Extendable Perforation Tubes for Single-Trip Well Completion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating perforations in subterranean wells, especially in long reservoir sections, are inefficient due to the limitations of perforation guns and require multiple runs, increasing costs and safety risks, and existing methods still necessitate additional trips for establishing communication with the reservoir.
Innovation Solution
The use of extendable perforation tubes mounted on the casing or liner that can be radially extended to reach the formation zone and then opened using fluid pressure or acid to create a fluid flow path, allowing for both extension and perforation in a single trip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If perforation guns are used to create perforations in long reservoir sections, then perforations can be formed to enable fluid flow, but multiple runs are required which increases time, cost, and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The perforation tubes are designed to be dynamically extendable from a retracted position to an extended position, allowing a single tube to cover long reservoir sections that previously required multiple perforation gun runs. The tubes can be extended radially outward to reach the formation zone and then remain in place for cementing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the extendable perforation tubes serve both as perforation creators and as structural elements that remain in place during cementing, eliminating the need for separate perforation runs and reducing the number of trips required.
2Reliability
If multiple perforation runs are performed with live guns, then perforations can be created across long reservoir sections, but safety risks and costs significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The perforation tubes are pre-installed on the casing or liner during the initial run, before any perforation operation is needed. This preliminary placement eliminates the need to handle and deploy live perforation guns multiple times, significantly reducing safety risks associated with having live guns on location.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expandable liners or casing are used, then well construction flexibility is improved, but additional trips are still required for perforation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The extendable perforation tubes integrate multiple functions: they serve as the expandable element for well construction flexibility, and simultaneously function as the perforation creation mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate perforation trips, improving completion efficiency.
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
This approach enables efficient and safe creation of fluid flow paths through the casing and cement of subterranean wells, reducing the need for multiple runs and wellbore interventions, thereby lowering costs and enhancing safety by establishing effective communication with the reservoir in a single operation.
Implementation Method 1
A tool can push the perforation tubes radially outward to reach the formation
Implementation Method 2
the perforation tubes will be opened by either using fluid pressure or acid to remove a plug within the perforation tubes
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods for providing a fluid flow path through a lower casing and a cement of a subterranean well includes a plurality of perforation tubes extending through a sidewall of a lower casing, the perforation tubes moveable from a retracted position to an extended position. In the retracted position a minor length of the perforation tubes is located outside of an outer diameter surface of the lower casing. In the extended position, a major length of the perforation tubes is located outside of the outer diameter surface of the lower casing, the major length being greater than the minor length. In the extended position, the perforation tubes extend radially outward from the outer diameter surface of the lower casing. Each of the plurality of perforation tubes is positioned axially along the lower casing to be moveable to an extended position in a formation zone of the subterranean well.