For I05-C Cond. I is existing condition. All flows are at temperature of 95°C.
There is an unmet need for a clean perforating tunnel, for deep-water natural completions that reduces fluid friction, providing better reservoir connectivity and thus enhanced production. As a disruptive innovator in the technology space, particularly in the energy sector, we have now bridged this technology gap through the synthesis of a novel alloy, which when cold isostatic pressed into a conical shaped charge liner enables a unique response. During the detonation event, the jet created from our novel degradable liner punctures the casing and progresses to penetrate the formation until an eventual collapse. Our novel material is designed such that, during detonation, reaction products, bulk metallic glasses (BMG) and/or high entropy alloys (HEA), are formed which disintegrate into a fine powdery debris in contact with water. These degradable BMG/HEA or complexions are preferentially segregated at interfaces with high free energy. They tend to decorate the grain boundaries and domain interfaces of the impermeable skin lining the crushed zone of the perforation tunnel as amorphous intergranular films (AIFs) and plug at end of the pathway. Interacting with flowback fluids the complexions promote grain dropping, disintegrating the liner and carrot leaving behind a clean perforation tunnel. As a result, it is projected that fracture conductivity is significantly improved, resulting in enhanced productivity. In addition, a clear perf-tunnel has zero skin value. As such, when compared to a coated tunnel with gun and charge debris, it needs little or no acid to clean-up. In addition, it is anticipated that this will reduce the formation breakdown and opening pressures offering improved economics for the client. Last but not least, this leads to cost reduction of authorized field expenditure (AFE) to support optimized performance of completion designs allowing for increased production. The additional novelty of our liner designed through powder metallurgy (PM) techniques is a sub-sonic deflagration of the jet, during its collapse, resulting in sputtering of complexions and BMG/HEA residue along the perforation tunnel. These sputter-deposited jet complexions react with fluids during flowback, selectively being etched, barely needing water for the clean-up. The disintegration of this skin and slug, if any, in the perf-tunnel into fine particulates, subsequently being removed, leaves behind a clear, clean tunnel. CLEAR shaped charges have now been qualified to customer specifications in field conditions and are ready to be commercialized. Our journey of innovation does not end here. In fact, this is not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. To offset our carbon footprint and having embraced environmental and natural resources stewardship as one of our core values we are committed to contributing, as individuals and as an organization, to a flourishing human-ecological system. Through technology synthesis we have developed the concept of engineering seedpods for sustainable reforestation and Agri-tech. This had led to an endeavor for rapid tree planting through areal drones and UAVs’ to offset the effects of deforestation caused by human activities and natural disasters. In our paper we will additionally highlight this innovative technology cross-pollination and our efforts in low carbon and ESG endeavors.
Rapid tree planting can offset the effects of deforestation caused by human activities and natural disasters. This paper outlines our story, a compelling case of crosspollination and energy transition: a journey which starts with designing degradable shaped charge liners for use in reservoir perforation using high entropy nano-Bulk-Metallic-Glass-Composites (HEA/BMGC) and ends with these being synthesized to design drone delivered seed-pods for re-forestation. As technology innovators in the energy industry, to offset our carbon footprint, we have embraced environment and natural resources stewardship as one of our core values, with a strong focus on conservation and environmental management policies. We believe our wellbeing; thus, success and nature are intimately intertwined. As such, we are committed to contributing, as individuals and as an organization, to a flourishing human-ecological system. This had led to an endeavor to rapidly plant trees through aerial drones to offset the effects of deforestation. Here we present, our patented seed-pod, a game changer in reforestation. It stems from an environmentally friendly, lightweight, high-strength biodegradable alloy, providing a nurturing environment for seeds to germinate and grow. We are building high-strength, water reactive or degradable shells to house seeds, nutrients, and water and using a drone with a pneumatic gun to launch these into the ground, burying and planting them. Unlike the existing approaches that deposit seeds on the surface, which are frequently consumed by animals or damaged by inclement weather, that guarantee only a 5-10% survival rate, our approach gives a seed the best chance to germinate and thrive. The industrial potential of this innovative application and its associated technology is enormous. It can be used in any area affected by natural disaster, for example, fires or where reforestation projects are needed. There are 3 trillion trees in the world and 15 billion are removed each year with only 5 billion being replanted. This can also be offer valuable support in areas such as soil erosion with the consequent loss of land mass to oceans and water bodies and additionally to prevent encroachment of deserts into other natural habitats and urban areas.
