WO2015041700A1 - Procédé d'extension d'un forage à l'aide d'une tête de forage laser - Google Patents

Procédé d'extension d'un forage à l'aide d'une tête de forage laser Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015041700A1
WO2015041700A1 PCT/US2013/061227 US2013061227W WO2015041700A1 WO 2015041700 A1 WO2015041700 A1 WO 2015041700A1 US 2013061227 W US2013061227 W US 2013061227W WO 2015041700 A1 WO2015041700 A1 WO 2015041700A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
laser light
group
emitting elements
laser
peripheral
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2013/061227
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English (en)
Inventor
Tamas BOZSO
Robert BOZSO
Gabor Molnar
Original Assignee
Sld Enhanced Recovery, Inc.
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Publication date
Application filed by Sld Enhanced Recovery, Inc. filed Critical Sld Enhanced Recovery, Inc.
Priority to PCT/US2013/061227 priority Critical patent/WO2015041700A1/fr
Publication of WO2015041700A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015041700A1/fr

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
    • E21B7/14—Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to drilling earthen bores for the recovery of minerals in the earth's crust More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of extending an earthen bore using a laser dri ll head.
  • the invention relates to a procedure for extending an earthen bore using a laser drill head.
  • the laser drill head emits laser light of sufficient power to melt and/or to thermally degrade formation rock at a portion of a wall of an earthen bore to be extended.
  • formation rock is changed to molten rock dross and/or to thermally degraded material and is removed from the extended portion of the bore.
  • the physical structure and configuration of the portion of the bore adjacent to the portion to be extended i.e., the structure and configuration of the portion of the bore that contains the laser drill head
  • the extended portion of the bore is highly likely, using conventional laser drilling methods, to be aligned with the portion of the bore that contains the laser drill head.
  • "Straight-line" boring with a conventional laser drill head occurs because laser light is emitted from & leading end of as elongate laser drill head and travels in a straight line to impinge upon a portion of the bore wall. If the elongate laser drill head is positioned in a generally straight portion of an earthen bore and then activated to extend the bore by melting and/or thermally degrading formation rock at a portion of the wall of the bore that is aligned with a leading end of the laser drill head, then the bore is extended in a direction generally aligned with the laser drill head, or straight forward.
  • a conventional method of deviating the path of an earthen bore as it is being extended is to deploy a laser drill head having a biasing structure that displaces at least a portion of the laser drill head to cock or tilt the laser drill head within the earthen bore in which it resides.
  • the cocked or tilted laser drill head causes the laser light emitted from the leading end of die laser drill head to change in angle and to impinge on a portion of the wall of the bore that is aligned with the laser drill head in its cocked or tilted configuration. It will be understood that this method will result in the extension of the earthen bore at an angle to the existing portion of the bore in which the laser drill head is disposed.
  • a disadvantage of this method is that it requires an activatable or deployable structure on the laser drill head that biases the laser drill head upon activation or deployment Some manner of actuating the biasing structure on the laser drill head will be needed, and this requirement adds complexity and expense to the compact laser drill head.
  • Another disadvantage of mis method is mat biasing of the laser drill head within the bore may create unwanted excessively sharp bends or turns immediately ahead of the laser drill head, and sharp bends or turns may impair the ability of the laser drill head to be advanced into, or to be pulled back from, the extended portion of the bore for further operations.
  • Another method of redirecting an earthen bore as it is extended is to deflect the laser light beam or beams using optical means. This is difficult to do in a downhole environment and, again, a mechanically complex actuator is required in order to position an optical element to redirect the laser light beams.
  • U.S. Patent 6,895,678 discloses a bore navigation system that includes a mechanical component comprising multiple journal crosses, a gyroscope, as well as evaluation and control electronics. The system determines its position in the bore, and influences the behavior of the drilling head. Mechanical and electro-mechanical units are used to determine and/or modify the position of the laser drill head, and these units must be located inside the laser drill head or connected to it. These sensitive instruments must be tolerant of the hostile environmental conditions which affect the laser drill head and operate reliably in such conditions. This requires the supply of additional energy and control to an extremely complex and expensive laser drill head.
  • EP 2065552 discloses a system and a procedure to create lateral direction bores. This system is almost exclusively suited to creating lateral bores that are perpendicular to the main bore.
  • U.S. Patent 4,594,790 discloses a bore monitoring system which uses a ring laser gyroscope to accurately determine the position of the laser drill head in a bore and to keep the laser drill head in a desired position.
  • Ring laser gyroscopes are provided for positioning and the position of the laser drill head is continuously measured inside the bore.
