Plasma pulse technology

Agenda
What is plasma ?
Plasma pulse tool
Mechanism of plasma pulse
technology
laboratory studies on core and fluids
samples
Applications and limitations
Case study

 How plasma is formed:
• if we heat a cube of ice it will melt and change into
liquid water .
• if we heat the water up to 100c It changes into vapor .
• but will happen if we heat the vapor very strong , the
plasma will formed

When the heat is sufficiently strong ,electrons will
be stripped from their respective atoms creating
free electrons and positive ions
although the are both negative and positive
particles plasma is a neutral over all as there are
equal amounts of oppositely charged particles .
since free electrons present substances in
plasma from can conduct electricity this what
separate gas from plasma

How we use plasma in EOR
the plasma pulse tool
design :
1)Metal wire as locking the electrodes
conductor with diameter (0.45mm) and
length (30.0mm).
2)Capacitors ,fully charged at the time of
preceding the discharge, with voltage of
(3000v)
3)The capacity of the parallel connected
capacitors’ battery (250μϜ)
4)The discharge time (55μsec)
5)The energy of the discharge in this case
(1125J)

How plasma tool is used :
• The first step we lower a measuring device into the well bore to
measure (pressure ,temperature , liquid flowing level , perforation
intervals).
• Then we lower the tool to the perforation intervals on wire line.
• Crew initiates a metallic conductor discharge that forms the
plasma pulse and accompanying compression wave
• With the explosion of the wire in the fluid ,provided that the energy
stored in the capacitors is greater than the energy of evaporation
of the conductor ,there is an instantaneous heating arc discharge
occurs ,the wire is evaporated and the pulses develop .
• Most of the total energy is released in the explosion of wire within a
discharge cycle in about 55μsec

• Exploding wire expands ,forming a spark channel ,
with further expansion of this channel a gas bubble is
formed , which expands until the maximum radius at
which the kinetic energy is transferred to water
medium ,creating shock wave
• The increased potential energy of the water is again
reported to the bubble ,causing its compression to
minimum
• This cycle is repeated until the bubble energy
decreases due to the emission of acoustic shock
waves at consecutive minima ,also due to
condensation and viscous losses in the water medium
, creating shock waves
• There may be (2:3)or (3:4) cycles of these before the
energy is completely dissipated ,and a series of
compression-tension waves are created in the
medium

Example:
 Assume we have copper wire as an explodable conductor ,knowing its
characteristics (vol. , density , specific heat of melting and vaporization )
 We are able now to calculate the energy required for conversion of conductor
into steam ,this energy is equal to 213J ,and the evaporation temperature
T=2840 K
 The energy of gas bubble formation takes 30% of the total energy of explosion
 Considering the explosion is almost immediately ,we can assume the vol. of
gas bubble is equal to the vol. of blasting wire
 From the “Kinetic Molecular Theory“ (KMT) the temperature to which the gas is
heated is given by
𝑻 =
𝑷. 𝑴
𝝆. 𝑹
=
𝟐
𝟑
∗ 𝒏. 𝑬.
𝑴
𝝆. 𝑹
Where T –temperature ,n –molecular concentration ,E-average kinetic energy
,M-molecular weight , 𝝆-density of material ,R-universal gas constant 8.31J/mol.K

SO, the maximum temperature to which the gas bubble is heated
can reach 37,000K
If we add the temperature of copper evaporation.
 Instant heating of the metal such high temperature leads to the
formation of PLASMA
 As there is thermal ionization of particles ,the discharge current
stops with the formation of plasma
 Plasma expands transforming the acquired energy into pulses of
p=43*10ˆ9 Pa
 Despite the high value of over pressure it doesn’t destroy the
material of the well ,which is proved by a number of CBL studies

Basic principles of
Plasma Pulse
Technology

A significant role in solving the
problem of enhanced oil recovery
should be paid to the elastic properties
of the formation such :
1-gravitational-capillary forces
2- porosity
3- permeability
4- temperature
5-viscosity of oil, water
6-the formation pressure.

“How does an opera singer fracture a glass without hitting
it? Why does the molecular structure of the glass break
down? It is the unique resonance of the sound wave,”
 in the productive deposits there are constantly natural
non-damping free oscillations taking place, giving
disequilibrium to reservoir, controlled by a stationary
circular (angular) frequency, which is called sometimes
the dominant frequency.
 In works on geomechanics and fluid dynamics it is
mentioned, that each productive reservoir has its own
dominant frequency, which depends on a micro-
structural, viscoelastic and stratification resonances.

