Wellbore laser operations

• US 8,534,357 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Schultz, Roger L., East, Loyd E., Walters, Harold G., McDaniel, Billy Wilson, Soliman, Mohamed Y., Skinner, Neal Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): GAY, JENNIFER HAWKINS
• Application Number:
  US13/614,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20130008657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 166/297, 166/250.1, 175/11, 175/15
• US Class Current: 166/297
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/02 by explosives or by thermal or chemical means freeing stuck objects by explosives E21B31/002
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 29/06 Cutting windows, e.g. directional window cutters for whipstock operations E21B29/005 and E21B29/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/11 Perforators; Permeators
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses involve selecting an aperture geometry to filter solids from fluid from a subterranean zone, the aperture geometry selected based on a distribution of sizes of particles in the fluid from the subterranean zone. A laser can be used to form slots with the selected aperture geometry in a casing installed in a well in the subterranean zone, the aperture geometry having a size selected based on the distribution of sizes of the particles.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting an aperture geometry and aperture size to filter solids from fluid from a subterranean zone, the aperture geometry and aperture size each selected based on a distribution of sizes of particles in the subterranean zone;

using a laser to form slots with the selected aperture geometry and aperture size in a casing installed in a well in the subterranean zone; and

in response to levels of particles in fluid from the well, operating the laser to change a flow distribution of the well, wherein operating the laser to change the flow distribution of the well comprises sealing apertures in a wellbore wall using the laser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the aperture geometry and aperture size to filter solids from the subterranean zone comprises selecting the aperture geometry to filter particles from fluid from the subterranean zone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the aperture geometry and aperture size to filter particles from fluid from the subterranean zone comprises selecting the aperture geometry and aperture size to control sand production including formation fines.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the aperture geometry to filter particles from fluid from the subterranean zone comprises selecting the aperture geometry in which the cross-section of individual apertures in the casing decrease with increasing distance from a central axis of the casing such that a smallest portion of each aperture is at the outer surface of the casing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean zone comprises an unconsolidated formation and selecting the aperture geometry to filter solids from fluid from the subterranean zone comprises selecting the aperture geometry to maintain structural stability of the unconsolidated formation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the laser to change the flow distribution of the well comprises forming apertures in a wellbore wall using the laser.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein using a laser to form slots with the selected aperture geometry and aperture size in a casing installed in the well in the subterranean zone is performed while forming the well in the subterranean zone.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing fluid from the subterranean zone through the well.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to levels of particles in fluid being produced through the well, operating the laser to change a flow distribution of the well.

7. A method comprising:

selecting an aperture geometry and aperture size to filter solids from fluid from a subterranean zone, the aperture geometry and aperture size each selected based on a distribution of sizes of particles in the subterranean zone;

using a laser to form slots with the selected aperture geometry and aperture size in a casing installed in a well in the subterranean zone;

in response to levels of particles in fluid from the well, operating the laser to change a flow distribution of the well; and

sealing first apertures extending through the casing and forming second apertures extending through the casing of the well, the second apertures having a different geometry than the first apertures.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a width of the second apertures is smaller than a width of the first apertures.

12. A method, the method comprising:

selecting an aperture geometry to filter solids from fluid from a subterranean zone, the aperture geometry selected based on a distribution of sizes of particles in the fluid from the subterranean zone;

using a laser to form slots with the selected aperture geometry in a casing installed in a well in the subterranean zone; and

in response to levels of particles in fluid from the well, sealing apertures in a wellbore wall using the laser to change a flow distribution of the well.

13. A method, the method comprising:

selecting an aperture geometry to filter solids from fluid from a subterranean zone, the aperture geometry selected based on a distribution of sizes of particles in the fluid from the subterranean zone;

using a laser to form slots with the selected aperture geometry in a casing installed in a well in the subterranean zone; and

sealing first apertures extending through the casing and forming second apertures extending through the casing of the well, the second apertures having a different geometry than the first apertures.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a width of the second apertures is smaller than a width of the first apertures.