External Reactive Agents for Well Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional well stimulation methods using shaped charges to increase flow area in cased wells often result in debris plugging perforations and obstructing fluid flow, reducing the effectiveness of production.
Innovation Solution
The use of oxygen-rich materials, such as potassium nitrate, combined with high-order explosives in a sleeve attached to the well casing, where a shaped charge initiates an explosive reaction to create fractures and burn hydrocarbons, increasing the exposed flow area while minimizing damage to the casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If shaped charges are used to perforate casing and create flow channels, then the exposed flow area increases, but debris plugging perforations and obstructing fluid flow occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful debris and fine material are removed from the perforation area through the use of reactive agents that clean the formation. The shaped charge creates the initial perforation, but subsequent reactive material placement and ignition removes the harmful debris that would otherwise plug the perforations, separating the creation and cleaning functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful debris and fine material generated by shaped charge perforation are converted into benefit through reactive agents. These agents react with the debris and formation material to clean the perforations and create beneficial fractures, transforming the harmful plugging effect into improved flow channels and cleaner perforations.
2Reliability
If multiple short-barreled guns are used for perforation, then the casing can be penetrated, but the penetration reliability is insufficient compared to shaped charges
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple perforation functions into a single shaped charge device. Instead of using multiple separate short-barreled guns, one shaped charge with appropriate geometry and positioning can create multiple perforations or a single high-reliability perforation, merging the function of multiple devices into one more reliable system.
3Productivity
If the flow area is increased by perforation, then the flow rate increases, but the formation pressure is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from simple radial perforations to creating three-dimensional fracture networks through reactive agents. By igniting reactive material outside the casing, the system creates vertical and lateral fractures that extend the flow path in additional dimensions, increasing the effective flow area without proportionally increasing formation pressure depletion.
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 method effectively increases the flow rate and ultimate recovery by creating sustained fractures and cleaning the perforations, reducing debris obstruction and maintaining well integrity.
Implementation Method 1
Conventional shaped charges make holes through the casing and into the strata by forming a high speed stream of particles that are concentrated in a small diameter jet. As the high energy particles hit solid material, the solid material is pulverized.
Implementation Method 2
The use of oxygen-rich materials, such as potassium nitrate, combined with high-order explosives in a sleeve attached to the well casing, where a shaped charge initiates an explosive reaction to create fractures and burn hydrocarbons
Implementation Method 3
oxygen-rich materials, such as potassium nitrate, combined with high-order explosives in a sleeve attached to the well casing, where a shaped charge initiates an explosive reaction to create fractures and burn hydrocarbons
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for stimulating oil or gas wells using material cemented outside the casing. Reaction agents, usually comprising oxygen-rich material and a coil of high order explosive, are positioned around the outside of the well casing at a desired level in a carrier and reacted later. The stimulation operation is initiated by firing a shaped charge into the high order explosive material. The combination of the explosive force of the high order explosive and burning of the oxygen-rich material fractures and cleans the formation adjacent to the well casing. The reaction agents may be provided in a sleeve supported on the casing joint at the time it is inserted into the well. In another embodiment, all components would be cemented externally to the casing and reacted remotely by a coded signal.