PCB4323 - Well Stimulation Techniques

2016 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the copyright owner.

PCB4323 - Well Stimulation Techniques

By

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

(aliyu.adebayor@petronas.com)
(Mobile: 0143485422; Office Ext.: 7051)
(Room No.: 14.02.30)

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Introduction:
Perforating is the process of
creating holes in the casing that
pass through the cement sheath
and extend some depth into the
formation.
Penetration can range from zero to
several inches depending on the
perforator used and the mechanical
and physical properties of the
formation.
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Introduction:
Phasing:

Hole dispersion in
an angular pattern
around the interior
of the wellbore.

Shot density: Number of shots

per linear foot;
typically 1 to 24 or
more.
Figures 1-4 show the typical perforation
geometries while Figs. 5 & 6 illustrate
common shot orientations and the
corresponding angular spacing

Figure 1: Typical perforation

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
PERFORATION TUNNEL

Figure 2: Typical perforation

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Typical Perforated Wellbore

Figure 3: Typical perforation

Gun clearance, or standoff, is the distance from the casing inner surface to the gun, along the axis of the charge.
The issue of gun clearance becomes particularly important when through-tubing perforating is carried out using
smaller-diameter guns in larger-size casing.

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation

Figure 4:
Top View of a
Typical
Perforation
Geometry

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

SHOT ORIENTATION AND ANGULAR PHASING

Gun Phasing:

Reason for phasing?

Phasing:

To improving contact angle with the

formation for the completion or
stimulation design.

Hole dispersion
in an angular
pattern around
the interior
of the wellbore.

Examples 60o,
fracturing

90o,

120o

for

60o for gravel packing

Shot density: Number of shots

per linear foot;
typically 1 to 24
or more.

0o for through-tubing perf addition

(common)

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate common shot

orientations and the corresponding
angular spacing

Gun phasing may also help reduce

sand failures in soft sand formations

180o for orienting perf guns to

known frac direction

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation

Figure 5: Typical shot orientation and angular phasing

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation

Figure 6:
Gun phasing

High shot density and 60 phasing is a common perforating mechanism for high perm formations.
However, this is probably the worst thing to do in low strength sandstones (leads to extensive shock
damage)
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforating Methods

Bullet
Perforator
(Oldest)

HighPressure
Water
Jets

PERFORATING
METHODS

Sandladen
Slurries

Jet
Perforating
(Most
Popular)
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation (Jet Perforating)

Soft Formation

Bullet
Perforator

Velocity
(3,300 ft/sec.)

Brittle Formation

Where round holes in

casing (for ball sealers)
are needed

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation (Jet Perforating)

Abrade hole into Casing, Cement
& Formation by impingement

High-Pressure Water Jets

(Sand-laden Slurries)

Holes & slots created

manipulating the tubing

by

Slurry pumped down the tubing,

turned by deflector & nozzle
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation (Jet Perforating)

Use of high explosives and metal-lined
shaped charges

Most widely used technique ( 95%)

Jet Perforating
Conveyed downhole by slick-line, electric
line, coiled tubing and production tubing
Comprise different explosive
components that are linked to form an
Explosive Train.
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation (Jet Perforating)

Initiator or
Detonator
(Starts the process)

Jet
Perforating

Explosive
Train

Detonating Cord
(Transmits detonation)

Shaped Charges
(Perforates & Penetrates)

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation (Explosives)

EXPLOSIVES
High explosives

Low explosives

(e.g. TNT)

(e.g. propellants & gun powders)

Used in Jet Perforating

applications

Used in setting plugs,

packers and for taking
sidewall samples

Detonation process
involves supersonic
reaction

Deflagration process
involves subsonic reaction
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation (Explosives)

Primary
Explosives
High
Explosives

Secondary
Explosives

EXPLOSIVES

Low
Explosives

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation (Explosives)

Used in initiators to start detonation

HIGH EXPLOSIVES

(Examples: Lead azid, Lead styphnate)

Primary explosives
Sensitive to low energy inputs (i.e. few
ergs); great care required.
Used in all three (3) components of
explosive trains [Examples: TNT (low thermal
stability, not viable), RDX, HMX, HNS, and PYX]

Secondary
explosives

Less sensitive than primary explosives,

thus much safer to handle.
Difficult to initiate but release
tremendous chemical energy in
microseconds.
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Thermal Decomposition (thermal stability):

Explosives are energetic materials with decomposition rates that are

exponential function of temperature. The higher the temperature, the
lower the reaction time.

When the heat generated by decomposition is not removed quickly enough,

the process become unstable, and the reaction can accelerate
uncontrollably until an explosion occurs (i.e. thermal runaway)

Figure 7 shows a set of time-temperature curves.

A minimum safety factor of 50% should be applied when choosing the

explosive type, e.g. if the estimated time on bottom is 60hrs, then 30 more
hours (90hrs total) should be added when selecting an explosive from timetemperature chart.

