Basic Perforation Training Course

1. Introduction to Perforation Technology

1.1 Perforation Fundamentals

• Historical development of perforation technology including (early bullet perforators, shaped charges evolution)

• Purpose and objectives of perforating including (establishing communication, optimizing flow paths)

• Types of perforation systems including (wireline conveyed, tubing conveyed, coiled tubing deployed)

• Key performance parameters including (penetration depth, hole size, shot density, phasing)

• Introduction to API RP 19B and API RP 43 standards for perforation operations

1.2 Perforation Theory and Physics

• Shaped charge principles including (explosive energy focusing, jet formation mechanics)

• Penetration mechanisms including (material displacement, target rock interaction)

• Factors affecting perforation performance including (charge design, wellbore conditions)

• Perforation damage mechanisms including (crushed zone formation, perforation debris)

• Performance characterization including (API section testing, penetration measurements)

2. Perforation System Components

2.1 Shaped Charges

• Charge design principles including (liner geometries, explosive types)

• Charge selection criteria including (deep penetration, big hole, specialty charges)

• Performance characteristics including (penetration depth, hole diameter, entry hole quality)

• Charge size classifications including (standard sizes, slim-hole applications)

• Manufacturing and quality control including (precision requirements, consistency tests)

2.2 Carriers and Gun Systems

• Carrier types including (hollow carriers, semi-expendable, expendable)

• Gun configurations including (through-tubing, casing guns, strip guns)

• Phasing options including (0°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 180°)

• Shot density considerations including (shots per foot, shots per meter)

• System selection criteria including (wellbore restrictions, pressure ratings)

2.3 Firing Systems

• Firing head types including (mechanical, hydraulic, electronic)

• Initiation methods including (pressure, mechanical, electric)

• Redundancy systems including (backup firing mechanisms, dual initiators)

• Safety mechanisms including (mechanical safeties, arming procedures)

• Surface equipment including (shooting panels, pressure monitoring)

3. Perforation Design and Planning

3.1 Well and Reservoir Considerations

• Formation characteristics analysis including (rock properties, stress regimes)

• Wellbore conditions assessment including (deviation, restrictions, fluid environment)

• Completion type integration including (cased hole, open hole, gravel pack)

• Production objectives analysis including (flow rate targets, drawdown limitations)

• Wellbore stability considerations including (sand control needs, formation integrity)

3.2 Perforation Design Optimization

• Shot density selection including (flow rate requirements, formation permeability)

• Phasing determination including (stress orientation, flow optimization)

• Charge selection including (penetration vs. hole size trade-offs)

• Underbalance/overbalance strategy including (pressure differential effects, clean-up mechanisms)

• Gun positioning including (depth control, centralization methods)

3.3 Special Applications

• Extreme HPHT environments including (temperature limitations, pressure ratings)

• Multilateral well applications including (window exits, junction integrity)

• Sand control completions including (gravel pack considerations, frac-pack preparation)

• Through-tubing operations including (access limitations, deployment techniques)

• Remedial perforation including (adding perforations, re-perforation strategies)

4. Explosive Safety and Regulatory Compliance

4.1 Explosive Handling and Transportation

• Explosive classification including (class types, compatibility groups)

• Storage requirements including (magazine specifications, quantity limitations)

• Transportation regulations including (vehicle requirements, documentation)

• Handling procedures including (authorized personnel, safety protocols)

• Emergency response including (incident procedures, notification requirements)

4.2 Well Site Safety

• Pre-job safety meetings including (hazard identification, mitigation measures)

• Explosive transfer protocols including (loading procedures, exclusion zones)

• Arming procedures including (timing, authorization requirements)

• Misfire handling including (wait times, troubleshooting procedures)

• Post-job safety including (disarming procedures, equipment inspection)

4.3 Regulatory Compliance

• Local regulatory requirements including (permits, notifications)

• Industry standards including (API RP 19B testing procedures, API RP 43 recommendations)

• Documentation requirements including (explosive manifests, job records)

• Qualification requirements including (personnel certification, training)

• Auditing and inspection including (compliance verification, record keeping)

5. Operational Procedures

5.1 Pre-Job Planning

• Job design review including (technical considerations, contingency planning)

• Equipment selection and preparation including (testing protocols, assembly procedures)

• Well preparation including (fluid compatibility, pressure control)

• Personnel requirements including (crew composition, responsibilities)

• Risk assessment including (hazard identification, mitigation measures)

5.2 Perforation Execution

• Surface equipment setup including (pressure control, monitoring systems)

• Gun deployment methods including (depth correlation techniques, positioning)

• Firing procedures including (pressure application, mechanical activation)

• Monitoring techniques including (pressure indication, positive firing confirmation)

• Contingency operations including (stuck gun procedures, fishing operations)

