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Improving Gas Well Drilling and
Completion with High Energy Lasers
Brian C. Gahan
Gas Technology Institute
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Drilling for Oil and Gas in the US
Oil and Gas Wells Drilled, 1985-2000Exploratory and Development
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00
TotalFoo
tageDrilled
(MillionsofFeet)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Total
WellsDrilled
Per
Year(000)
Total Footage Drilled (Oil, Gas, &
Dry Holes)Petroleum Total Wells Completed
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Drilling for Oil and Gas in the US7000
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994
Dollars
perFoot
Average Cost per Foot
Average Depth per Well
Estimated Cost Per Foot and AverageDepth Per Well of All Wells
(Oil, Gas and Dry) Drilled Onshore in
the U.S. from 1959 - 1999
(DeGolyer and MacNaughton, 2000)
6000
5000
3000
4000
Depth
(ft)
2000
1000
0
Year
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Drilling for Oil and Gas in the US
! 1990 GRI Study on Drilling Costs
Major Categories % of Total Time
Making Hole 48
Changing Bits 27
And Steel Casing
Well & FormationCharacteristics 25
Total Drilling Time 100% .
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High-energy Laser Applications
Lasers could playa significant role
as a vertical
boring &perforating tool in
gas well drilling
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System Vision
! Laser on surface or within drillingtubing applies infrared energy to theworking face of the borehole.
! The downhole assembly includes
sensors that measure standardgeophysical formation information, aswell as imaging of the borehole wall, all
in real time.! Excavated material is circulated to the
surface as solid particles
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System Vision
! When desired, some or all of the
excavated material is melted and forcedinto and against the wall rock.
! The ceramic thus formed can replacethe steel casing currently used to linewell bores to stabilize the well and to
control abnormal pressures.
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System Vision
! When the well bore reaches its target
depth, the well is completed by using thesame laser emergy to perforate throughthe ceramic casing.
! All this is done in one pass withoutremoving the drill string from the hole.
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Laser Product Development
LASER BASIC
RESEARCH
Laser FE
Laser Drilling
Assist
Laser Perf
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Off Ramp: Perforating Tool
! Proposal Submitted to
Service Industry Partner! Purpose
Complete or re-completeexisting well using laser
energy! Requirements
Durable, reliable lasersystem
Energy delivery system
Purpose designeddownhole assembly
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Preliminary Feasibility Study
! Laser Drilling Experiments 11/97 Basic Research 2 years
! Three High-Powered Military Lasers
Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL)
Mid Infra-Red Advanced ChemicalLaser (MIRACL)
CO2 Laser
! Various Rock Types Studied Sandstone, Limestone, Shale
Granite, Concrete, Salt
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MIRACL Simulated Perf Shot
A two-inch laser beam is sent to the side of a sandstone
sample to simulate a horizontal drilling application.
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MIRACL Simulated Borehole Shot
After a four-second exposure tothe beam, a hole is blasted
through the sandstone sample,
removing six pounds of
material.
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GRI-Funded Study Conclusions
! Previous Literature Overestimated SE
! Existing Lasers Able to Penetrate All Rock! Laser/Rock Interactions Are a Function of
Rock and Laser (Spall, Melt or Vaporize)
! Secondary Effects Reduce Destruction
! Melt Sheaths Similar to Ceramic
Study Conclusions Indicate AdditionalResearch is Warranted
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Laser Drilling Team Phase I
Gas Technology Institute
DOE NETL
Argonne National Laboratory
Colorado School of MinesParker Geoscience Consulting
Halliburton Energy Services
PDVSA-Intevep, S.A
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Drilling With The Power Of Light! DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-FC26-00NT40917
Original Proposed Tasks and Timeline
Quarter 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2
Quarter 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Task 1. Project Structure and Management
Task 2. Fundamental Research
2.1 Laser cutting energy
assessment series
2.2 Variable Pulse Laser Effects
2.3 Dril ling Under Insitu
Conditions
2.4 Rock-Melt Lining Stability
2.5 Gas Storage Stimulation
2.6 Laser Induced Rock
Fracturing Model
2.7 Laser Drilling Engineering
Issue Identification
Task 3. System Design Integration3.1 Solids Control
3.2 Pressure Control
3.3 Bottom-hole Assembly
3.4 High Energy Transmission
3.5 Completion and Stimulation
Techniques for Gas Well
Drilling
3.6 Completion and Stimulation
Techniques for Gas Storage
Wells
Task 4. Data Synthesis and Interpretation
Task 5. Integration and Reporting
Task 6. Mile stones
Task 7.Technology Transfer
Year 3Year 2Year 1
TABLE 3: WORK TASK TIMELINES2001 2002 20032000
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First Phase (FY-01) Objectives
! Accepted Phase 1 Task List
1. Laser cutting energy assessment
2. Variable pulse laser effects (Nd:YAG)
3. Lasing through liquids
Quarter 4 1 2 3
Quarter 1 2 3 4
1.0 Project Structure and
Management
1.1 Laser cutting energy
assessment series
1.2 Variable Pulse Laser
Effects
1.3 Conduct Lasing
Through Liquids
1.4 Topical Report
Year 1
20012000
TABLE 3: WORK TASK TIMELINES
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Phase I Laser: 1.6 kW Nd:YAG
Laser Beam
Rock
Neodymium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG)
Coaxial
Gas Purge
Focusing
Optics
1.27 cm
7.6 cm
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Conclusions: GTI/DOE Phase I
! SE for Shale 10x Less Than SS or LS
! Pulsed Lasers Cut Faster & With LessEnergy Than Continuous Wave Lasers.
