One thing I always wondered was why radio communication is banned during a perforation exercise. For those not in the know, perforation as explained by opcharlie is blasting through the production casing of a well so that hydrocarbons from the reservoir are able to make their way into the production string. Kinda like making holes in a blocked off straw so that your drink can enter the straw, and be sucked into your mouth.
‘Blast’ is the correct word, as explosives are used to perforate the production casing. The triggering of the explosives is done by a remote control. There is a concern that the inadvert triggering of the explosives may be caused by radio equipment. Hence, when a perf operation is underway, no radio equipment is allowed to operate. Portable handhelds may be recalled back from personnel, and an equipment tally is performed.
What I would like to know is, how many near misses / injuries / fatalities have occured due to radio equipment triggering perf explosives? This may happen if:
- the perf gun goes off before it enters the production string
- permature release when it goes off before reaching the required depth.
Posted by Wata 
Wata - Malaysian Oil and Gas Engineer 