Advanced perforation modeling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10677047-B2
Application number	US-201916423477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2019
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

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 selecting a perforating gun system for 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; and
selecting a perforating gun system from the plural perforating gun systems for the wellbore, based on the step of comparing.

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. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
lowering the selected perforating gun system inside a casing that lines the wellbore.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
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.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the experimental rock penetration data is experimental stressed rock penetration data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the given intervals are each about one foot.

11. A method of selecting a perforating gun system for 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; and
selecting a perforating gun system from the plural perforating gun systems for the wellbore, based on the expected fluid flows.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bottom-hole pressure condition is underbalanced.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bottom-hole pressure condition is overbalanced.

14. The method of claim 11 , 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.

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

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the clear tunnel value is obtained from interpolation or extrapolation of experimental clear tunnel measurements obtained from stressed rock tests.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
lowering the selected perforating gun system inside a casing that lines the wellbore.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
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.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the experimental rock penetration data is experimental stressed rock penetration data.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the given intervals are each about one foot.

Assignees

• Geodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Bell Matthew
• Hardesty John
• Gunturu Sashi B

Classifications

• G01V99/005

  Physics · mapped topic

• E21B47/10 Primary

  Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements · CPC title

• E21B43/117 Primary

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

• E21B47/007

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

• G01V20/00

  Geomodelling in general · CPC title