Deeper perforation tunnels with limited  debris create greater communication  from the crude-oil producing formation  to the wellbore to maximize hydrocarbon  flow. The deeper, cleaner perforation  tunnels also reduce the formation break- down pressure required for fracture  stimulation, thereby enabling superior  multi-staged fracs.  Kodiak charges are energized using  solid rocket fuel, which promotes a  mini-frac at the tip of the perforating  tunnel, further reducing formation  breakdown pressure for superior fracture stimulation. During tight-oil formation stimula- tions, Core’s ZeroWash, SpectraChem,  and FlowProfiler tracers are pumped  into each stage to help determine the  effectiveness of the hydraulic frac and  fracture system cleanup, as shown in  Figure 7. ZeroWash tracers are pumped into  fractures along with the proppants that  are used to hold fractures open and  permit maximum flow to the wellbore.  The tracers allow proppant placement  to be determined. If it is discovered that  any zones do not contain proppants  with their associated ZeroWash tracers,  those zones can be refractured while  pressure pumping equipment is still at the well site. SpectraChem data are used to evaluate frac fluid flowback profiles in order to minimize the amounts of fracturing liquids, such as gels and slickwater, that  remain in the reservoir and can block hydrocarbon flow to the wellbore. Analyses of SpectraChem tracer data sets provide information about the effectiveness  of multi-staged fracture jobs used to stimulate two or more adjacent wells simul- taneously. These multi-staged simul-fracs from pad drilling (Figure 8) expand the  surface area of the shale that can freely flow hydrocarbons into the fracture system. A field engineer setting up the equipment to inject SpectraChem tracers into a tight-oil well. A Core Lab engineer preparing a perforation gun with charges and setting up for downhole deployment.