Tubing-Conveyed Abrasive Perforating Tool for Single-Trip Plugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for perforating hydrocarbon wells in a single trip are limited by the length of the perforating gun assembly, which increases the tool's mass and deployment difficulties in horizontal wells, and do not allow for the integration of additional tools like bridge plugs below the abrasive perforating device.
Innovation Solution
A tubing-conveyed abrasive perforating tool with a sliding sleeve that enables fluid communication for setting a bridge plug and then directs fluid to perforating orifices, allowing for directional perforation and the use of additional tools without increasing the tool string length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the length of the perforating gun assembly is increased to perforate across a long interval, then the perforation coverage is improved, but the tool mass increases and deployment difficulty increases in horizontal wells
Solution Approach 1:
The tool string is segmented into modular components including a perforating device, a bridge plug, and a sliding sleeve mechanism. This segmentation allows the system to achieve long interval perforation coverage without requiring a single excessively long and heavy gun assembly, as the modular design distributes the functionality across manageable segments that can be deployed together in a coordinated manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge plug is positioned within or alongside the perforating device in a nested arrangement. This nesting allows the bridge plug to be set at a location distal to the perforating device while maintaining a compact overall tool profile, enabling long interval perforation coverage without proportionally increasing the tool string length and mass.
2Length of moving object
If the length of the perforating gun assembly is increased to perforate across a long interval, then the perforation coverage is improved, but the deployment difficulty increases in horizontal wells
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tool string into modular components with distinct functions (perforating device, bridge plug, sliding sleeve), the system achieves long interval coverage while maintaining ease of deployment. Each segment can be independently positioned and activated, simplifying the overall deployment process compared to a single long-gun assembly that would be difficult to maneuver in horizontal wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding sleeve mechanism provides dynamic control over fluid communication between the bridge plug and perforating device. This dynamic element allows the system to adapt during deployment, enabling the bridge plug to be set first and then the perforating device to be activated subsequently, facilitating easier staged deployment in horizontal wells.
3Productivity
If traditional explosive perforating devices are used, then the perforation function is achieved, but the ability to set bridge plug and perforate in a single trip is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the bridge plug setting function and the perforating function into a single integrated tool string. The sliding sleeve mechanism combines the hydraulic fluid pathways to enable both functions to be performed in sequence during a single trip operation, eliminating the need for separate operations and significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding sleeve acts as a dynamic control element that switches fluid communication between different functions. During deployment, it directs hydraulic fluid to the bridge plug for setting, then reconfigures to direct fluid to the perforating device, enabling sequential activation of multiple functions within a single trip without increasing excessive complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If additional tools like bridge plugs are integrated below the abrasive perforating device, then the functionality is improved, but the tool string length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge plug is integrated in a nested arrangement with the perforating device, positioned within or alongside it rather than as a separate extended component. This nesting allows additional functionality to be added without proportionally increasing the overall tool string length, maintaining a compact profile while enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding tools in a linear sequence that increases length, the bridge plug is positioned in a different spatial arrangement (distal location) relative to the perforating device. This dimensional repositioning allows functional integration without linear length increase, as the components are arranged to utilize space efficiently along the wellbore axis rather than extending the tool string radially or linearly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables perforation across a long interval in a single trip without increasing tool size or weight, facilitating easier deployment in horizontal wells and allowing for the integration of bridge plugs and directional perforation.
Implementation Method 1
A tubing-conveyed abrasive perforating tool with a sliding sleeve that enables fluid communication for setting a bridge plug and then directs fluid to perforating orifices
Implementation Method 2
tubing-conveyed abrasive perforating tool
Data Source
AI summary
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.