  • the gyroscopes cannot be used for modifying the relative position of the laser drill head in relation to the bore.
  • An embodiment of the method of extending an earthen bore of the present invention comprises the steps of providing a laser drill head having a leading end, a receiving end opposite the leading end, and a plurality of laser light-emitting elements directed to emit laser light from the leading end, the plurality of laser light-emitting elements arranged in a configuration including a central group, having one or more central laser light-emitting elements, generally surrounded by a plurality of peripheral laser light-emitting elements, the peripheral laser light-emitting elements including a first peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements, having a contiguous plurality of the peripheral laser light-emitting elements, and a second peripheral sub-group of laser light- emitting elements having a contiguous plurality of the peripheral laser light-emitting elements that are not within the first peripheral sub-group, providing an umbilical having a surface end, a connected end, and a plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers, connecting the connected end of the umbilical and the receiving
  • An embodiment of the method adapted for maximizing the obliqueness of the direction of the extended bore relative to the straightforward direction comprises these steps wherein the step of at least one of transmitting laser light through some of the plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers connected to the second peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements, at a power level that is lower than a power level of the laser light transmitted to the first peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements, and transmitting no laser light through the plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers connected to the second peripheral subgroup comprises the step of transmitting laser light through the plurality of laser light- transmitting optical fibers connected to the second peripheral sub-group of laser light- emitting elements at a power level that is substantially lower than the power level of the laser light transmitted to the first peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements to maximize the obliqueness of the direction of the extended portion of the earthen bore relative to the straight-forward direction.
  • Another embodiment of the method adapted to minimize the obliqueness of the direction of the extended bore relative to the straightforward direction comprises these steps wherein the step of at least one of transmitting laser light through some of the plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers connected to the second peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements, at a power level that is lower than a power level of the laser light transmitted to the first peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements, and transmitting no laser light through the plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers connected to the second peripheral subgroup comprises the step of transmitting laser light through the plurality of laser light- transmitting optical fibers connected to the second peripheral sub-group of laser light- emitting elements at a power level that is only slightly lower than the power level of the laser light transmitted to the first peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements to minimize the obliqueness of the direction of the extended portion of the earthen bore relative to the straight-forward direction.
  • An embodiment of the method of the present invention may further comprise the steps of providing a central group laser fight source connected to an input end of the laser light-transmitting optical fibers having a connected end that is connected to the central group of laser light-emitting elements, providing a first peripheral subgroup laser light source connected to an input end of the laser light transmitting optical fibers having a connected end that is connected to the first peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements, and providing a second peripheral sub-group laser light source connected to an input end of the laser light transmitting optical fibers having a connected end connected to tire second peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements.
  • transmirtinti laser liaht through some of the plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers connected to the second peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements at a power level that is lower than a power level of the laser light transmitted to the first peripheral sub-group of laser light- emitting elements and transmitting no iaser light to the second peripheral sub-group of laser light emitting elements may comprise at least one of reducing an electrical current to the second peripheral sub-group Iaser light source to a level that is less than the level of electrical current provided to the first peripheral sub-group laser light source to transmit Iaser light at a power level that is less than the power level of the laser light transmitted to the first peripheral sub-group of laser light-emitting elements, and disconnecting the second peripheral sub-group Iaser light source from an electrical current supply to transmit no laser light to the second peripheral sub-group of light- emitting elements.
  • Another embodiment of the method of extending an earthen bore comprises the steps of providing an elongate laser drill head having a leading end, a connected end opposite the leading end, and a plurality of laser light-emitting elements directed to emit laser light from the leading end, at least some of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements being selectively controllable to emi laser light, introducing the laser drill head into the earthen bore, transmitting to a first group of the plurality of Iaser light-emitting elements laser light at a first power level while transmitting to a second group of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements laser light at a second power level that is less than the first power level, at least one of melting and thermally degrading an amount of a formation material making up the earth's crust and proximal to the earthen bore to be extended using the laser drill head, and removing the at least one of melted and thermally degraded formation material from the earthen bore to extend the bore, wherein the second group of laser light
  • An embodiment of the method may further comprise the steps of connecting, to each of the laser light-emitting elements of the laser drill head a laser-fight transmitting optical filler having an input end and a connected end, receiving, into the connected end of the laser drill head, the connected end of the Iaser light-transmitting optical fibers, and coupling a connected end of at least one laser light-transmitting optical fiber to at least one laser-light emitting element in the laser drill head.
