Advanced perforation modeling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10352153-B2
Application number	US-201414775977-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A technique is provided for modeling flow simulations at downhole reservoir conditions and rock formations after performing wellbore perforations. By utilizing these flow simulations, a user may be able to simulate and compare different scenarios, thereby facilitating a more effective, profitable, and realistic choice of perforating systems and operating conditions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of perforating a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
accessing a data log of wellbore parameters, the wellbore parameters including porosity data collected at intervals along the wellbore;
calculating a rock penetration value at the intervals along the wellbore, based on (i) experimental rock penetration data, (ii) a given explosive weight associated with a gun system, and (iii) the porosity data of the wellbore;
determining a clear tunnel value associated with the rock penetration value, at the intervals along the wellbore, based on (1) a bottom-hole pressure condition of the wellbore, (2) the calculated rock penetration value, and (3) the porosity data;
determining expected fluid flows, at the intervals along the wellbore, based on the calculated rock penetration value and the clear tunnel value;
comparing the expected fluid flows determined at a range of the intervals, for plural perforating gun systems;
selecting a perforating gun system from the plural perforating gun systems for the wellbore, based on the step of comparing;
lowering the selected perforating gun system inside a casing that lines the wellbore; and
perforating the casing and the wellbore by detonating explosive charges of the selected perforating gun system so that a fluid flows from the subterranean formation into the casing through holes made in the casing by the explosive charges.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bottom-hole pressure condition is underbalanced.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bottom-hole pressure condition is overbalanced.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the rock penetration value comprises interpolating or extrapolating the experimental rock penetration value based on the given explosive weight and the porosity data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clear tunnel value reflects an actual tunnel that is opened for flow by a shaped charge.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the clear tunnel value is obtained from interpolation or extrapolation of experimental clear tunnel measurements obtained from stressed rock tests.

7. A method of perforating a wellbore in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
collecting porosity data at given intervals along the wellbore during drilling;
calculating a rock penetration value, at the given intervals, based on (i) experimental rock penetration data, (ii) a given explosive weight associated with a gun system, and (iii) the porosity data of the wellbore;
determining a clear tunnel value associated with the rock penetration value, at the intervals along the wellbore, based on (1) a bottom-hole pressure condition of the wellbore, (2) the calculated rock penetration value, and (3) the porosity data;
determining expected fluid flows, between the subterranean formation and the wellbore, at the intervals along the wellbore, based on the calculated rock penetration value and the clear tunnel value;
selecting a perforating gun system from the plural perforating gun systems for the wellbore, based on the expected fluid flows;
lowering the selected perforating gun system inside a casing that lines the wellbore; and
perforating the casing and the wellbore by detonating explosive charges of the selected perforating gun system so that a fluid flows from the subterranean formation into the casing through holes made in the casing by the explosive charges.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bottom-hole pressure condition is underbalanced.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bottom-hole pressure condition is overbalanced.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the rock penetration value comprises interpolating or extrapolating the experimental rock penetration value based on the given explosive weight and the porosity data.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the clear tunnel value reflects an actual tunnel that is opened for flow by a shaped charge.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the clear tunnel value is obtained from interpolation or extrapolation of experimental clear tunnel measurements obtained from stressed rock tests.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Bell Matthew
• Hardesty John
• Gunturu Sashi

Classifications

• E21B47/007

  Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing (for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09) · CPC title

• E21B43/117 Primary

  Shaped-charge perforators (E21B43/118 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01V99/005

  Physics · mapped topic

• E21B47/10 Primary

  Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements · CPC title

• G01V20/00

  Geomodelling in general · CPC title