Latched Perforating Gun for Deep, Large-Diameter Reservoir Penetrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current perforating technologies face challenges in achieving deep penetration with large diameters in tight gas reservoirs, particularly in formations with high compressive strength, and lack the ability to maintain the perforating gun at the same location for repeated shots, which limits the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing.
Innovation Solution
A latching tool and tubing-conveyed perforating gun system that engages a latch coupling in the well casing to maintain precise positioning and orientation, allowing for repeated perforations at the same location, enabling deeper and larger diameter penetrations by firing shaped charges multiple times without retrieving the gun from the well.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single gun run is used to perforate the reservoir, then the operation is simple and quick, but the penetration depth and diameter are insufficient to bypass damaged zones in tight formations
Solution Approach 1:
The latching tool is deployed in advance and engaged with the latch coupling before the perforating gun is fired. This preliminary positioning ensures that the gun remains securely held at the precise target location throughout multiple firing operations, enabling repeated penetrations at the same location without requiring complex repositioning equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The perforation process is divided into multiple discrete firing operations rather than a single shot. The system segments the penetration task into sequential perforating gun firings, each contributing to the cumulative depth and diameter of the penetration channel, allowing the system to achieve greater overall penetration through repeated action at the same location
2Measurement precision
If the perforating gun is retrieved and repositioned for each shot, then precise positioning can be achieved, but time is lost and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching tool acts as an intermediary device between the wellbore structure and the perforating gun. It provides a mechanical interface that securely holds the gun in the precise target location, eliminating the need for repeated retrieval and repositioning operations while maintaining accurate positioning throughout multiple firing sequences
Solution Approach 2:
The latching tool is deployed and engaged with the latch coupling before the perforating operations begin. This preliminary action establishes the positioning infrastructure in advance, allowing subsequent gun firings to proceed without time-consuming repositioning while maintaining precise location accuracy
3Length of moving object
If shaped charges are fired to maximize penetration depth, then deep perforations are achieved, but the perforation diameter becomes small and cannot bypass damaged zones effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic firing of shaped charges at the same location rather than relying on a single shot. Each periodic firing contributes to progressively enlarging the penetration diameter while maintaining depth, allowing the cumulative effect of multiple charges to create a large-diameter channel that bypasses damaged zones
Solution Approach 2:
The penetration task is segmented into multiple discrete charge firings rather than attempting to achieve both depth and diameter in a single shot. Each segmented firing contributes incrementally to the overall penetration characteristics, with the cumulative effect producing both deep and large-diameter perforations that single shots cannot achieve
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 enhances hydrocarbon recovery by creating deeper, larger diameter perforations that bypass damaged zones, improving well productivity and injectivity by allowing multiple perforations at the same location, thus facilitating more effective hydraulic fracturing.
Implementation Method 1
a perforating gun is used to initiate formation breakdown by detonating high-performance deep-penetrating shaped charges that maximize perforation length and entry hole size
Implementation Method 2
detonating high-performance deep-penetrating shaped charges
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are provided for conducting multiple successive same-location firings of a number of shaped charges carried by a perforating gun that is lowered into the wellbore and precisely positioned to align its charges with the penetration created by the first fired-charges in order to produce deeper and larger diameter penetrations that result in enhanced hydraulic fracturing of the reservoir and increased gas production from the completed well.