  • An embodiment of the method may include providing an elongate laser drill head having a plurality of laser light- emitting elements directed from a leading end of the laser drill head and connected at a connected end to a plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers, each of which transmits laser light from at least one laser light source to at least one of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements, and selecting the second group of laser light-emitting elements from among a plurality of laser light-emitting elements disposed proximal to the peripheiy of the laser light-emitting elements and proximal to a side of the bore thai is distal to the direction in which an extension of the bore is to be directed.
  • Another embodiment of the method of extending an earthen bore of the present invention comprises the steps of providing an elongate laser drill head having a leading end, a connected end opposite the leading end, and a plurality of laser light- emitting elements directed to emit laser light from the leading end, at least some of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements being controllably deactivatable, introducing the laser drill head into the earthen bore, transmitting to a first group of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements laser light at a first power level while a second group of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements are selectively deactivated, at least one of melting and thermally degrading an amount of a formation material making up the earth's crust and proximal to the earthen bore to be extended using the laser drill head, and removing the at least one of melted and thermally degraded formation material from the earthen bore to extend the bore, wherein the second group of laser light -emitting elements are disposed proximal to a perip
  • Another embodiment of this method includes the step of substantially deactivating the second group of laser light-emitting elements by isolating an input end of a laser light-transmitting optical fiber capable of transmitting laser light to each of the laser light-emitting elements of the second group by deactivating the laser light-source that feeds laser light into that optical fiber.
  • one or more laser light-emitting elements may be deactivated bv switching off the electrical power supply to a laser light source at the surface that feeds laser light into an input end of the laser light-transmitting optical fiber or fiber bundle that transmits laser light to the laser light-emitting elements chosen for deactivation.
  • Another embodiment of the method further comprises the steps of providing an elongate laser drill head having a plurality of laser light-emitting elements directed from a leading end of the laser drill head and connected at a connected end to a plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers, each of which transmits laser light from at least one laser light source to at least one of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements, activating a first group of the laser light-emitting elements to emit laser light at a first power level while isolating a second group of the laser light-emitting elements from the laser light source, and selecting the second group of laser light-emitting elements from among a plurality of laser light- emitting elements disposed proximal to a periphery of the laser light-emitting elements and proximal to a side of the bore that is distal to the direction in which an extension of the bore is to be directed.
  • the object of the invention was accomplished by providing a procedure for modifying the path of a bore created with laser drilling, during which formation rock defining the wall of the bore is irradiated with laser light, at least one of melted or thermally degraded by heat from the laser light beam being directed at the wall of the bore to be extended, and by removing the molten rock dross or thermally degraded material from the bore to extend the bore.
  • the bore is extended in a direction that deviates from a path that is aligned with the laser drill head.
  • the laser drill head used in the method of the present invention emits a aggregate laser light beam assembled from a plurality of individual laser light beams.
  • One or more individual light beams are deactivated, and the remaining, modified aggregate laser light beam will lack the symmetry of the original aggregate laser light beam.
  • the one or more deactivated individual laser light beams are strategically selected based on a position proximal to a periphery of a cluster of the plurality of laser light-emitting elements
  • the remaining, modified aggregate laser light beam will be asymmetric in a manner that skews the remaining, modified aggregate laser light beam and causes the removal of formation material more on the side of the bore that is distal to the position within the cluster from the strategically selected, deactivated laser light elements.
  • This method uses the asymmetry to produce an extended bore having an oblique path that turns or bends from a straightforward path generally obtained using a symmetric aggregate laser fight beam.
  • the use of the method of the present invention requires an operator of the method to select a planned oblique path that differs from the straightforward path of the earthen bore to be extended.
  • the use of the method of the present invention further requires the orientation of the laser drill head to be determined so that the direction of deviation of the extended bore can be planned and the setting of the laser drill head to achieve that deviation can be implemented.
  • the method of the present invention enables the path of the extended bore to be modified without complex mechanical components that generally require actuation and multiple additional components to actuate.
