Reducing laser energy usage in sandstone consolidation
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsAbdullah M. Alharith, Ahmed I. Asiri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To reduce laser energy usage in sandstone consolidation, an additive material is flowed to a portion of the sandstone formation to be treated. The additive material is configured to reduce a melting point of the formation upon contacting the formation. A laser beam is directed on the portion of the formation after the additive material has contacted the portion of the formation. The laser beam increases a temperature of the formation to less than the reduced melting point of the formation. The laser beam melts the portion of the formation at less than the reduced melting point in response to the additive material contacting the portion of the formation before the laser beam increases the temperature of the formation.
Claims17
A method of treating a formation using a laser, the method comprising:
- flowing an additive material to a portion of the formation to be treated, wherein the additive material is configured to reduce a melting point of the formation upon contacting the portion of the formation, wherein the additive comprises potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, potassium oxide, sodium carbonate, potassium nitrate or any combination thereof;
- and
- directing a laser beam on the portion of the formation after the additive material has contacted the portion of the formation, wherein the laser beam increases a temperature of the formation to less than the reduced melting point of the formation, wherein the laser beam melts the portion of the formation at less than the reduced melting point in response to the additive material contacting the portion of the formation before the laser beam increases the temperature of the formation.
A method of treating a formation using a laser, the method comprising:
- forming a wellbore in a subterranean zone comprising a sandstone formation;
- applying an additive material to a portion of the sandstone formation, wherein the additive material is configured to reduce a melting point of the sandstone formation upon contacting the portion of the sandstone formation, wherein the additive material comprises potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, potassium oxide, sodium carbonate, potassium nitrate or any combination thereof;
- lowering a laser transmitter into the wellbore;
- and
- directing a laser beam transmitted through the laser transmitter onto the portion of the sandstone formation, wherein the laser beam melts the portion of the sandstone formation at a reduced melting point of the sandstone formation in response to being contacted by the additive material.
A system for treating a formation using a laser, the system comprising:
- a wellbore drilling assembly configured to drill a wellbore in a subterranean zone comprising a sandstone formation;
- an additive material configured to reduce a melting point of the sandstone formation upon contacting a portion of the sandstone formation, wherein the additive material comprises potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, potassium oxide, sodium carbonate, potassium nitrate, or any combination thereof;
- flow equipment configured to flow the additive material through the wellbore to the portion of the sandstone formation, wherein the flow equipment comprises pumps;
- and
- a laser transmitter configured to be lowered into the wellbore, the laser transmitter configured to transmit a laser beam onto the portion of the sandstone formation, wherein the laser beam is configured to melt the portion of the sandstone formation at a reduced melting point responsive to the additive material contacting the portion of the sandstone formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.