U.S. patent application number 15/447544 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-14 for system and method for perforating and tunneling cased wells.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baker Hughes Incorporated. The applicant listed for this patent is Baker Hughes Incorporated. Invention is credited to Silviu Livescu, Thomas J. Watkins.
Application Number | 20170260838 15/447544 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59786371 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170260838 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Livescu; Silviu ; et
al. |
September 14, 2017 |
System and Method for Perforating and Tunneling Cased Wells
Abstract
A system and method for forming tunnels in formation radially
surrounding a wellbore.
Inventors: |
Livescu; Silviu; (Calgary,
CA) ; Watkins; Thomas J.; (Calgary, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Baker Hughes Incorporated |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
59786371 |
Appl. No.: |
15/447544 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62306686 |
Mar 11, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/114 20130101;
E21B 44/00 20130101; E21B 43/16 20130101; E21B 47/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 44/00 20060101
E21B044/00; E21B 43/114 20060101 E21B043/114 |
Claims
1. A method of forming tunnels within a formation radially
surrounding a subterranean wellbore, the method comprising the
steps of: forming an opening within casing of the wellbore with a
perforating tool; disposing a portion of a tunneling tool through
the opening; and injecting acid into the formation through the
tunneling tool to form tunnels within the formation.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: sensing
one or more wellbore parameters with a perforating tool sensor
operably associated with the perforating tool to identify a
location or attributes of the opening.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of sensing one or more
wellbore parameters further comprises sensing at least one of the
wellbore parameters in the group consisting of deviation, azimuth,
pressure, temperature and gamma ray.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of
transmitting sensed wellbore parameters to a surface
controller.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of at least
partially controlling the forming of tunnels based upon the sensed
wellbore parameters.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sensing one
or more wellbore parameters with a tunneling tool sensor operably
associated with the tunneling tool to identify a location or
attributes of the opening.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the sensed wellbore parameters are
transmitted to the controller via a data communications
conduit.
8. A system for forming tunnels within a formation surrounding a
subterranean wellbore lined with casing, the system comprising: a
perforating tool arrangement having a perforating tool for forming
an opening within the casing and a perforating tool sensor disposed
upon the perforating tool to detect at least one wellbore parameter
useful to identify a location or attributes of the opening; a
tunneling tool arrangement having a tunneling tool for forming a
tunnel within the formation through the opening; and a controller
to receive data from the perforating tool sensor indicative of the
wellbore parameter and to at least partially control operation of
the tunneling tool based upon the at least one wellbore parameter
sensed by the perforating tool sensor.
9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a tunneling tool sensor
disposed upon the tunneling tool to detect at least one wellbore
parameter useful for controlling operation of the tunneling tool to
create a tunnel.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the tunneling tool further
comprises an acid tunneling tool which forms tunnels by injection
of acid into the formation.
11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a data communications
conduit to transmit the data from the perforating tool sensor to
the controller.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the data communications conduit
comprises tube-wire.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein data is communicated from the
tunneling tool to the controller.
14. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one wellbore
parameter useful for controlling operation of the tunneling tool to
create a tunnel is a wellbore parameter of the group consisting of:
deviation, azimuth, pressure, temperature and gamma ray.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates generally to systems and methods for
creating tunnels within subterranean formations surrounding cased
wellbores.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Metallic casing is used to line wellbores. To date, it has
been necessary to use explosive perforating guns to form openings
in the casing and the surrounding formation. Abrasive jetting has
also been used, although it is not as common. Both explosive
perforating and abrasive jetting used for perforating existing
casing have the purpose to make tunnels as long as possible through
the casing, cement and near wellbore region. The shape and length
of these tunnels cannot be controlled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention provides systems and methods for creating
controlled tunnel openings in formations surrounding cased bores.
Fluid, or fluid-solid jetting is used to form a controlled opening
in the casing, if casing is present. Thereafter, acid tunneling is
used to create tunnels in the formation.
[0006] In preferred embodiments, the perforating tool (if used) and
the acid tunneling tool include sensors which can measure one or
more downhole parameters, including deviation, azimuth, pressure,
temperature and gamma ray. These sensors are installed within or
upon the bottom hole assembly. In some embodiments, the bottom hole
assembly incorporates a casing collar locator for measuring depth
and/or a lateral camera.
