Laser Stimulation Tool Using Activating Agents for Reflective Formations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wellbore stimulation methods using high power lasers often fail to achieve sufficient temperature increases in formations with low permeability, as the laser energy is not adequately absorbed due to reflective surfaces, leading to insufficient wellbore production.
Innovation Solution
A drilling tool and method that employs an activating agent with high optical absorption properties, such as activated carbon, graphite, or dye, is applied to the formation surface before laser treatment, enhancing energy absorption and increasing the temperature achieved during laser ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high power laser is applied directly to the formation, then laser ablation can occur, but insufficient temperature increase is achieved due to low energy absorption by reflective surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
An activating agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the laser beam and the formation. This agent has high optical absorption properties that enable it to absorb laser energy efficiently and transfer the thermal energy to the formation, overcoming the reflective nature of the formation surface that previously prevented effective energy coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical properties of the formation surface are changed by applying the activating agent. The agent modifies the surface characteristics to have higher optical absorption and lower reflectivity, thereby changing the energy interaction parameters from reflective to absorptive, which enables effective laser heating.
2Temperature
If activating agent is applied to enhance energy absorption, then temperature increase is significantly improved, but additional equipment and materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The activating agent serves multiple functions: it acts as an optical absorber to capture laser energy, a heat transfer medium to deliver thermal energy to the formation, and a surface modifier to change optical properties. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and simplifies the overall approach compared to using multiple specialized components.
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
The use of activating agents significantly increases the temperature of the formation, improving wellbore production by enhancing laser energy absorption and maintaining higher temperatures for longer durations, thereby overcoming the limitations of existing laser-based stimulation methods.
Implementation Method 1
the activating agent may increase energy absorption of the portion of the area of the formation when lased
Implementation Method 2
a laser surface unit excites energy to a level above the sublimation point of a hydrocarbon bearing formation to form a high power laser beam. This high powered laser beam is transmitted from the laser surface unit to the desired downhole location via optic fiber
Implementation Method 3
the high power laser beam is discharged from the transformer to ablate the intended hydrocarbon bearing formation
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments may be directed to a drilling tool for drilling in a formation. This drilling tool may include an optical fiber having a laser input end and a laser output end and a laser source optically connected to the laser input end. Further, the drilling tool may include an activating agent conduit having an activating agent inlet and an activating agent outlet and an activating agent source connected to the activating agent inlet that supplies an activating agent. Finally, the drilling tool may include a drill head. In some embodiments, the drill head may include a nozzle connected to the activating agent outlet that discharges the activating agent on an area of the formation, and a laser head optically connected to the laser output end and arranged to lase at least a portion of the area of the formation having the activating agent.