Sand Jet Perforator

Non-Explosive Perforation
Asfan Hasbiantoro

technology provided supported by:

Sand Jet Perforator
Sand jet perforating (SJP) is a process that uses high High pressure fluid slurry
pressure fluid slurry to perforate tubulars and cement erodes and washes out a
perforation channel
within an oil or gas well, and simultaneously extend a
cavity into the reservoir. Advances in metallurgy have
allowed major re-designs of sand jet perforating tools
and jet orifices.
Key Points
Ideal Applications: • No explosives
1. Shallow land (to 2500m) wells • Easy handling
2. Areas with explosive use and transportation
restrictions • Vertical depth independent
3. Horizontal well applications • No swarf
• Easy adaptable to rig pumps
Well Construction Benefits: • Field proven – daily used
4. Large, no skin perforation tunnels
5. No Skin = No Consequential Pressure Drop = Higher • Increased production
BHP = Higher Recovery -----> Especially in gas wells! • Significantly reduction of rig time
6. Multiple Casing strings not an issue
7. Operationally very simple
 Sand Jet Perforator (Cont’d)
Sand Jet Perforator is an alternative to use of explosives and can reduce
associated cost for operators and time delays considerably.
A downhole tool that uses high pressure abrasive fluids to perforate the
casing, cement, and extend a cavity into the reservoir.
• Extends efficiently into the
reservoir by eroding a perforation
channel.
• Washes out a tunnel with a larger
inner diameter for increased
contact with the formation
• 1 inch to 2 inch diameter tunnel
• Eliminates compressive stresses on
source rock.
No explosives are necessary for the process.
• Better reservoir drain area. Use Safer than conventional tubing conveyed and
wireline conveyed explosive methods.
fewer perforations per foot than No government permits or military escorts required.
explosives require Uses only sand, water and gel to cut holes.
Explosives Sand Jet Perforator
Small tunnel Bigger and cleaner
with high skin tunnel with low skin
SPE 161223
Sand Jet Perforator Configuration

• Tool Body Can Be Used in Multiple Casing Sizes

• Available in Many Phasing Patterns, 60°,90°,120°, 180°.
• Multiple Shot Density Configurations
• shots per foot include 2 spf to 9 spf and more if desired.
• Can be run on coiled tubing or jointed pipe.
• U.S. Patent #7963332

Ultraslim II SJP
• New design allows interchangeable redress parts in an extremely
small size
• More perforations in one trip
• Tool body can be used in multiple OD Sizes
• Pass through tight restrictions, then perforate
• Pressure actuated jets can be opened from the surface.
• US Patent #9416610
Equipment in Indonesia
Surface Test
Sand Jet Perforator Operation

Surface Rig Up
• If pumping assembly (rod pump, electric submersible pump, or progressive cavity
pump) is in the well, disconnect and remove all pumping apparatus
• If running on production tubing, inspect and pressure test tubing to be run.
• Run logging equipment, if desired.
Sand Jet Perforator Tool Assembly

• Start with the assembled perforating tool

• Attach bull plug below perforating tool
Sand Jet Perforation Process

• Lower tool to desired depth.

•Fill tubing with fluid.
Sand Jet Perforation Process
•Begin pump abrasive fluid mixture
•Perforate casing
•Penetrate cement and rock
Sand Jet Perforation Process

• Move Tool
• Repeat Process
• Remove Tool
Sample Job Setup

• 7” Casing
Job Setup
• 10,000 foot depth Modeling
Software
• Tool running on 4 ½” drill pipe
• 6 jets in tool
• Run 4 sets of holes- 24 total holes
• 12 minutes per set- 48 minutes of total pump
time
• Casing hole size= ½” to ⅝”
• Perforation Tunnel- 2” inner diameter
• Sand- 20/40 silica sand, 6,000 pounds
• 120 pounds of gel (20 lb/thousand gel mix or
equivalent)
Track Record Samples (by TD oil tools and MARMOT oil tools)
Job Description
1 July 2009, Pozo Rico, México - Perf & Frac in 5.5" casing. Tool conveyed on 1 1/4" Coiled Tubing. Shot 12 perfs each in
4 zones. Job successful. Customer reported less friction during frac than with conventional explosive perf.
2 July 2009, Northwest Alberta, Canada - Used 1.90" ultra-slim tool on Coiled Tubing to pass through 2 5/16" restriction
and perforate 4.5" casing. Perforated 2 zones successfully. Tools recovered without incident. Customer very pleased
3 December 2010, Pyt-Yahk, Russia - Multiple wells perforated using 1.90" Ultra-Slim tools passing through 2.4"
restriction to perforate 4" and 5 3/4" casing at 3000 meter depth. Cut 33 perfs per well at a rate of 3 wells per month.
Customer very pleased.
4 September 2010, Southern Saskatchewan, Canada - Standard size perforating tool conveyed on CT to perforate 4.5"
casing in horizontal wells. Protocol calls for 48 shots per well (3 jets X 16 sets) in horizontal zones. Customer very
pleased.
5 September 2011, North Africa- Well perforated using blade type standard size perforating tool in 4 ½” heavy wall
casing. Perforation depth was 4000 meters. Perfs confirmed with gamma ray log and followed by a successful
fracturing operation.
6 January 2012, Northwest India- Standard size perforating tool conveyed on 1 ¾” coil to a depth of 10,200’ in 7.0”
heavy wall casing. Five sets of perforations without further treatment complete a gas well that produces over 3,000
psi at the well head.
Track Record Samples (by TD oil tools and MARMOT oil tools)
Job Description
7 March 2013, Texas, USA – One trip toe prep of horizontal well with 5.5" casing. BHA conveyed on 2 3/8” Coiled Tubing.
Performed clean out run with PDM and mill, then perforated 6 shots per foot at 60 degrees phasing, then restored
flow to PDM for final washout and circulation. Injection test confirmed communication with reservoir.
8 October 2013, Southeastern Kansas- Under-ream producing zone in well with open hole completion in both 4.5” and
5.5” casing. Tool conveyed on 2 3/8” jointed tubing at a depth of 900 feet. Tool was rotated and moved vertically to
create a large void in the formation.
9 October 2013- Northeastern Pennsylvania- Run SJP tool on 2” coil to perforate casing for Diagnostic Fracture Injection
(DFIT) tests. Perforation depths from 12,500 TMD to 15,000 TMD in 5.5” casing. One test was run with friction
reducer only to carry the sand. Customer very pleased. FIT Assembly can be run to set plug and perforate in one trip.
10 January 2014- Southwestern Missouri- Run SJP tool on 2 3/8” production tubing to perforate shallow injection wells
for water flood. Eight wells perforated, many were two per day using the SandGun for abrasive injection. Recovery
well is currently pumping oil. Customer is very pleased.
11 December, 2015- East Texas- Run Tool in a gas well to a depth of 5,000 feet. Re-perforate zone utilizing the SandGun
for abrasive injection. Well initially had good production, but only water for the last 3 years. After reperforation, well
has produced 5 bpd oil and 10mcf gas for the last 6 months. Customer pleased.
12 April 2016- Eastern India - Perforate and Frac project in coal bed methane. 8 stages per well in tight coal seams. SJP
has ½ the breakdown pressure of conventional explosive perforators in the same formation. 10 wells completed to
date with excellent gas production. Customer very pleased. Project ongoing.
Published Papers