  • F!G. 1 is a schematic illustrating a system that can be used to implement an embodiment of a method of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is perspective view of an alternative spool that can be used to store an umbilical of a system of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a second alternative spool that can be used to store an umbilical of a system of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a laser drill head connected to an umbilical which can be used to implement an embodiment of the method of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an earthen bore being extended in a conventional manner using a laser drill head emitting a generally symmetrical laser light beam;
  • FIGs. 6 is one possible configuration of an aggregated laser light beam generated by a laser drill head operated in a conventional manner to extend the bore of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is another possible configuration of an aggregated laser light beam generated by a laser drill head operated in a conventional manner to extend the bore of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 8 is another possible configuration of an aggregated laser light beam generated by a laser drill head operated in a conventional manner to extend the bore of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates one possible configuration of a modified, aggregated laser light beam generated by a laser drill head operated in accordance with the method of the present invention to produce an oblique extension of the bore.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates the initial stage of an oblique extension of the bore of FIG. 5 generated using a laser drill head operated in accordance with the method of the present invention to produce the modified, aggregated laser light beam of FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates an oblique extension of the bore of FIG. 9 using an embodiment of the method of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates a further oblique extension of the bore of FIG. 11 using an embodiment of the method of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating a system 10 that can be used to implement an embodiment of a method of the present invention.
  • a borehole 90 is drilled into the earth's crust 11 so that a portion 17 of the borehole 90 penetrates a geologic formation material 19 bearing a fluid medium such as, for example, hydrocarbons.
  • the system 10 of FIG. 1 comprises a first coiled tubing unit 130 at the surface 15 having a source of fluid 112 such as, for example, water or pressurized gas, that is fluidically coupled through a fluid leader 113 to a fluid conduit (not shown) within a first umbilical 134.
  • a source of fluid 112 such as, for example, water or pressurized gas
  • the system 10 further comprises a second coiled tubing unit 30 at the surface 15 having a source of fluid 12 such as, for example, water or pressurized gas, that is fluidically coupled through a fluid leader 13 to a fluid conduit (not shown) within a second umbilical 34.
  • the system 10 further comprises a portable electric generator 14 electrically coupled through a power supply leader 18 to power a laser light generator 16 that is, in turn, optically coupled through a laser leader 26 to a plurality of optical laser light-transmitting fibers 47 (not shown in FIG. 1 see FIG. 4) within the second umbilical 34.
  • system 10 may comprise multiple portable electric generators 14 that are electrically coupled through multiple power supply leaders 18 to power multiple laser light generators 16 that are optically coupled through multiple laser leaders 26 to one or more of the plurality of optical laser light-transmitting fibers 47 (not shown in FIG. 1 - see FIG. 4), and these components may be individually activated and/or deactivated to implement embodiments of the method of the present invention.
  • the system 10 of FIG. 1 may further comprise a wellhead 25 sealing the surface end 91 of the bore 90 through which the first umbilical 134 and the second umbilical 34 are received into the bore 90, a working fluid tank 20 coupled through a working fluid leader 22 to the wellhead 25 to enable the introduction and removal of working fluid 21 into and from an annulus 24 between the first umbilical 134 and the second umbilical 34, on the one hand, and the wall 94 of the bore 90, on the other hand.
  • first spool 130 on which an extended length of the first umbilical 134 may be stored
  • second spool 30 on which an extended length of the second umbilical 34 may be stored
  • a coiled tubing unit guide support 27 to support an umbilical guide 38 having a plurality of rolling elements 37 therein to reduce friction of movement of the first umbilical 134 and the second umbilical 34 into and from the wellhead 25 and the bore 90.
  • the first coiled tubing unit 130 and the second coiled tubing unit 30 of the system 10 may each comprise rotatable axles 132 and 32, respectively, enabling the spooling out and the spooling in of the first umbilical 134 and the second umbilical 34, respectively, using motors (not shown) and related gears (not shown).
  • motors not shown
  • gears not shown
  • the first coiled tubing unit 130 and the second umbilical 34 have together been reeled out to introduce a sufficient length of the first umbilical 134 and the second umbilical 34 through the wellhead 25 to position the laser drill head 50 connected to a connected and leading end 36 of the first umbilical 134 and the second umbilical 34 adjacent to a desired oblique borehole redirection location (not shown in FIG. 1 - see FIGs. 11 and 12), and an optional deployable seal 54 has been deployed to engage the wall 94 of the bore 90 adjacent thereto.
  • the laser drill head 50 Once the laser drill head 50 is in the desired position, it can be activated to emit a laser light beam 59 onto a portion of the bore to be extended 60.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second umbilical ,storage spool 32A that can be used to store the second umbilical 34 of a system of the present invention by coiling the second umbilical 34 against the interior wall 33 of the spool 32 A. After a portion of the interior wall 33 is covered with outer coils 42 of the second umbilical 34, additional, smaller coils can be disposed within the initial, outer coils 42 for additional storage capacity.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a another alternative umbilical storage spool 32B that can be used to store the second umbilical 34 of a system of the present invention by wrapping coils 44 around an exterior wall 41 of a center post 38 of the spool 34B.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a laser drill head 50 that can be connected to a leading end 36 of the second umbilical 34 and used to implement an embodiment of the method of the present invention.