[0007] Preferably, Telecoil.RTM. is used to transmit information
obtained by the sensors of the bottom hole assembly to surface.
Other telemetry means, such as optical fiber, could also be used.
Information obtained by the sensors is used to control the abrasive
jetting and acid tunneling tools as well as the perforating and
tunneling processes. The abrasive perforating tool may have one or
multiple nozzles. If the perforating tool has more than one nozzle,
these nozzles could be distributed radially (i.e., at the same
depth) or axially (i.e., at different depths) along the tool
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a thorough understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or similar
elements throughout the several figures of the drawings and
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary
wellbore containing a perforating tool arrangement in accordance
with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an exemplary perforating tool
constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a centralizer
portion of the perforating tool of FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a nozzle portion of
the perforating tool of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary
wellbore containing an acid tunneling tool arrangement in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wellbore 10 that has been
drilled through the earth 12 from the surface 14 down to a
hydrocarbon-bearing formation 16. It is noted that, while wellbore
10 is illustrated as a substantially vertical wellbore, it might,
in practice, have portions that are inclined or
horizontally-oriented. The wellbore 10 is lined with a metallic
casing 18. In alternative embodiments, the wellbore 10 would lack
such a casing.
[0015] A perforating tool arrangement 20 is disposed within the
wellbore 10. The perforating tool arrangement 20 includes a running
string 22 which is preferably made up of coiled tubing. A flowbore
24 is defined along the length of the running string 22. A bottom
hole assembly 26 is located at the distal end of the running string
22. A perforating tool 28 is affixed to the bottom hole assembly
26.
[0016] The perforating tool 28 is useful to create openings 30 in
the casing 18 using fluid jetting or fluid-solid jetting. Fluid, or
a fluid containing a solid such as sand, is injected through the
flowbore 24 of the running string 22, the bottom hole assembly 26
and outwardly from lateral nozzles 32 of the perforating tool 28.
Although there are multiple nozzles 32 shown, it should be
understood that there may be only a single nozzle 32. In certain
embodiments, the nozzle(s) 32 can be controlled from the surface 14
to open and/or close depending upon the requirements for forming an
opening 30 of a particular size. An exemplary perforating tool 28
is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-4 and includes a tubular body
34 with centralizer fins 36. In particular embodiments, perforating
tool sensors 38 are incorporated into the body 34 of the
perforating tool 28. The perforating tool sensors 38 can measure
one or more downhole wellbore parameters, including depth,
deviation, azimuth, pressure, temperature and gamma ray, which are
useful for identifying a location or attributes of one or more of
the openings 30 being formed. Perforating tool sensors 38 may also
include a camera which is capable of obtaining visual images of the
wellbore 10 environment. A camera would be useful for determining
the size of an opening 30 that has been made by the perforating
tool 28. In accordance with certain embodiments, the camera could
have registry marks on its lens which would be useful to visualize
and measure the size of the opening 30.
[0017] Bottom hole assembly 26 preferably includes an electronics
board with storage or memory 40 to receive and store information
received from the perforating tool sensors 38. The bottom hole
assembly 26 also preferably includes a deviation/azimuth sub and
casing collar locator which will help identify the exact position
of the openings 30 formed by the perforating tool 28 so that a
tunneling tool that is subsequently run can be positioned at or
near the openings 30. A data communications conduit 44, such as
tube-wire, is preferably used to transmit the received information
to a surface controller and storage medium 42 from memory 40 of the
bottom hole assembly 26. Telecoil.RTM. is coiled tubing which
incorporates tube-wire that can transmit power and data. Tube-wire
is available commercially from manufacturers such as Canada Tech
Corporation of Calgary, Canada. Tube-wire 44 is shown within the
flowbore 24 of the coiled tubing running string 22 and is operably
interconnected with the controller/storage medium 42 at surface 14.