Pressure accelerates the decomposition reaction.

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation

Figure 7: Time vs Temperature Chart for Explosives

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Initiators
Two general types:
Electric
Percussion
Electrical detonators (Electro-Explosive-Device or EED)
Most common in wireline conveyed systems
Examples are Hot-wire detonators.
Safety resistors are incorporated to impede stray current flow that might
be picked up in the detonator circuit from unintentional sources.

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Electrical detonators (Contd)
Recently, elimination of sensitive primary explosives has improved safety.
Examples of EED that do not contain primary explosives include:
Exploding foil initiators (EFIs)
Exploding bridge-wire detonators (EBDs)

Deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) detonators.

EBWs and EFIs have extremely high threshold instantaneous power to fire the
devices, thus their safety is unquestionable; however, they require downhole
firing modules and special firing panels to function.
The hot-wire and resistorized detonators are much simpler to fire, but they are
most vulnerable to hazard.

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Percussion-initiated device
Most common in tubing-conveyed perforating.
The firing pin strike a sensitive part of the initiator.
The pinching and shearing of explosive inside the initiator generates a
flash that reacts with primary and secondary explosives to achieve
detonation.
Percussion detonators do not have legwires or bridgewires, thus not
susceptible to electrical hazard.
Percussion devices must be handled carefully since they are designed to
function by impact.

Typical impact energies for functioning are approximately 5 to 7 ft-lb.

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Detonating Cord
Used to transmit detonation along the axis of the perforating gun,
sequentially initiating each charge as the detonation wave passes by.
Detonating velocities may differ among cords depending on the properties of
the explosives being used.
HNS and PYX cords are typically slowest (velocities: 20,000 to 21,000 ft/sec).
TDS and HMX cords are faster (velocities ~ 26,000 ft/sec).
Preconditioning the HMX cords with pressure can boost detonation velocity
to just over 29,500 ft/sec. This technique is used when trying to avoid short
interference in ultra-high-shot-density systems.
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
Shaped Charges
Shaped charge or jet perforator is the
explosive component that actually creates the
perforation.
It is a simple device that contain as few as
three components: i.e. case, explosive and
liner.
The liner is a very important element in
shaped charge design.

Attributes of a good liner material are high

density, high ductility, and high sound speed.
Document API RP-67 (1994) provides
recommended guidelines for the safe handling
and use of explosives at the well site.

Figure 8: Shaped charge

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Shaped Charge

Figure 9: A shaped charge for use in a hollow carrier gun.

The hole at the rear of the charge accepts the detonating cord.
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Firing Sequence of shaped perforating charge

A focused pressure wave is
propelled outward from the
charge case during firing.

Detonation cord explosion (high

order) ignites the charge primer
through a small hole in the charge

The charge front expands very rapidly

everything in the charge must be
symmetrical for the best performance.

Figure 10: Firing sequence

As the explosion front of the charge

reaches the liner, it will start the
process of forming the jet.

The liner is deformed and adds mass to

the jet, not moving at over 20,000 ft/sec.

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Firing Sequence of shaped perforating charge

Figure 11: Detonation process

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Firing Sequence of shaped perforating charge

Figure 12: Detonation & penetration processes

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Perforating Gun Systems

Retrievable hollow carrier gun (or TCP)

Fast running speeds into the wellbore

No debris
Normally 60 maximum length

Fully expendable guns

Can be run in longer lengths (up to

200 ft per run)

Figure 13: Big Hole charges in a loading tube prior to

loading in a scalloped hollow carrier gun.

Most economical gun costs and

time
Debris left in the wellbore
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Perforating Gun Systems

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Conveyance Selection
Depends on what is needed
High underbalance w/flow - TCP
Lower underbalance to overbalance - TCP or E-line
Adding Perfs - wireline
Deviated

long zone - TCP

short zone - TCP or coiled tubing
short radius - wireline
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Well Perforation
The Penetration Process
Jet penetration from a shaped charge occurs by the jet pushing material
aside radially.
Perforator penetration decreases as a function of increased formation
compressive strength.

= + .
where
= Penetration into the producing formation, inches
= Penetration into the test sample, inches
= Compressive strength of the test sample, psi

= Compressive strength of the producing formation, psi

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Perforation Penetration
Factors affecting
penetration:
Formation compressive
strength

Grain size
Porosity
Connate fluids
Overburden pressures

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Perforation Penetration

Figure : Effect of compressive stress

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Perforation Selection

A big hole and a deep penetrating charge produced with the same 34 grams of powder.
The BH charge made a 1 diameter entrance hole 8.8 long, while the DP charge
produces a 0.55 hole diameter and 17.3 of penetration
Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Perforation Selection
Natural completion

Deep Penetration (DP) usually

Stimulation

Big Hole (BH) usually

Weak sands

No pack - (DP)

Gravel pack

BH

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

Questions?

Thank you

Dr Aliyu Adebayo Sulaimon

THANK YOU
2012 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the copyright owner.