5.3 Post-Job Procedures

• Gun retrieval operations including (safe recovery, surface handling)

• Well cleanup and testing including (flow initiation, debris removal)

• Equipment inspection including (spent gun examination, system evaluation)

• Performance evaluation including (perforation effectiveness assessment)

• Documentation including (job reports, performance records)

6. Perforation Evaluation and Testing

6.1 Perforation Quality Assessment

• Surface testing methods including (API RP 19B Section 1 targets, concrete targets)

• Downhole evaluation including (flow tests, production logging)

• Imaging techniques including (acoustic tools, camera systems)

• Performance verification including (actual vs. predicted performance)

• Quality assurance programs including (gun system validation, charge lot testing)

6.2 Performance Optimization

• Productivity analysis including (skin factor evaluation, flow efficiency)

• Damage minimization techniques including (dynamic underbalance, surge techniques)

• Clean-up operations including (backflow procedures, acid treatments)

• Re-perforation considerations including (candidate identification, execution strategy)

• Case study analysis including (success factors, lessons learned)

7. Advanced Perforation Techniques

7.1 Dynamic Underbalance Perforating

• Concept and principles including (pressure wave effects, surge creation)

• Hardware configurations including (surge chambers, vent assemblies)

• Design considerations including (chamber sizing, differential pressure)

• Application criteria including (formation characteristics, fluid properties)

• Performance benefits including (skin reduction, productivity improvement)

7.2 Oriented Perforating

• Orientation methods including (gyroscopic tools, magnetic orientation)

• Applications including (stress alignment, hydraulic fracturing preparation)

• Equipment requirements including (orientation tools, verification methods)

• Operational procedures including (orientation verification, gun positioning)

• Performance advantages including (directional flow enhancement, frac initiation)

7.3 Extreme Environment Perforating

• HPHT considerations including (temperature limitations, pressure ratings)

• Corrosive environment adaptations including (material selection, barrier systems)

• Deep water applications including (deployment challenges, pressure testing)

• Extended reach wells including (conveyance limitations, gun string design)

• Special materials including (corrosion-resistant components, high-temperature explosives)

8. HSE in Perforation Operations

8.1 Explosives Safety Management

• Explosive safety program including (policy development, implementation)

• Risk management including (hazard identification, control measures)

• Personnel protection including (PPE requirements, safe distances)

• Equipment inspection including (routine checks, certification maintenance)

• Incident reporting including (near-miss documentation, corrective actions)

8.2 Operational Safety

• Pressure control including (wellhead testing, barrier verification)

• Radioactive source handling including (tracer handling, source management)

• Chemical safety including (SDS requirements, handling procedures)

• Well control considerations including (kill procedures, barrier management)

• Emergency response including (evacuation plans, emergency contacts)

8.3 Environmental Considerations

• Waste management including (explosive residue, spent materials)

• Noise control including (acoustic monitoring, hearing protection)

• Spill prevention including (containment systems, response equipment)

• Regulatory compliance including (reporting requirements, documentation)

• Sustainable practices including (material selection, waste minimization)

9. Quality Control and Assurance

9.1 Equipment Quality Control

• Manufacturing standards including (material specifications, tolerance requirements)

• Testing protocols including (pressure testing, function testing)

• Traceability systems including (component tracking, batch identification)

• Storage and maintenance including (shelf-life monitoring, inspection schedules)

• Non-conformance management including (defect identification, corrective actions)

9.2 Operational Quality Assurance

• Pre-job verification including (equipment checks, system testing)

• Procedural compliance including (standard operating procedures, checklists)

• Performance monitoring including (real-time evaluation, parameter verification)

• Post-job analysis including (performance review, success criteria evaluation)

• Continuous improvement including (feedback integration, procedure updates)

10. Troubleshooting and Problem Solving

10.1 Common Perforation Challenges

• Misfire diagnosis including (electrical continuity, pressure issues)

• Gun sticking mechanisms including (debris accumulation, wellbore restrictions)

• Depth correlation issues including (reference discrepancies, tool error)

• Performance shortfalls including (inadequate penetration, poor productivity)

• Hardware failures including (component breakdown, system malfunction)

10.2 Remedial Actions

• Misfire recovery including (safe retrieval, disarming procedures)

• Stuck gun recovery including (fishing techniques, mechanical release)

• Alternative firing methods including (backup systems, workaround solutions)

• Re-perforation strategies including (optimization adjustments, technique modification)

• Lessons learned implementation including (root cause analysis, preventive measures)

11. Case Studies & Group Discussions

• Regional case studies from Middle East operations including (carbonate formations, HPHT wells)

• Perforation optimization successes including (significant productivity increases, skin reduction)

• Problem-solving exercises including (perforation design challenges, system selection)

• Integrated completion optimization including (perforation-fracturing coordination, sand control integration)

• The importance of proper training in successful perforation operations