The controller/storage medium 42 preferably includes suitable
programming to use mathematical modeling to determine the location
where the acid tunneling tool needs to begin bending in order to
have the nozzle 60 be moved through the opening 30. Suitable
programming for this application includes CIRCA.TM. RT modeling
software for coiled tubing applications which is available
commercially from Baker Hughes Incorporated. The entry location
might be determine using information relating to the casing size,
coiled tubing size and bottom hole size and length.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates the wellbore 10 now with the perforating
tool arrangement 20 removed and openings 30 having been created in
the casing 18. An acid tunneling arrangement 50 is now disposed
within the wellbore 10 after the openings 30 have been created in
the casing 18. The acid tunneling tool arrangement 50 includes a
running string 22 which is preferably made up of coiled tubing. A
bottom hole assembly 26 is secured to the distal end of the running
string 22 and may be the same bottom hole assembly as described
previously. An indexing tool 52 is preferably incorporated into the
acid tunneling arrangement 50 which permits components below the
indexing tool 52 to be rotated angularly within the wellbore 10
with respect to the running string 22. An acid tunneling tool 54 is
secured to the indexing tool 52. The acid tunneling tool 54 is
preferably jointed and useful to form tunnels 56 within the
formation 16 radially surrounding the wellbore 10 by injection of
acid into the formation 16. The acid tunneling tool 54 may be
constructed and operate in the same manner as the tool which is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,672 issued to Misselbrook et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,672 is owned by the assignee of the present
application and is herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
[0019] Tunneling tool sensors 58 are preferably incorporated into
the acid tunneling tool 54 to detect downhole parameters such as
those detected by perforating tool sensors 38 described previously.
These downhole parameters can include depth, deviation, azimuth,
pressure, temperature and gamma ray. The bottom hole assembly 26
receives data sensed by the tunneling tool sensors 58 and transmits
the data to processor/storage medium 42 at surface 14.
[0020] In accordance with preferred methods of operation, openings
30 are formed by the perforating tool 28 which are large enough for
a distal nozzle 60 of the acid tunneling tool 54 to be inserted
through the openings 30 in order to effectively create tunnels
using acid injection. At least some portion of the process of
forming tunnels 56 within the formation 16 is controlled based upon
wellbore parameter sensed by the perforating tool sensors 38 of the
perforating tool 28. The acid tunneling tool 54 run in is assisted
in locating the opening(s) 30 as well as appropriately-sized
openings 30 in the casing 18 which were created previously by the
wellbore parameters detected by the perforating tool sensors 38 of
the perforating tool arrangement 20. Insertion of the acid
tunneling tool 54 into an opening 30 is more accurate. In a
non-limiting example, the openings 30 are large enough to allow the
nozzle of a 21/8'' StimTunnel tool to pass through the casing 18.
Injection of acid into the formation by the acid tunneling tool 54
will create small tunnels 56 within the formation 16. If desired,
hydraulic fracturing can thereafter be used to increase reservoir
connectivity further.
[0021] It can be seen that the invention provides a system for
forming tunnels within a formation surrounding a subterranean
wellbore 10 which includes a perforating tool arrangement 20 and an
acid tunneling arrangement 50. The perforating tool arrangement 20
includes a perforating tool 28 for forming an opening 30 within
casing 18 of the wellbore 10 using fluid jetting or fluid-solid
jetting. Perforating tool sensors 38 are located upon the
perforating tool 28 and are configured to detect at least one
wellbore parameter which is useful for identifying a location or
attributes of one or more of the openings 30 being formed in the
casing 18. The perforating tool arrangement 20 preferably also
includes a bottom hole assembly 26 having on-board memory storage
40 for retaining data provided by the sensors 38. In described
embodiments, the perforation tool arrangement 20 further includes a
controller 42 which is configured to determine location or
attributes of one or more of the openings 30 being formed in the
casing 18 based upon the wellbore parameter(s) sensed by the
perforating tool sensors 38. A data communications conduit 44
transmits data from the bottom hole assembly 26 to the controller
42.
[0022] The acid tunneling arrangement 50 of the system for forming
tunnels includes an acid tunneling tool 54 for forming a tunnel 56
within the formation 16 radially surrounding the wellbore 10.
Tunneling tool sensors 58 are disposed upon or within the acid
tunneling tool 54 and are configured to detect wellbore parameters
that are useful for controlling operation of the acid tunneling
tool 54 to create one or more tunnels 56. The acid tunneling
arrangement 50 also includes a bottom hole assembly 26 which
transmits data representative of the wellbore parameters sensed by
the tunneling tool sensors 58 to the controller 42.
[0023] Those of skill in the art will recognize that numerous
modifications and changes may be made to the exemplary designs and
embodiments described herein and that the invention is limited only
by the claims that follow and any equivalents thereof.
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