High power laser hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tools systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053967-B2
Application number	US-201314082026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2013
Priority date	Aug 20, 2008
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

There are provided high power laser perforation, hydraulic fracturing systems, tools and methods for the stimulation and recovery of energy sources, such as hydrocarbons, from a formation. These systems, tools and methods provide predetermined laser beam energy patterns, to provide for the down hole volumetric removal of custom geometries of materials, sealing of perforations, reperforations, refractures and other downhole actives.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of laser adaptive fracturing for use in the production of hydrocarbons from a formation, the method comprising:
a. identifying a stress in the formation in an area of the formation adjacent to a location along a borehole, the borehole having an axis; determining an axis for a preferred fracture plane of the formation, based in part upon the identified stress; the borehole axis and the preferred fracture plane axis defining an angle;
b. positioning a laser perforating tool in the borehole at the location;
c. the laser perforating tool configured to have a first laser beam path, the laser beam path extending in a direction toward the preferred fracture plane and at the angle;
d. delivering a high power laser beam having 5 kW to 80 kW of power along a laser beam path, whereby the laser beam creates a laser perforation;
e. performing a first mini-fracture and determining a first near bore hole tortuosity;
f. based upon the first near bore hole tortuosity adjusting the direction and the angle of the laser beam path, to provided a second laser beam path, wherein the adjusted direction and angle are to reduce near bore hole tortuosity;
g. delivering the laser beam along the second laser beam path, whereby the laser beam creates a second laser perforation;
h. performing a second mini-fracture and determining a second near bore hole tortuosity;
i. repeating steps e. to h. to determine a final laser beam delivery path direction and angle and delivering the laser beam along the final laser beam delivery path to create a final laser perforation;
j. flowing a fracturing fluid under pressure down the borehole, through the final laser perforation and into the formation, whereby the formation is hydraulically fractured with minimal near bore hole tortuosity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location along the borehole is not less than 5,000 feet measured depth and the laser beam has a power of not less than 10 kW.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the identified stress comprises a preferred stress plane and the laser beam path is positioned in the preferred stress plane.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the laser perforating tool comprises a tractor section, and a laser cutting head section.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the laser perforating tool is located within a laser hydraulic fracturing apparatus, and the laser hydraulic fracturing apparatus comprising a packer assembly.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the laser perforating tool comprises a tractor section, a laser cutting head section, and a means to axially extend the laser cutting head section.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location along the borehole is not less than 10,000 feet measured depth and the laser beam has a power of not less than 10 kW.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the identified stress comprises a preferred stress plane and the laser beam path is positioned in and parallel with the preferred stress plane.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location along the borehole is not less than 5,000 feet measured depth and the laser beam has a power of not less than 15 kW.

10. The method of claim 1 , the laser beam has a power of not less than 15 kW.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam path follows the preferred stress plane.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam path is positioned in the preferred stress plane.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the laser perforating tool comprises a tractor section, and a laser cutting head section.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam path is positioned in and parallel with the preferred stress plane.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identified stress comprises a preferred stress plane and the laser beam path follows the preferred stress plane.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser perforating tool comprises a tractor section, and a laser cutting head section.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser perforating tool comprises a tractor section, a laser cutting head section, and a means to axially extend the laser cutting head section.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the means to axially extend the laser cutting section comprises a motor a controller and an advancement screw.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the laser perforating tool is located within a laser hydraulic fracturing apparatus, and the laser hydraulic fracturing apparatus comprising a packer assembly.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material removed consists of the formation.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material removed comprises a coiled tubing.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material removed comprises a casing and the formation.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material removed consists of a casing.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material removed comprises a casing, a cement, and the formation.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein shock sensitive instruments are positioned downhole during laser beam delivery and provide information regarding downhole conditions.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein shock sensitive instruments are positioned downhole during laser beam delivery and provide information regarding the perforations.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein shock sensitive instruments are positioned downhole during laser beam delivery and provide essentially real time information regarding the formation.

28. A method for use in the production of hydrocarbons from a formation, the method comprising:
a. identifying stresses in the formation in an area of the formation adjacent to a location along a borehole;
b. positioning a laser perforating tool in the borehole at the location;
c. delivering a high power laser beam having at least 5 kW to 80 kW of power in a predetermined laser beam pattern, the laser beam pattern position based at least in part upon the stresses in the formation; whereby the laser beam volumetrically removes a material in the shape of the laser beam pattern creating a laser perforation; and,
d. flowing a fracturing fluid under pressure down the borehole, through the laser perforation and into the formation, whereby the formation is hydraulically fractured,
e. wherein the laser perforating tool is located within a laser hydraulic fracturing apparatus, the laser hydraulic fracturing apparatus comprising a packer assembly; the packer assembly comprising a sleeve, defining a length, and having a plurality of spaced apart packers distributed along the length of the sleeve, wherein at least one of the packers is configured to expand inwardly against the laser perforating tool, and at least one packer is configured to extend outwardly against the borehole.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the material removed consists of the formation.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the volumetric removal is in the shape of a disc having a volume removed of not less than 1 cubic inches.

31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the material removed comprises a casing and the formation.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the volumetric removal is in the shape of a disc having a volume removed of not less than 1 cubic inches.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the volumetric removal is in the shape of a disc havi

Assignees

• Deutch Paul D
• Kellermann Fred C
• Zimmerman Tom
• Yearwood John
• Zediker Mark S
• De Witt Ronald A
• Faircloth Brian O
• Ely John
• Foro Energy Inc

Inventors

• Deutch Paul D
• Kellermann Fred C
• Zimmerman Tom
• Yearwood John
• Zediker Mark S
• De Witt Ronald A
• Faircloth Brian O
• Ely John

Classifications

• E21B43/11

  Perforators; Permeators · CPC title

• E21B43/119 Primary

  Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction · CPC title

• E21B43/26 Primary

  by forming crevices or fractures · CPC title