TerraConnect Flow lab

Agenda
• Traditional Shaped Charges performance
evaluation
• New Shaped Charges Evaluation Standard
• PITC Section II baseline
• Optimized Shaped Charges
• Additional Testing and Development Capabilities
• Summary
Traditional Shaped Charges
Performance Evaluation
The API RP 19B Standard

API RP 19B adopted in 2000

∙ The industry accepted standard for evaluating perforating
guns

API RP 43 officially “obsolete” since 1997

· Fifth Edition, data sheet is still used, though

 Section I Surface Conditions, Concrete Target

 Section II Under Stress Conditions, Berea Target
(Optional)
 Section III Elevated Temperature, Steel Target
(Optional)
 Section IV Flow Performance Under Simulated
(Optional) Downhole Conditions
API RP19B Section I Target
Casing
Gun

Briquette Water
Test
28 Day
Specimen
Concrete
Target

Steel Form
API RP 19B, Form 19R
New Shaped Charges Evaluation
Standard
 Evaluating Perforator Performance

Section I Section II Section III Section IV

Target Berea Steel Berea sandstone

Concrete
sandstone
Fluid Brine saturated Air or liquid Brine
No fluid
environment Odorless Mineral Spirits
Pressure Applied stress Atmospheric Applied stress
Atmospheric to simulate to simulate overburden,
overburden pore and wellbore pressures
Temperature Ambient Ambient Elevated Ambient

Fluid flow No flow No flow Axial/radial

No flow
Section II Test
 Section II Test
1. Apply Pressures
2. Fire Shot
3. Acquire data
4. Equalize
5. Bleed Pressures
6. Remove target
7. Measure results
 Perforation Flow Laboratory Testing

2818 Predator XS in Castlegate 2818 Predator XS in Berea Sandstone

2818 Predator XS in Berea Parallel to Bedding Planes

PITC Section II baseline
Testing Parameters

• Five Families of charges evaluated: DP Steel,

XS, XPE, ZX and DeepConnnect.
• Four Sizes Tested: 2 7/8, 3 1/8, 3 3/8 and 4 ½.
• All charges shot in Berea Sandstone cores.
• Average porosity of 19.6%
• 3 shots taken per data point.
• 213 total shots performed
Results 4 1/2
Results

• Best Charges in concrete are not always

the best ones in Berea
• Best design varies from size to size
• Pressure decreases performance faster
from one design to the other.
Optimized Shaped Charges
Typical Shaped Charge

Primer
Main Case
load
explosive
load

Liner Liner

Deep Penetrating Big Hole (Gravel Pack)

Approximate Jet Velocities and Pressures

Slug Target
Target
3,000 ft/sec V1
P2

P1 0.5 in.
1
JET 16 in.
V2

Pressure on target - P1 = 15 x 106 psi

Lateral pressure (at 0.50 in.) - P2 = 100,000 psi
Velocity forward jet - V1 = 30,000 ft/sec
Velocity rear jet - V2 = 15,000 ft/sec
Charge Performance Dependencies
Design Dependent Design Independent
Liner Material Formation Properties

Case Geometry Maximum gun size (completion ID)

Liner Geometry High Explosive Type

HE Liner Interface Casing and cement thickness

HE Pressing Parameters

Liner Pressing Parameters

Computer Simulation
DeepConnect Charges
• Last family of charges
developed by PITC.

• First developed On
Customer’s request.

• Avalable 2 7/8 and 3 1/8

sizes.
Additional Testing and
Development Capabilities
 Perforation Flow Laboratory - Capabilities
Rock Sample Diameter: 7”

Rock Sample Length: 30”

Confining Pressure: 15,000 psi

Wellbore Pressure: 6,600 psi

(2011 upgrade to 10,000psi)

Pore Pressure: 6,600 psi

(2011 upgrade to 10,000psi)

Temperature: Ambient/ 350F

Data Acquisition:
Low Speed – 100/sec
High Speed – 100,000/sec
 Core Perforation Flow Simulation
• Use 2D Finite Difference in-
house simulator for core flow
• Simulate axial flow
• Visualize pressure and
velocity distribution
• Calculate core flow efficiency
• CFD (Computational Fluid
Dynamics)
• Modelling for Tunnel shape
effects
• Invasion Profile testing.
• Shoots with different
wellbore fluids.
 Customer Testing

• Use the Job design form

to collect data.

• Test Time (from request

submission to
completion): 4 to 8
weeks
Summary

- API 19B sheets are not an indicator of downhole

performance.
- Better concrete penetration does not always
translate into better rock performance.
- Section II tests are the best performance indicator.
Comparative tests are becoming common.
- Shaped charges can be optimized for downhole
conditions and rock type to offer the best
performance and production.
QUESTIONS?