Well intervention

High-Power Laser Perforating Aligns Upstream Operations With Sustainable Technology

This paper explores the sustainability and safety aspects of laser perforation with a focus on factors such as water requirement, asset integrity, logistics, safety, and surface footprint.

Fig. 1—Areas where practical solutions and advancements can drive the transition to a sustainable upstream cycle.
Fig. 1—Areas where practical solutions and advancements can drive the transition to a sustainable upstream cycle.
Source: SPE 219258.

This work examines the operational conditions of conventional stimulation methods and the first successful industrial deployment of a high‑power-laser (HPL) perforation tool in the field with a focus on safety, logistics, environmental impact, surface footprint, and technology efficiency. The paper presents the effect on well integrity after the perforation process with the laser tool, including debris management, steel integrity, effect on the formation properties, and quality of perforation tunnels. Experimental data obtained from photomicrographs, acoustic testing, and imaging were used for validation and analysis.

Sustainability in Upstream Operations

With the evolving landscape of the energy industry, the implementation of practical sustainable practices in upstream operations has become a cornerstone in transitioning the oil and gas sector into a more sustainable, economically viable, and socially responsible sector. Asset integrity, occupational safety, and sustainable resources extraction also are key factors in that transition, leading to full implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the energy industry.

Traditionally, upstream operations have struggled with various environmental concerns that extend beyond gas emissions to include water usage, operation logistics and safety, asset integrity, and surface footprint (Fig.

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