First Industrial High-Power Laser Perforation Deployment

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the industry's first high-power laser field perforation and deployment—a successful high-power laser technology application. The innovative technology could perforate a well without affecting the substrate integrity and damage. The technology is safe, efficient, and cost-effective, providing a long-term alternative to shaped charge guns. High-power laser technology has been tested and proven to effectively perforate in all rocks, regardless of strength and composition, including carbonate, shale, sandstones, and others. The success of the past two decades of intensive research has led to the development of the first high-power laser field system. The system's design is enclosed, providing safe and environmentally friendly operation; it consists of a laser energy generator, nitrogen tank, coiled tubing, and tool. The device's function is to control the size and shape of the beam that focuses on the targeted formation. The perforation process is done by utilizing the power of a laser to melt, spall, or vaporize the formation. The laser perforation tool can perforate through the casing, cementing into the formation. The technology was deployed in a cased well. The well is logged pre- and post-laser perforation, and the coiled tubing is used to connect the fiber optics cable with the optical bottom hole assembly (oBHA). The tool can perform multiple perforations in a single trip, with the azimuthal orientation controlled by rotating the head of the device. Laser perforation creates a nondamaging controlled perforation tunnel penetrating casing, cement, and formation, and it is stress independent.