  • the laser drill head 50 comprises a clustered plurality of optical laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 optically coupled to a plurality of elongate optical laser light-transmitting fibers or fiber bundles 47 that transmit laser light (not shown) provided from one or more laser light sources 16 (only one shown on FIG. 1 ) through the laser leader 26 (only one shown on FIG. 1) to a surface end (not shown - see FIG. 1) of the optical fibers 47.
  • optical laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 may be disposed in a number of various patterns or positions w ithin the laser drill head 50, as will be discussed in more detail in connection with FIGs. 6-8 and 10.
  • the laser drill head 50 of FIG. 4 further comprises at least one fluid injection port 46 disposed within the leading end 56 of the laser drill head 50 and positioned to inject a laser-compatible fluid such as, for example, aw inert gas, provided to the laser drill head 50 through a fluid conduit 49 of the second umbilical 34.
  • a laser-compatible fluid such as nitrogen, displaces laser-incompatible materials, such as oil or drilling mud, from the section of the bore to be extended 60 (see FIG. 1).
  • the laser-compatible fluid is released into a section of a bore 90 (not shown in FIG. 4 see FIG. 1) adjacent a bore wall 94 (not shown) to be extended 60 using laser light (not shown) emitted from the optical laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 of the laser drill head 50.
  • the optional fluid injection port 46 is illustrated as being disposed generally interior to the clustered pattern of laser light- emitting elements 66 and 45.
  • the laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 illustrated in FIG. 4 are of two groups: a central group 66 and a peripheral group 45.
  • the central group 66 of laser light-emitting elements are centrally located within the leading end 56 of the laser drill head 50 and the peripheral group 45 of laser light-emitting elements are peripherally and contiguously surrounding the centrally group 66 of laser light-emitting elements.
  • the spacing of the central group 66 and the peripheral group 45 of laser light-emitting elements, respectively, is an arrangement and a configuration that may be used in implementing embodiments of the method of the present invention.
  • the fluid injection port 46 or, in other embodiments of the laser drill head 50, a plurality of fluid injection ports 46 may be strategically disposed in a variety of positions within the laser drill head 50 to direct a stream of injected laser-compatible fluid into the bore portion to be extended 60 (see FIG. 1) at angle that is oblique relative to an axis 62 of the laser drill head 50 shown in FIG. 4. It will be understood that, in FIG.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation view of an alternative laser drill head 50A positioned within an earthen bore 90. The laser drill head 50A receives the connected end of the plurality of optical fibers or optical fiber bundles 47 within the receiving end 53 of the laser drill head 50A.
  • the protective exterior portion 67 of the second umbilical 34 is omitted from FIG. 5 to reveal the plurality of optical fibers or optical fiber bundles 47 that are connected to the laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45.
  • the individual laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45, and the fluid injection port(s) 46 are omitted from FIG. 5 for simplicity. It should be noted that the design, structure and shape of the laser drill head 50A may vary.
  • One or more radial seals 54 may be provided on the laser drill head 50A to provide stand-off between the laser drill head 50A and the wall 94 of the bore 90 and to seal between the laser drill head 50A and the wall 94 of the bore 90 to promote removal of debris resulting from the boring process through one or more debris removal conduits 93 in the laser drill head 50A. It will be understood that the rapid heating of the laser-compatible fluid introduced into the portion of the bore to be extended will cause the fluid to expand and to sweep debris (not shown) resulting from the laser drilling process through the debris removal conduits 93 as the bore 90 is extended in the general direction of arrow 77. Upon activation, an aggregate laser light beam 59 is emitted from the laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 (not shown in FIG.
  • the aggregate laser light beam 59 impinges on a portion of the bore to be extended 60 which comprises formation material 19, as also shown in FIG. 1, to remove formation material 19 to extend the bore 90.
  • the composition of the aggregate laser light beam 59 can be varied and generally depends on the number, configuration and orientation of the laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 (not shown in FIG. 5 - see FIG. 4) of the laser drill head 50A.
  • FIG. 6 is an example of a sectional view of an aggregate laser light beam 59 comprising a plurality of clustered individual laser light beams 64 that can be made to project from the leading end 56 of the laser drill head 50A to impinge onto a portion of the bore to be extended 60 that is generally linearly aligned with (he leading end 56 of the laser drill head 50A.
  • the sectional view of an aggregate laser light beam 59 illustrated in FIG. 6 is comprised of a central group 64a of laser light beams 64a surrounded by a peripheral group 64b of laser light beams that includes a plurality of contiguous and peripheral laser light beams that generally surround the central group 64a.
