The Impact of Perforation Geometry on Oil Well Productivity

Abstract

The increase in demand for oil and gas today requires oil operators to maximize productivity. In order to produce more fluid from the reservoir into the wellbore, perforations must penetrate considerably beyond invaded zone with impaired permeability. The production engineers must take advantage of the perforation controllable parameters to maximize the well productivity. In this study, a simple analytical model incorporating perforation length, radius, and shot density was used to analyze oil well productivity. The results shows that the production rate can be increased by the perforation length, radius, and shot density. The drawdown pressure was reduced with increase in the perforation length and shot density. Higher fluid velocity was controlled with increase in the shot density, length and radius of perforation. The length of perforation and shot density are better in optimizing well productivity. Optimum perforation parameters are required as further increase result in increase in cost relative to the productivity.

Keywords: Perforation pressure, perforation length, perforation radius, shot density, pressure drawdown