Perforation for Field Engineers Training Course

1. Field Perforation Fundamentals

1.1 Practical Perforation Principles

• Perforation system components including (shaped charges, carriers, and firing heads)

• Field performance parameters including (penetration depth, shot density, and phasing)

• Common perforation systems including (wireline conveyed, tubing conveyed, and coiled tubing deployed)

• Field selection criteria including (wellbore conditions, pressure ratings, and operational constraints)

• Relevant API RP 19B and API RP 43 standards for field operations

1.2 Practical Well Considerations

• Wellbore condition assessment including (restrictions, fluid environment, and pressure conditions)

• Perforation interval identification including (depth correlation methods and marker verification)

• Well control barriers including (primary and secondary barriers during perforation)

• Surface equipment requirements including (pressure control equipment and monitoring systems)

• Pre-job verification including (well schematic confirmation and operational parameters)

2. Perforation Equipment

2.1 Field Gun Systems

• Gun system components including (charge carriers, subs, and tandem connectors)

• Gun system assembly including (proper handling techniques and verification procedures)

• Pressure/temperature ratings including (operational limits and safety margins)

• Field testing procedures including (circuit continuity checks and pressure testing)

• Equipment inspection including (thread inspection, O-ring verification, and damage assessment)

2.2 Firing Systems

• Field firing head types including (mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic systems)

• Field arming procedures including (safety protocols and verification techniques)

• Detonator handling including (safe practices and connection procedures)

• Trigger mechanisms including (pressure activation, mechanical manipulation, and electric initiation)

• Field testing including (function testing, continuity checks, and pressure verification)

2.3 Deployment Equipment

• Wireline deployment equipment including (trucks, pressure control equipment, and cables)

• Tubing conveyed equipment including (work strings, running tools, and rig equipment)

• Coiled tubing equipment including (injector heads, control cabins, and BOP stacks)

• Depth control equipment including (CCL tools, gamma ray detectors, and correlation equipment)

• Surface monitoring equipment including (pressure gauges, tension indicators, and data acquisition)

3. Field Operations

3.1 Pre-Job Procedures

• Equipment selection including (matching tools to well conditions and operational requirements)

• Pre-job equipment testing including (pressure testing, function testing, and verification checks)

• Surface preparation including (exclusion zone establishment, equipment positioning, and safety briefings)

• Perforation program review including (shot details, depth intervals, and operational parameters)

• Risk assessment including (job safety analysis, hazard identification, and mitigation measures)

3.2 On-Site Assembly

• Gun loading procedures including (charge loading, spacer placement, and detonator installation)

• Safety protocols including (explosive handling zones, personnel limits, and safety equipment)

• Function testing including (electrical continuity, pressure integrity, and mechanical function)

• Gun string makeup including (torque specifications, connection procedures, and integrity verification)

• Quality control including (component verification, checklist completion, and supervisor approval)

3.3 Deployment Operations

• Well preparation including (fluid condition verification, pressure control, and barrier testing)

• Running in hole procedures including (speed limitations, weight indicators, and depth tracking)

• Depth correlation techniques including (CCL log correlation, gamma ray matching, and tagging procedures)

• Positioning verification including (tension measurements, depth confirmation, and reference checks)

• Communication protocols including (command procedures, confirmation processes, and emergency signals)

3.4 Perforation Execution

• Final verification procedures including (depth confirmation, surface readiness, and pressure checks)

• Firing procedures including (pressure application methods, mechanical activation, and trigger signals)

• Confirmation of firing including (pressure indication, tension response, and positive verification)

• Post-firing procedures including (well monitoring, pressure stabilization, and initial flow control)

• Data recording including (firing parameters, pressure responses, and operational details)

3.5 Post-Job Procedures

• Gun retrieval operations including (safe recovery techniques and handling procedures)

• Spent gun handling including (safe disassembly and inspection procedures)

• Performance verification including (charge detonation confirmation and system integrity check)

• Equipment cleaning including (residue removal, thread cleaning, and preparation for transport)

• Documentation including (job reports, non-conformance documentation, and performance records)

4. Explosive Handling for Field Engineers

4.1 Field Explosive Management

• Explosive classification including (transportation categories and compatibility groups)

• On-site storage including (temporary magazine requirements and security protocols)

• Transfer procedures including (handling protocols, authorization requirements, and documentation)

• Inventory control including (count verification, usage tracking, and reconciliation)

• Misfired explosive handling including (safe recovery and disposal procedures)

4.2 Transportation Procedures

• Vehicle requirements including (placarding, compartmentalization, and safety equipment)

• Documentation including (shipping papers, manifests, and regulatory forms)

• Route planning including (hazard avoidance, restricted areas, and contingency routes)

• Loading/unloading procedures including (safety protocols, grounding requirements, and handling methods)

• Emergency response including (incident procedures, notification requirements, and containment measures)

5. Field Troubleshooting

5.1 Common Field Problems

• Misfire diagnosis including (electrical issues, mechanical failures, and pressure problems)

• Depth correlation issues including (log quality problems, reference errors, and tool failures)

• Gun sticking including (causes, identification signs, and initial responses)

• Surface equipment failures including (pressure control issues, monitoring system errors, and power problems)

• Well condition complications including (unexpected pressures, fluid conditions, and restriction encounters)

5.2 Field Solutions

• Misfire recovery techniques including (wait time protocols, alternative firing methods, and retrieval procedures)

