Perforating Requirements for Fracture Stimulations

Perforating provides the means of communication between the wellhore and the reservoir, and in a fracture-stimulated reservoir, the perforation is the fluid conduit between the fracture and the wellbore. The existence of, or lack of, a hydraulic microannulus critically affects the choice of perforating parameters. The existence of a microannulus is dependent on reservoir and wellbore properties, perforating parameters, and fracture stimulation execution. Recommendations are provided to choose the best perforating parameters of: shot phasing, shot density, type of charge interval length and gun orientation. Recommendations are provided for hard and soft rock hydraulic fracturing and extreme overbalance stimulation.