Methods and systems to stimulate rock surrounding a wellbore using ultrasound at a preferred frequency
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsChao Liu, Murtadha J. AlTammar
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Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed. The method may include obtaining, using a rock characterization system, a plurality of characteristics for a rock penetrated by a wellbore, and determining, using a model of poroelasticity and the plurality of characteristics, a preferred ultrasonic frequency at which to insonify the rock. The method may further include deploying an ultrasonic stimulation tool in the wellbore, where the ultrasonic stimulation tool comprises at least one ultrasonic transducer, and activating the ultrasonic stimulation tool at the preferred ultrasonic frequency.
Claims18
A method, comprising:
- obtaining, using a rock characterization system, a plurality of characteristics for a rock penetrated by a wellbore;
- determining, using a model of poroelasticity and the plurality of characteristics, a preferred ultrasonic frequency at which to insonify the rock;
- deploying an ultrasonic stimulation tool in the wellbore, wherein the ultrasonic stimulation tool comprises at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- and
- activating the ultrasonic stimulation tool at the preferred ultrasonic frequency,
- wherein the preferred ultrasonic frequency is based, at least in part, on maximizing a peak pore pressure at a distance beyond a wall of the wellbore.
An ultrasonic stimulation tool comprising:
- a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end;
- a first hydraulic packer mounted on the cylindrical housing proximal the first end and a second hydraulic packer mounted on the cylindrical housing proximal the second end;
- a fluid channel penetrating the first hydraulic packer;
- a pumping system fluidly connected to the fluid channel;
- and
- an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the cylindrical housing and disposed between the hydraulic packer proximal to each end, configured to emit radiated ultrasonic waves at a preferred frequency upon command from a well logging system,
- wherein the preferred frequency is determined, using a model of poroelasticity, from characteristics of a rock, and
- wherein the preferred ultrasonic frequency is based, at least in part, on maximizing a peak pore pressure at a distance beyond a wall of the wellbore.
An ultrasonic stimulation system, comprising:
- a rock characterization system configured to obtain a plurality of characteristics for a rock penetrated by a wellbore;
- a computer system configured to determine, using a model of poroelasticity and the plurality of characteristics, a preferred ultrasonic frequency at which to insonify the rock;
- an ultrasonic stimulation tool comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer, configured to emit radiated ultrasonic waves at the preferred frequency upon receipt of a command from a well logging system;
- wherein the preferred ultrasonic frequency is based, at least in part, on maximizing a peak pore pressure at a distance beyond a wall of the wellbore;
- and
- a well logging system configured to transmit a command to activate the ultrasonic stimulation tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.