  • FIG. 7 is another example of an aggregate laser light beam 59 comprising a central group 64a that is a single, large central laser light beam surrounded by a peripheral group 64b that includes a plurality of contiguous peripheral laser light beams. Together, the central group 64a and the peripheral group 64b form the aggregate laser light beam 59.
  • FIG. 8 is yet another example of an aggregate laser light beam 59 comprising a central group 64a that includes a plurality of centrally located, overlapping laser light beams surrounded by a peripheral group 64b that includes a plurality of contiguous peripheral laser light beams. Together, the central group 64a and the peripheral group 64b form form the aggregate laser light beam 59. It should be noted that the peripheral group 64b of laser light beams of the aggregate laser light beam 59 of FIG. 8 partially overlap at least the outer edge of the central group 64a.
  • a central group 64a and a peripheral group 64b of laser light beams may be spaced to together make up an aggregate laser light beam 59 with no gaps or spaces.
  • the number, size and configuration of the laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 can be varied in spacing, number and degree of o verlap to obta in an aggregate laser l ight beams 59.
  • Embodiments of the method of the present invention involve the strategic deactivation of one or more of the laser light-emitting elements 45 (not shown in FIGs. 6- 8 - see FIG. 4) that produce the laser light beams 64 that make up the peripheral group 64b to modify the aggregate laser light beam 59 and to thereby extend the bore 90 in an oblique direction relative to the straight-forward direction ahead of and aligned with the laser drill head 50A.
  • the implementation of the method of the present invention is provided by a modification of the aggregate laser light beam 59 implemented by- operating the laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 in a manner that causes an imbalance in the amount of laser light power delivered to a first side of an imaginary midline of the aggregate laser light beam 59 as compared to the amount of laser light delivered to a second, opposite side of the midline.
  • selected laser light-emitting elements 45 may be deactivated by controlling one or more of the independently controllable laser light sources (see component number 16 on FIG. 1 ) to create an asymmetrical impingement of the aggregate laser light beam 59 on the portion of the bore to be extended 60.
  • FIGs. 9 and 10 are illustrative of an embodiment of the method.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the method being implemented using the alternative laser drill head 50A of FIG. 5.
  • the modified aggregate laser light beam 59A emitted from the leading end 56 of the laser drill head 50A is skewed or imbalanced relative to the laser drill head 50A and relative to the imaginary midline 9 illustrated in FIG. 9 to extend the bore 90 in a direction that is generally indicated by the arrow 77 but skewed to the left to be oblique to the midline 9 of the laser drill head 50A.
  • This modified aggregate laser light beam 59A is imbalanced in the amount of laser light power impinged on the sides of the midline 9. and can be generated by strategically selecting one or more individual laser light-emitting elements 45 (see FIG. 4) that contribute to the peripheral group 64b of laser light beams for deactivation, for reduced power and/or for intermittent activation.
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the modified aggregate laser light beam 59A of FIG. 9 revealing a cluster of laser light beams comprised of: a central group 70 of a plurality of laser light beams 64a emitted from one or more central laser light-emitting elements 66 (not shown in FIG. 10 see FIG. 4); and a first peripheral sub-group 71 of a plurality of peripheral laser light beams 64b (the power level indicated by the cross-hatching) emitted from a plurality of peripheral laser light-emitting elements 45.
  • FIG. 10 also reveals a phantom location of a second peripheral sub-group 72 of a plurality of peripheral laser light beams 64c that have been deactivated to create an imbalance about an imaginary midline 9 to provide a greater amount of laser light power on a first (left) side of a midline 9 (projected downwardly from FIG. 9) as compared to the second (right) side of the midline 9 of the laser dri!l head 50A.
  • the pattern of laser light beams 64a making up the centra) group 70 and laser light beams 64b the first peripheral sub-group 71 ate vertically aligned with the main portion of the modified aggregate laser light beam 59A of FIG.
  • the second peripheral sub-group 72 of laser light beams 64c may be produced by laser light-emitting elements 45 operated at a power level that is lower than the power level at which the laser light-emitting elements 45 operate to produce the first peripheral sub-group 71 of laser light beams 64b.
  • the lack of cross-hatching in the second peripheral sub-group 72 of laser light beams 64c may indicate either a deactivated laser light-emitting element 45 (see FIG. 4) or a laser light-emitting element 45 operating at a reduced power level that is less than the power level at which the laser light-emitting elements 45 operate to produce the first peripheral sub-group 71 of laser light beams 64b.
  • FIG. 10 can be used to illustrate another distinct mode of operation of the laser drill head 50A.
