity rate, but also conducting these operations in
a safe manner.
• Perforation involves the use of explosives. Because of this, proper
procedures have to be followed in order to prevent injuries and
casualties.
Preparation of the perforating
REFERENCES 20
I. Bellarby, J. (2009). Well completion design. Elsevier Science.
II. Economides, M. J., Watters, L. T., & Dunn-Norman, S. (1998).
Petroleum Well construction. Wiley-Blackwell.
III. [Link]
a. [Link]
fracturing-mechanism-a-hydraulic-injection-stage-
b_fig1_358714964
b. [Link]
File:Drill_Stem_Test.png
c. [Link]
File:Buckled_column.svg
d. [Link]
[Link]
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