! Fluid Saturated Rocks Cut Faster Than DryRocks.
! Possible Mechanisms Include:
! More Rapid Heat Transfer Away Fromthe Cutting Face Suppressing Melting
! Steam Expansion of Water
! Contributing to Spallation
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Conclusions: GTI/DOE Phase I
! Optimal Laser Parameters Observed to
Minimize SE for Each Rock Type! Shorter Total Duration Pulses Reduce
Secondary Effects from Heat
Accumulation! Rethink Laser Application Theory Rate
of Application: Blasting vs Chipping
! Unlimited Downhole Applications Possibledue to Precision and Control (i.e.,direction, power, etc.)
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DOE-GTI/NGOTP-ANL Phase 2
In Progress
! Continuation of SE Investigations
Effects at In-Situ Conditions
Effects of Multiple Bursts and
Relaxation Time Observations at Melt/Vapor Boundary
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Supporting Slides Detailing Phase I Work
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Laser Cutting Energy Assessment
! Measure specific energy (SE)
Limitation of variables SS, shale and LS samples
Minimize secondary effects Identify laser-rock interaction
mechanisms (zones)
Spall, melt, vaporize
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Just Enough Power
! Conducted Linear Tests
Constant Velocity Beam Application (dx)
Constant Velocity Focal Change (dz)
! Five Zones Defined in Linear Tests! Identified Zones Judged Desirable for
Rapid Material Removal
Boundary Parameters Determined for Spall intoMelt Conditions
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Laser/Rock Interaction Zones
! Zone Called Thermal Spallation Judged Desirable
for Rapid Material Removal! Optimal Laser Parameters Were Determined to
Minimize:
Melting Specific Energy (SE) Values
Other Energy Absorbing Secondary Effects, and
Maximize Rock Removal
! Short Beam Pulses Provided ChippingMechanism Comparable to ConventionalMechanical Methods
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Zonal Differences
! SE differs greatly between zones
! Shale shows clear SE change betweenmelt/no melt zones
!
Much analysis remains to understandsensitivities of different variables
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SE vs Measured Average Power (kW)
SH11A
SH10
SH11B2
SH18A
SH12B2
SH8
SH11B1
SH13A
SH15A1
SH15A2SH12B1
SH2 SH6
R2 = 0.9095
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
Measured Average Power (kW)
Specific
Energy(k
J/cc)
Zone 3 - Significant Melt
Zone 2 - No Melt
Minimum SE
Spallation
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Lithology Differences
! Differences between lithologies more
pronounced when secondary effectsminimized
! Shale has lowest SE by an order ofmagnitude.
! Sandstone and limestone remain similar,
as in CW tests
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All ND:YAG Tests
0
1
10
100
1000
10000
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Average Power W
S
pecificE
nergyk
J/cc
Sandstone Limestone Shale
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SE Values: Wet vs. Dry Samples
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 0.5 1
Power (kW)
Specific
Energy
(kJ/cc
Dry rock samples Dry rock samples Water-saturated samples
Dry
Wet
Atmospheric Conditions.