Methods and Devices for One Trip Plugging and Perforating of Oil and Gas Wells

Abstract

A tubing conveyed tool for use in perforating a well bore utilizing abrasive perforating techniques. The perforating tool is particularly useful in non-vertical wells. The perforating tool is designed to permit running and setting a bridge plug, and then perforating the well bore without requiring the removal of the tool string. An eccentric weight bar can also be used to allow for directional perforating in non-vertical wells. The eccentric weight bar uses gravity to cause the bar to rotate to a predetermined position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from a provisional application entitled “One Trip Plugging and Perforating Method,” filed on Mar. 12, 2005, Ser. No. 60 / 661,262.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The instant invention relates to devices and methods for setting bridge plugs and perforating hydrocarbon wells. More particularly, the invention describes new devices that may be conveyed on tubing to allow setting a bridge plug and perforating the well in a single tubing trip. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] After drilling a well for hydrocarbons, it may be necessary to perforate the walls of the well to facilitate flow of hydrocarbons into the well. Wells require perforation because the drilling process causes damage to the formation immediately adjacent to the well. This damage reduces or eliminates the pores through which the oil or gas would otherwise flow. Perforating the well creates a channel through the damage to undamaged portions of t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent describes a tool used for abrasive perforating in oil and gas wells. The tool has a sliding sleeve that allows fluid to communicate with a bridge plug to set the plug and then close the fluid path to the perforating orifices. The tool can be used to perform perforating in a directional manner with the addition of an eccentric weight bar. The technical effect of this tool is to provide a more efficient and effective means for abrasive perforating in wells.

Problems solved by technology

Wells require perforation because the drilling process causes damage to the formation immediately adjacent to the well.

Tractors, however, can be unreliable and may be damaged by the explosive force of the perforating device.

Thus, the ability to set the bridge plug and perforate in a single trip saves significant time.

While the perforating devices used in prior art methods of TCP have provided the ability to set a bridge plug and perforate the well in a single trip, the methods are still limited.

However, the increased length also increases the mass of the gun assembly, making the assembly more difficult to deploy in horizontal wells.

Long gun assemblies have an additional disadvantage.

In such a case, the injector, either coiled tubing or wireline, above the lubricator is at least 100 feet in the air which creates difficulties running hydraulic hoses, control lines, and with maintenance should the injector head fail.

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