Strengthening materials through grain refinement often results in reduced ductility necessitating means to augment their elongation to failure for engineering applications. Grain boundary engineering (GBE), encompassing novel thermo-mechanical processing has shown promise of simultaneously enhancing both strength and ductility of materials and fracture behavior, especially with low stacking fault energy materials. The ultrahigh strength and reasonable ductility originate from dislocations being effectively blocked at the nano-twinned boundaries resulting in dislocation accumulation and entanglement. This necessitates the careful design of alloys and nano-composites, an effective harnessing of these unique sub-micron features to the benefit of engineering downhole tools for strategic applications. Enabled by these novel material developments, here we present two such articles for the unconventionals. First, a frangible barrier to abet placement of casings and liners through trapping an air column below the barrier while supporting a fluid column in the casing above, providing an up-thrust, a buoyant force that significantly reduces drag and lateral casing weight during placement. This is a viable concept because "shales don't kick". Second is the unmet need for a clean perforating tunnel allowing reduced fluid friction thus better reservoir connectivity. This has been achieved through the development of a novel shape charge with a reactive liner which during the detonation event, additionally generates reactive metallic glassy phase(s) and high entropy alloy complex(s) and their segregation in the deposited jet debris that lines the perf-tunnel. During flowback, reaction with aqueous fluids selectively etch these phases and stimulates the disintegration of the impervious skin on the perf-tunnel into fine particulates subsequently removing them, leaving behind a clear, clean tunnel.
Smaller shaped charges with a 34 to 43-mm, 18-to-21-gram Copper-Lead liner (Tungsten added for "Deep Penetrators"), engineered for 318 -in OD guns, targeting US Land shale, can produce, an average, a lateral entry of 0.36-inches. A larger diameter entry-hole (EHD), based on perforation design (limited entry vs. high perf. design) has several benefits: lowering of "Perforation Friction" (Pf), lowering of treatment pressures, larger flow across each perforation, fewer chances of a screen-out, uniform drainage, and engineered completions where larger EHD perforations can be placed at the "Toe" with decreasing EHD perforations towards the "Heel" to offset wellbore fluid friction, especially in 3-mile long lateral "Toe". Such was the motivation behind engineering a water reactive, degradable-liner from High-Entropy-Alloys (HEA), producing a significantly larger entry-hole and accompanying debris-free perf-tunnel from a smaller charge, without changing the liner geometry or size, such that it can be universally accommodated in smaller diameter API gun, for example with a 318-in OD. A step change in adding sensing and intelligence to a shaped charge, enabling remote monitoring of zonal performance through strategic deployment of the product, was envisioned for the very first time, adding smart nano-particulates as unique identifiers or tracers in the composite liner bulk. As these novel charges are fired, the thermally stable, doped, nanoparticle rare earth oxide (REO) tracers are carried by the jet and deposited in the perforation tunnel. Hypothesized was their control release during flowback, being conveyed back to the surface with production. These nanoparticle tracers can be identified when they pass through an in-line detector with a collimated light source of predetermined wavelengths, illuminating the tracers, emitting photons with a unique fingerprint, thus identifying the nanocrystal. The detector, comprising a remote computing system configured to store and relay information relating to these tracers is under development. This industry first is a paradigm shift in remote-monitoring, alerting any end user, anywhere in the world, of selected downhole event triggers, without running any device in the well. Never before envisioned innovation to identify non-productive zones, diverter effectiveness, water break out and much more can now be determined, effectively and economically. A five-well field trial of tracer shaped charges with degradable liners were undertaken in the Permian shale (US Land), shot in parallel to industry premium charges, every other stage for selected stages, for a comparative performance analysis. Generally observed were: Up to (a) 10% less time to design rate (b) lowering of pad volumes (ESG) (c) distinct reduction in perf-friction (d) Successful tracer conveyance via charges and returns with flowback fluids to surface. Given its superior performance, far exceeding initial field introduction metrics, tracer charges with degradable HEA liners are predicted to be a game changer in harnessing formations with high frac-gradient and tight rocks, including carbonates in Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
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