Modelling the Dynamics of Well Perforation

One of the crucial steps in the completion of many oil wells is their perforation, required to establish communication with the target reservoir. Perforation is a very short duration, high energy event in which a series of explosive shaped charges is fired to produce corresponding perforations into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. This event gives rise to violent pressure and structural dynamics that die out within a second or two, depending on the specific completion design. During this time, the nature of the pressure dynamics and resulting fluid response determine the initial quality of the communication between the well and the formation, which has significant consequences for the overall productivity over the well’s lifetime, as well as the integrity of the tool string components during the perforation event.