  • the central group 70 of laser light beams 64a emitted by a corresponding plurality of central light-emitting elements 66
  • the central group 70 of laser light beams 64a are used for straight-line boring.
  • this mode of operation will produce an aggregate laser light beam 59 that has no imbalance of power level across an imaginary midline 9.
  • An extension 80 of the bore 90 having a direction that is oblique to the straight-fine path or midline 9 can be bored by maintaining the power level of the first peripheral sub-group 71 of laser fight-emitting elements 45 (see FIG. 4) at a power level that may be less than, equal to or more than the power level of the active central group 70 (see FIG.
  • the above-described modes of operation enable the laser drill head 50A to emit a modified aggregate laser light beam 59A that provides more laser light power on a side of the midline 9 of the aggregate laser f ight beam 59 A that is proximal to the direction of the desired oblique extension 80 (see FIG. 1 1 ) and less laser light power on an opposite side of the aggregate laser light beam 59A and the midline 9 that is distal to the direction of the desired oblique extension 80.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates an oblique extension 80 of the bore 90 of FIG. 9 using the method of the present invention and using a modified aggregate laser light beam 59A illustrated in FIG. 10.
  • the oblique extension 80 of the bore 90 extended using the laser drill head 50.A enables the bore 90 to be directed generally in the direction of the arrow 77 but also towards, for example, a productive portion of a geologic formation (not shown) to the left of the midline 9 such as, for example, a portion of the formation distal to and above a water / oil interface, a portion of the formation proximal to a fault, a portion of the formation with more favorable porosity or permeability, or to a portion of the formation distal to and below a gas / oil interface, ft will be noted that the modified aggregate laser light beam 59A emitted from the leading end 56 of tire laser drill head 50A remains in the bore 90 deviation mode in FIG.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates a further oblique extension 81 of the bore of FIG. 1 1 using an embodiment of the method of the present invention that is more pronounced and further deviated from midline 9 than the oblique extension 80 illustrated in FIG. 11.
  • the radius of bending or turning provided by the use of the embodiment of the method illustrated in FIGs. 9-12 can vary according to the imbalance of the power of the laser light beam 59A generated by the laser dn!l head 50A operated in accordance with the method of the present invention.
  • a large imbalance may be obtained by operating the first peripheral sub-group 71 of laser light-emitting elements 45 to produce peripheral laser light beams 64b at a very high power level while deactivating the second peripheral sub-group 72 of laser light emitting elements 45 to produce an absence of laser light beams 64c. and the large imbalance will miminize the oblique extension radius of bending or turning, as indicated in FIG. 12 in the shift of the angle of the bore 90 from a midline 9 to a new midline 9A.
  • a very small imbalance may be obtained by operating the first peripheral sub-group 71 of laser light-emitting elements 45 to produce peripheral laser light beams 64b at a given power level while operating the second peripheral sub-group 72 of laser light emitting elements 45 at a power level that is only slightly less than the power level of the first peripheral sub-group 71 to produce a small imbalance that will maximize the oblique extension radius of bending or turning (not illustrated, but less of a shift than indicated by midline 9A).
  • composition of the formation material 19 being removed using heat generated by the impingement of laser light and the laser-compatibility of fluids in the bore 90 and intermediate the laser light- emitting elements 66 and 45 at the leading end 56 of the laser drill head 50A and the portion of the bore to be extended 60.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates only a single laser light source 16 at the earth's surface and coupled to feed laser light into a surface end of second umbilical 34 to transmit laser light through laser light-transmitting optical fibers or fiber bundles 47 of ihe second umbilical 34 to the laser drill head 50A.
  • a plurality of laser light sources 16 can be used to separately and independent feed laser light of varying power levels into a plurality of laser light-transmitting optical fibers or fiber bundles 47 of the second umbilical 34.
  • a plurality of laser light sources 16 can be used to separately and independent feed laser light into a plurality of laser light- transmitting optical fibers or fiber bundles 47 of the second umbilical 34, and one or more laser light sources 16 can be deactivated by, for example, disconnecting the one or more laser light sources 16 from one or more portable electric generators 14 thai provide electrical power to the one or more laser light sources 16 to be disconnected.
  • the modified aggregate laser light beam 59A can be emitted from the laser light-emitting elements 66 and 45 at the leading end 56 of the laser drill head 50A to extend the bore 90 in an oblique direction.
