Wellbore Pressure Control During Perforation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The high detonation pressures generated during perforating operations in wellbores cause damage to downhole equipment due to intense pressure waves, and existing methods struggle to maintain optimal pressure conditions to prevent debris accumulation in perforation tunnels, affecting formation productivity.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising sensors, pressure-altering devices, and a controller that detect stress waves and adjust wellbore pressure by altering its volume or using expandable materials to mitigate pressure wave intensity and create underbalanced conditions, thereby reducing equipment damage and debris accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If perforating is conducted in an overbalanced pressure condition to control wellbore pressure, then equipment damage is reduced, but debris accumulates in perforation tunnels impairing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment damage from pressure wavesVSAvoidformation fluid production efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically transitions the wellbore from overbalanced to underbalanced pressure conditions by activating pressure-altering devices (such as expanding packers or gas lift systems) after perforation. This temporal dynamic allows the system to first protect equipment during perforation, then optimize productivity by creating negative pressure to flush debris from perforation tunnels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary pressure control by maintaining overbalanced conditions during the perforation event itself, protecting equipment from shock waves. Subsequently, pressure-altering devices are activated to transition to underbalanced conditions, preliminarily preparing the wellbore environment for efficient debris removal and optimal production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If perforating is conducted in an underbalanced pressure condition to prevent debris accumulation, then productivity is improved, but equipment suffers damage from intense pressure waves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformation fluid production efficiencyVSAvoidequipment damage from pressure waves

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically transitions the wellbore from overbalanced pressure conditions during perforation to underbalanced conditions afterward. Pressure-altering devices such as expanding packers or gas lift systems are activated post-perforation to create the beneficial underbalanced environment for debris removal, while avoiding equipment exposure to intense pressure waves during the perforation event itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If pressure-altering devices are activated to mitigate pressure waves, then equipment protection is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment damage from pressure wavesVSAvoidpressure control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure-altering devices are designed to activate automatically based on pre-programmed timers or pressure sensor feedback, eliminating the need for complex real-time control systems. The system self-regulates the transition from overbalanced to underbalanced conditions, reducing operational complexity while maintaining effective equipment protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 system effectively reduces the magnitude of pressure waves impacting downhole equipment and facilitates clean perforations by maintaining an underbalanced pressure condition, enhancing the efficiency and productivity of formation fluid production.

Implementation Method 1

detect a stress wave propagating through the carrier before the arrival of a related pressure wave in the wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress wave propagation: Shock Wave

Implementation Method 2

altering the volume of the wellbore or expanding material in the wellbore based on the detected stress wave using a pressure-altering device to alter the pressure in the wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVolume expansion:

Implementation Method 3

very high detonation pressures (e.g., several million psi) are initially generated in the wellbore. This initial pressure is transmitted to the surrounding environment, creating strong, transient shock waves that propagate supersonically through adjacent materials (such as fluid in the wellbore)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure wave propagation: Shock Wave

Data Source

PatentUS10927649B2System and method to control wellbore pressure during perforating

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A system and method to control wellbore pressure during perforating. The system comprises a carrier, a sensor, a pressure-altering device, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The sensor is configured to detect a stress wave propagating through the carrier before the arrival of a related pressure wave in the wellbore and generate a signal indicative of the detected stress wave. The pressure-altering device is actuatable to change the pressure in the wellbore. The processor is operable to analyze the signal from the sensor and control the pressure-altering device based on the detected stress wave to change the magnitude of the related pressure wave in the wellbore.