Validation of the First Industrial High-Power Laser Perforation Deployment

Abstract This paper presents the methods for validating the first successful industrial and field deployment of a high-power laser (HPL) perforating tool. The technology is able to perforate wells without damaging the surrounding substrate's integrity and improving the formation's flow-related properties. Validating the successful operation and the tool's performance is comprehensive and rigorous, relying on qualitative assessments of the data collected from built-in sensors and conventional logs. The accomplishment of the first deployment is a testament to the meticulous research process that has led to the development of the first high-power laser field system. The tool integrates optical, mechanical, and sensing components. The optical and opto-mechanical assembly steers the beam to a target at any azimuthal angle. The sensor array collects data about pressure, temperature, and luminosity that are crucial to monitoring the operation, ensuring the tool's correct functionality, and validating the process. The high-power laser generator is located at the surface and transmitted via fiber-optic cable to the tool in the downhole. The first industrial high-power laser perforation technology was successfully tested and deployed in a cased well; lab and field data proved that the technology could effectively perforate all types of rocks, demonstrating its versatility and adaptability. The tool created several perforations and slots through casing, cement, and formation. The validation of the operation is critical to evaluate the technology's performance and to compare it with current practices (e.g., shaped charges). This assessment used data from routine field measurements and the tool's onboard sensors, including a downhole camera, injectivity test, and sonic and caliper logs. The sensors measured temperature, pressure, and backscattered luminosity. The last is essential to characterize the laser-rock interaction since it is correlated with the effectiveness of the removal process. Temperature readings inside the tool provide information about the health of the optical components. In contrast, the outer temperature and pressure sensors are proxies of the wellbore's flowing dynamics and can help confirm the successful perforation. This HPL perforating method is an innovative and non-explosive alternative to conventional shaped-charge guns. It is cost-effective and enables precise beam control, targeting specific zones and creating enhanced perforation tunnels uninfluenced by the formation's state of stress.