Aligning Upstream Operations with Sustainable Technology: High Power Lasers

The application of practical sustainability and safety principles in a perforation job is pivotal to safeguard not only the environment and workers’ well-being but also, the long-term viability of resource extraction. In light of the first industrial high-power laser perforation, the objective of this work is to explore the sustainability and safety aspects of laser perforation with a focus on factors such as water requirement, asset integrity, logistics, safety and surface footprint. This work examines the operational conditions of conventional stimulation methods and the first industrial successful deployment of high laser perforation tool in the field with a focus on safety, logistics, environmental impact, surface footprint and technology efficiency. Furthermore, the paper presents the effect on well integrity after the perforation process with a laser tool including debris management, steel integrity, effect on the formation properties, quality of perforation tunnels. Experimental data obtained from photomicrographs, acoustic testing, and imaging were used for validation and analysis. The design of the laser system deployed is enclosed with small surface footprint. It comprises a laser energy generator, nitrogen tank, coiled tubing unit, and the tool. The laser tool eliminates the use of explosives, such as shaped charges, promoting safety and eliminating the extensive logistics of handling explosives in the wellbore. The laser tool can perform as many perforations as required in a single trip reducing rig time efficiently. This technology provides versatility to suit the wellbore specification in terms of size, shape, and depth of perforation, promoting efficient completion of wells. After perforation, photomicrographs and acoustic testing proved that the use of high-power laser does not compromise the integrity of steel, maintaining the existing asset integrity. Furthermore, the precise control over the phase of the rock maintained the perforation tunnel and formation integrity. The non-explosive effect of laser perforation eliminates compaction around perforation tunnels abolishing post-stimulation formation damage, which provides long-term viability of resource extraction. The waterless, rigless, and non-explosive, features of the laser perforation technology align seamlessly with the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association's (ipieca) roadmap to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the oil & gas industry. High power laser is an innovative breakthrough technology that will revolutionize the industry, this paper demonstrated the potential of the technology and its alignment with the recommended sustainability and safety practices. High power laser tool is a multifunctional tool that can provide different applications with the same power source and tool.