Physical basis :
 The physical basis of the Plasma Pulse Treatment are
periodic pulses of equal strength, spaced with equal time
intervals by discharge current passing through a calibrated
metal conductor .
 Shock wave, formed by the explosion, is propagating
radially with supersonic speed, gets out through the
perforation holes and provides an elastic compressive and
tensile impact on the media.
 Oscillations, generated in the reservoir, should be as much
as possible corresponding to the frequency of natural
oscillations of the rock matrix and the saturating fluids. These
vibrations cause multiple effects, affecting the liquids and
gases contained in the formation

How the PPT affects the reservoir :
 These vibrations reduce the cohesive and adhesive
contact, greatly reduce the expression of capillary forces,
tending to encourage the clustering of oil drops into the
streams, making the flow easier for hydrocarbons in the
porous medium.
 The amplifying effect of the resonance break the molecule
chain of the H.Cs so that it becomes smaller and flows
through smaller openings.
 Compression waves, reflected many times, transform into
tension waves, which contribute to the development and
formation of new cracks, as well as the transformation of
sub-capillary pores into capillary.

 Pressure drops during pulse action alternately change
in magnitude and direction, causing the liquid moves
from stagnant zones and channels to the zone of
active drainage.
 Repeated deformation contribute to fatigue failure of
rocks and chipping of the reservoir fragments and
these fragments serve the function of propant and
keep the cracks open.
 Surface friction develops between liquid phases,
which promotes the release of heat, which, in turn,
reduces their surface tension.
 Due to periodic shock impacts in the area of the
perforation holes, the sediments are detached from
the walls of pore channels.

LABORATORY STUDIES
ON CORE AND FLUID
SAMPLES

For the purpose of determining the influence of
plasma-pulse treatment on the crude oil
properties and the possibility of PPT for
extraction of heavy and high viscosity oil, the
Department of Development and Operation of
Oil & Gas fields at the saint Petersburg Mining
University, Russia has performed laboratory
studies of properties of high viscosity oils from
Romashkinskoye field (ρ=0.874 g/cm3,µ=40.9
cp).
As viscosity depends on temperature, the
measurements were carried out at
10,20,30,50,70 C

The research aim was studying a possibility of lowering
the oil viscosity by a PPT impact on the formation.
The experimental analysis of the rheological properties
of oils were conducted using advanced core test
system.
The rheological-thixotropic props of during deformation
at constant rate results in reduction of effective
viscosity with time .
Thixotropy is a reversible process, after removal of
loads, the destructed structure of liquid restores .
Duration of restoration presents a practical interest

The hysteresis loop area corresponds to the
energy, determines the value of energy
required for thixotropic structure destruction.
Application of PPT at high viscosity oil fields
facilitates decay of thixotropic structure
ensuring a long-lasting effect.
According to measurements, restoration of the
romashkinskoye oil structure takes 110 days,
the hysteresis loop area has decreased by
48%. (fig.4)

Table 1 shows the results of
rheological measurements
of high viscosity oil at
usinskoye field after
PPT,reduction of oil viscosity
by 30% and the thixotropic
properties by 40% ,
depending on the viscosity
of treated oil.

Selection of candidate wells
Candidate well requirements
1. Well bore inclination not exceed 50 degree
2. Reservoir temperature is less than 204 F
3. Porosity is not more than 30%
4. Permeability is at least 2-4 md
5. Reservoir pressure is not greater than 7000 psi
6. Number of perfs is greater than 1 per 1m

The technology of plasma pulse treatment of
productive oil reservoirs has been used successfully
since 2007
This technology processed more than 300 oil
producing and injection wells in Russia , USA ,Canada
,Kazakhstan ,China ,Kuwait and other countries and in
most cases a positive technological effect was
obtained
Independent analysis of PPT technology ,conducted
by a specialized engineering consulting company in
2015 ,contains the following :
1) 87% of the production wells with carbonate
reservoirs showed an increase in productivity , the
average increase in productivity amounted to 99%

2)71% of wells in sandstone reservoirs , the
development of which was initially carried out
using hydraulic fracturing showed an increase in
productivity , the average productivity growth
was 110%
3)50%of the wells in sand stone reservoirs without
hydraulic fracturing showed an increase in
productivity , the average increase was 24%
In the treatment of the injection wells, the
effectiveness of the PPT is exceeding more than
90%.

