John Hardesty
GEODynamics
Perforating systems are rapidly adapting from the tools that originally evolved for vertical wells. Many factors in the configuration of the perforating system impact fracturing efficiency and well performance. Tools designed for clusters intended to be fracture treated have clear advantages over conventional well constant phase, constant shot density systems.
Three new approaches in particular are rapidly gaining acceptance and traction in unconventional wells in North America. Perforating systems have been developed which provide a consistent entrance hole diameter and formation penetration independent of all target variables. In another approach, a limited entry perforating gun system was developed where advanced shaped charges are arranged in order to place fracture initiation on the same transverse plane to the wellbore. Finally, a method of completing wells with large numbers of clusters per stage and fewer charges per cluster is proving to be effective.