# US 11,994,009 B2 · Non-explosive CO2-based perforation tool for oil and gas downhole operations

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- Number: US 11,994,009 B2
- Document ID: US11994009B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/835,477
- Filed: 2020-03-31
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-31
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Khalid R. Alnoaimi; Khalid M. Alruwaili
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994009B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/114: Perforators using direct fluid action {on the wall to be perforated}, e.g. abrasive jets
- E21B 43/119: Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction
- E21B 43/263: using explosives
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

Methods and systems for perforating a downhole formation which include attaching a CO2 perforating device to a wireline, where the CO2 perforating device may include one or more CO2 filled perforating units. The methods and systems may further include disposing the CO2 perforating device at a depth within a wellbore and detonating the one or more CO2 filled perforating units to perforate one or more surfaces selected from the group consisting of the wellbore casing, cement, and the downhole formation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for perforating a downhole formation comprising:
attaching a CO2 perforating device to a wireline, wherein the CO2 perforating device consists of an electrical charge and one or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units, and the one or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units each comprise a body section and one or more burst discs along the body section, wherein the one or more burst discs are configured to burst in a burst pressure range of 30,000 psia to 40,000 psia;
disposing the CO2 perforating device at a depth within a wellbore while maintaining the CO2 liquid, as a liquid, at a temperature of less than 30° C.; and
detonating the one or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units via heating of the CO2 liquid with the electrical charge to the burst pressure of the burst discs to perforate one or more surfaces selected from the group consisting of the wellbore casing, cement, and the downhole formation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising stabilizing a position of the CO2 perforating device within the wellbore.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising radially positioning the one or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units within the wellbore.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein two or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units are detonated simultaneously.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the CO2 perforating device comprises two or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units, the method further comprising configuring the two or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units to discharge at different perforating pressures.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the CO2 perforating device comprises two or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units, the method further comprising detonating the two or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units at different times and at different depths.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, after detonation of the CO2 perforating device, retrieving the CO2 perforating device from the wellbore, replacing one or more burst discs associated with each of the one or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units, refilling each of the one or more insulated CO2 liquid filled perforating units with liquid CO2 such that the CO2 perforating device can be used in a subsequent perforation operation.

### Claim 8

A method for perforating a downhole formation, comprising:
disposing a well tool in a wellbore, the well tool consisting of an electrical charge and one or more insulated vessels filled with carbon dioxide liquid, while maintaining the carbon dioxide liquid, as a liquid, at a temperature of less than 30° C.;
heating the carbon dioxide liquid via the electrical charge within the one or more insulated vessels to form high pressure carbon dioxide having a burst pressure in a range of 30,000 psia to 40,000 psia;
rupturing burst discs that are configured to burst with the high pressure carbon dioxide; and
after the rupturing ruptures the burst discs, discharging the high pressure carbon dioxide via one or more directional outlets associated with each of the one or more insulated vessels to perforate the downhole formation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the well tool comprises two or more insulated vessels, the method comprising:
disposing the well tool at first depth within the wellbore and heating and discharging a first of the two or more insulated vessels;
disposing the well tool at a second depth within the wellbore and heating and discharging a second of the two or more insulated vessels.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising stabilizing a position of the well tool within the wellbore.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising radially positioning the one or more insulated vessels within the wellbore.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein disposing the well tool in the wellbore comprises:
disposing the well tool at a desired depth within the wellbore;
stabilizing a position of the well tool within the wellbore; and
radially positioning the one or more vessels within the wellbore proximate to an internal surface of the wellbore.

### Claim 13

A system for perforating a downhole formation, comprising:
a well tool disposed on a wireline, the well tool consisting of:
one or more insulated vessels filled with carbon dioxide liquid;
one or more directional outlets associated with each of the one or more insulated vessels;
an electrical charge generation device configured to heat the carbon dioxide liquid to form a high pressure carbon dioxide having a burst pressure in a range of 30,000 psia to 40,000 psia;
one or more burst discs associated with each of the one or more insulated vessels configured to rupture at the burst pressure in the range of 30,000 psia to 40,000 psia and discharge the high pressure carbon dioxide through the one or more directional outlets; and
an actuation mechanism configured to activate the electrical charge generation device,
wherein the well tool disposed on the wireline is disposed in a wellbore while maintaining the carbon dioxide liquid, as a liquid, at a temperature of less than 30° C.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein when the system comprises two or more vessels, the two or more vessels are disposed in series relative to one another, wherein the bottom of a first vessel is positioned above the top of a subsequent additional vessel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the system comprises two or more vessels disposed in parallel, configured to perforate at a same depth.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the system comprises vessels arranged in series and in parallel, where two or more vessels are configured to perforate at a same depth and two or more vessels are configured to perforate at a different depth.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a packing element to control a position of the well tool within a wellbore.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a positioning member configured to radially adjust a position of the one or more vessels.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the system comprises two or more vessels, and wherein the two or more vessels are configured to discharge high pressure carbon dioxide at different pressures.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more vessels filled with carbon dioxide are vacuum insulated vessels.