  • aggregated laser light beam means a concentrated collection of individual laser light beams that together impinge upon and impart thermal heating to formation rock aligned with the collection of laser light beams, It will be understood that each individual laser light beam may partially overlap with one or more adjacent laser light beams at the point of impingement and at the periphery of the adjacent individual light beams. Aggregate laser light beams also include a collection of clustered individual light beams that together impinge on targeted formation rock although they may each be separated one from the others by small gaps at the point of impingement.
  • the word "group,” as it pertains to laser light-emitting elements, may include a single laser light-emitting elements or a plurality of laser light- emitting elements, unless specifically stated as a plurality.
  • the central group of laser light-emitting elements may comprise a single laser light-emitting element, unless otherwise stated to be a plurality of elements.
  • a second peripheral subgroup of peripheral laser light-emitting elements may comprise a single peripheral laser light-emitting element, unless otherwise stated to be a plurality of elements.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Laser Beam Processing (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé permettant d'étendre un forage terrestre (90) à l'aide d'une tête (50A) de forage laser pour retirer un matériau (19) de formation à l'aide d'une pluralité d'éléments (66 et 45) émettant une lumière laser qui émettent ensemble une pluralité de faisceaux laser (64a et 64b) qui viennent percuter une partie de la paroi (94) du forage (90) devant être étendu. Des modes de réalisation du procédé permettent une extension oblique (80 et 81) du forage (90) en fournissant une pluralité d'éléments (66) émettant une lumière laser centrale et une pluralité d'éléments (45) émettant une lumière laser périphérique, formant ensemble un groupe, en activant les éléments (66) émettant une lumière laser centrale, tout en activant un premier sous-groupe (71) périphérique d'éléments (45) émettant une lumière laser à un premier niveau de puissance et en désactivant ou activant à un second niveau de puissance, inférieur au premier niveau de puissance, un second sous-groupe périphérique (72) d'éléments (45) émettant une lumière laser pour modifier un faisceau (59A) de lumière laser agrégée émis par la tête (50A) de forage laser afin de venir percuter dans une plus grande mesure un côté du forage distal par rapport au second sous-groupe périphérique.
PCT/US2013/061227 2013-09-23 2013-09-23 Procédé d'extension d'un forage à l'aide d'une tête de forage laser WO2015041700A1 (fr)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109441384A (zh) * 2018-12-24 2019-03-08 吉林大学 一种用于冰层钻探的激光取芯钻进方法及钻进装置

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US4594790A (en) 1982-09-20 1986-06-17 Applied Technologies Associates Borehole surveying employing ring laser gyroscope
US6895678B2 (en) 2002-08-01 2005-05-24 The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Borehole navigation system
EP2065552A1 (fr) 2007-11-28 2009-06-03 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Valve de contrôle rotative et système de commande d'actionneur correspondant
US20100044102A1 (en) * 2008-08-20 2010-02-25 Rinzler Charles C Methods and apparatus for removal and control of material in laser drilling of a borehole
US20120068086A1 (en) * 2008-08-20 2012-03-22 Dewitt Ronald A Systems and conveyance structures for high power long distance laser transmission
US20120074110A1 (en) * 2008-08-20 2012-03-29 Zediker Mark S Fluid laser jets, cutting heads, tools and methods of use
WO2013040561A2 (fr) * 2011-09-15 2013-03-21 Sld Enhanced Recovery. Inc. Appareil et système pour forer un trou à l'aide d'un laser

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4594790A (en) 1982-09-20 1986-06-17 Applied Technologies Associates Borehole surveying employing ring laser gyroscope
US6895678B2 (en) 2002-08-01 2005-05-24 The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Borehole navigation system
EP2065552A1 (fr) 2007-11-28 2009-06-03 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Valve de contrôle rotative et système de commande d'actionneur correspondant
US20100044102A1 (en) * 2008-08-20 2010-02-25 Rinzler Charles C Methods and apparatus for removal and control of material in laser drilling of a borehole
US20120068086A1 (en) * 2008-08-20 2012-03-22 Dewitt Ronald A Systems and conveyance structures for high power long distance laser transmission
US20120074110A1 (en) * 2008-08-20 2012-03-29 Zediker Mark S Fluid laser jets, cutting heads, tools and methods of use
WO2013040561A2 (fr) * 2011-09-15 2013-03-21 Sld Enhanced Recovery. Inc. Appareil et système pour forer un trou à l'aide d'un laser

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109441384A (zh) * 2018-12-24 2019-03-08 吉林大学 一种用于冰层钻探的激光取芯钻进方法及钻进装置
CN109441384B (zh) * 2018-12-24 2024-01-12 吉林大学 一种用于冰层钻探的激光取芯钻进方法及钻进装置

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