• Stuck gun procedures including (fishing preparations, mechanical release attempts, and contingency plans)

• Depth correlation corrections including (alternative correlation methods, additional log runs, and verification techniques)

• Equipment troubleshooting including (circuit testing, mechanical checks, and component replacement)

• Contingency operations including (backup systems utilization, alternative methods, and revised procedures)

6. HSE for Perforation Operations

6.1 Wellsite Safety

• Explosive safety zones including (establishment procedures, access control, and monitoring)

• Personal protective equipment including (requirements for different tasks and verification procedures)

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

• Equipment safety including (pressure ratings, certification verification, and inspection requirements)

• Emergency shutdown procedures including (activation criteria, execution steps, and personnel roles)

6.2 Emergency Response

• Incident classification including (severity levels, notification thresholds, and reporting requirements)

• Misfire response including (safe wait periods, secondary firing attempts, and recovery procedures)

• Well control events including (barrier loss response, kill operations, and escalation protocols)

• Personnel injury response including (first aid procedures, medical evacuation, and incident reporting)

• Environmental incidents including (spill containment, notification procedures, and remediation actions)

6.3 Environmental Considerations

• Waste management including (explosive residues, packaging materials, and contaminated items)

• Spill prevention including (containment systems, transfer protocols, and preventive measures)

• Noise management including (hearing protection, notification procedures, and monitoring)

• Site restoration including (cleanup requirements, verification procedures, and documentation)

• Regulatory compliance including (reporting requirements, record keeping, and verification)

7. Field Documentation and Reporting

7.1 Operational Documentation

• Pre-job documentation including (job safety analysis, risk assessments, and pre-job checklists)

• On-site records including (inventory sheets, assembly records, and test documentation)

• Operational logs including (time-based records, parameter tracking, and event documentation)

• Post-job reports including (performance summaries, technical details, and completion certificates)

• Non-conformance documentation including (incident reports, failure analysis, and corrective actions)

7.2 Quality Control Records

• Equipment certification including (pressure test certificates, calibration records, and inspection reports)

• Personnel qualification including (competency verification, authorization records, and training certificates)

• Explosive handling including (inventory control, transport documentation, and disposal records)

• Procedural compliance including (checklist completion, verification signatures, and variance documentation)

• Quality assurance including (audits, inspections, and compliance verification)

8. Special Field Techniques

8.1 Underbalance Perforating

• Field preparation including (pressure control setup, fluid conditioning, and equipment requirements)

• Safety considerations including (pressure differential management, fluid containment, and barrier verification)

• Execution procedures including (sequence timing, pressure monitoring, and flow control)

• Performance evaluation including (flow response assessment, cleanup verification, and productivity indicators)

• Troubleshooting including (common problems, field solutions, and contingency measures)

8.2 TCP Operations

• Rig floor procedures including (assembly techniques, pressure testing, and running protocols)

• Safety considerations including (dropped object prevention, pressure control, and barrier management)

• Drop bar operations including (bar selection, deployment techniques, and confirmation methods)

• Hydraulic firing including (pressure application methods, monitoring techniques, and confirmation indicators)

• Contingency operations including (alternative firing methods, recovery options, and problem resolution)

8.3 Through-Tubing Operations

• Equipment selection including (slim-hole tools, specialty carriers, and deployment systems)

• Operational limitations including (size restrictions, pressure ratings, and deployment challenges)

• Execution techniques including (correlation in small diameters, positioning methods, and firing procedures)

• Common challenges including (restricted access issues, depth control problems, and retrieval difficulties)

• Solutions and workarounds including (tool adaptations, alternative methods, and specialized techniques)

9. Advanced Field Techniques

9.1 Field Aspects of Oriented Perforating

• Orientation tool handling including (compass verification, magnetic interference prevention, and tool care)

• Field setup including (surface orientation, reference establishment, and verification methods)

• Operational procedures including (running practices, orientation confirmation, and position maintenance)

• Common field issues including (orientation drift, tool failures, and verification problems)

• Field solutions including (reorientation techniques, alternative methods, and correction procedures)

9.2 Field Aspects of Dynamic Underbalance

• Equipment handling including (surge chamber assembly, vent sub installation, and system verification)

• Safety considerations including (pressure surge management, fluid containment, and barrier requirements)

• Execution procedures including (timing sequence management, pressure monitoring, and flow response)

• Performance evaluation including (surge effectiveness, cleanup indicators, and production response)

• Field optimization including (chamber sizing adjustment, operational sequence tuning, and result enhancement)

10. Case Studies & Field Problem Solving

• Regional field case studies from Middle East operations including (desert conditions, high-temperature wells, and challenging environments)

• Common field failures including (root causes, detection methods, and prevention strategies)

• Successful intervention case studies including (problem resolution methods, innovative approaches, and lessons learned)

• Equipment adaptation examples including (field modifications, alternative uses, and emergency solutions)

• The importance of proper training in successful field operations

11. Hands-On Exercises

• Gun system assembly including (component identification, proper assembly sequence, and verification)

• Firing head preparation including (component inspection, assembly techniques, and function testing)

• Explosive handling simulation including (proper handling techniques, transfer procedures, and safety protocols)

• Troubleshooting scenarios including (problem identification, diagnostic procedures, and solution implementation)

• Documentation practice including (field report completion, incident documentation, and quality records)