A number of studies during the pilot and industrial works
demonstrate that in addition to enhanced permeability of
the bottomhole and remote areas, the PPT has a positive
effect on rheological and thixotropic properties of both the
reservoir and oil, as it increases its mobility
Representative results were achieved in the course of
application of the PPT to the fields of LLC Polar Lights
Company, Russia (a subsidiary of jointly Rosneft JSC and
ConocoPhillips) confined to porous and fractured-
cavernous types of limestone. As for technical
characteristics of reservoir: oil density - 0.845-0.874 g/cm3;
viscosity - 1.52-2.4 MPa*c; permeability of the strata - 0.009-
41 D; porosity - 6.6-11.3%.

After the application of the PPT to a
well on Ardalinskoye oil field, the oil
production rate enhanced on the
average by 23.7 tons/day, whereas the
average increase in the fluid production
rate was 22.8 m3/day. It
is noteworthy that the water cut level
decreased from 86% to 80% within the 3
month observation period.

On Zapadno-Sikhoreyskoye oil fields noteworthy that
the water cut level decreased from 86% to 80% within
the 3 month observation period. The wed an open
hole production well before the treatment worked
with the following parameters: fluid (Qf) - 105 m3/day;
oil (Q0) - 85 tons/day; water cut - 6.5%.
After the well treatment with the application of the
PPT, the study of the well inflow profile (PLT) was
carried out; it showed improvement in the
productive characteristics of the formation. Fig. 10
presents the well parameters before and after the
PPT.

A cased-hole well with the following technological
parameters was selected for the treatment on
Dyusushevskoye field:
fluid production rate before treatment - 14 m3/day;
oil production rate - 1.8 tons/day;
water cut - 85%;
dynamic level (Hdyn) - 2.250 m.
The modeling calculations provided a basis for assuming
that even if the water cut level remains at 85% (the water
inflow profile was not known), one can expect an increase
in fluid production (Qf) - up to 30 m3 and in oil production -
by 3.8 tons/day (Ndyn = 2000 m).

 The modeling calculations provided a basis for assuming that even if
the water cut level remains at 85% (the water inflow profile was not
known), one can expect an increase in fluid production (Qf) - up to 30
m3 and in oil production - by 3.8 tons/day (Ndyn = 2000 m).
 Compared to uncased borehole treated with 1 m impact intervals
and the number of pulses not greater than 20 at a point, in the cased
well, the decision was made to reduce impact intervals to 0.5 m and
increase the number of pulses at each point in 2-3 times (the
calculation is based on geological features of the reservoir).
 The well operation parameters after the application of the PPT in the
predetermined mode:
 average daily fluid production rate increased to 43.6 m3/day;
 average daily oil production rate grew up to 11 tons;
 water cut decreased to 70.7 %. (Fig. 11)

 According to the test results, the dynamic level (Ndvn) stabilized at
around 1453 km, which is 800 m higher than before the PPT application
and which shows good additional potential of the well
 Multiple applications of Plasma-Pulse Treatment have been carried out
on injector wells. Method of Plasma-Pulse Treatment allows not only to
increase the injectivity capacity of wells, but also to redistribute the
pumped in liquid by the unwashed interlayers, thus increasing the
scope of flooding the field to the maximum values. Fig. 12 presents an
example of such treatment on Muravlenkovskoe oil field with
terrigenous collector. The target was to increase the relative injection
capacity of a particular layer 2872.0 - 2879.4m MD from 8 to 30%. It is
shown that the injection capacity of a current interlayer increased
from 29,2 to 150 m3 per day and its share in total capacity of the well
increased from 8 to 32%.

For all cases it can be noted that the bringing of all
treated wells to stable production was significantly
faster than after the repair works previously
conducted on these wells. Usually, a smooth
decrease in the water cut level and the bringing of
the well to the prerepair mode were observed within
3 days or more, due to the extraction of the
absorbed well-killing fluid and, as a consequence,
the deterioration of reservoir properties. After the
Plasma-Pulse Treatment, all wells were brought to
former oil production and water cut level during the
first two days.

References
 Buntzen R„ 1965. Studies of metal-water reactions by the exploding wire technique.
Electric explosion of conductors. Moscow: Mir. pp. 225-238
 Chellapan S.K., A1 Enezi F., et al. 2015. First application of plasma technology in KOC
to improve well's productivity.
 SPE Kuwait Oil & Gas Show and Conference 2015. SPE-175264-MS.
 Nikolaevsky V.N., 1996. Geomechanics and fluid dynamics in application to gas and
oil reservoirs problems. Moscow: Nedra. 448 p.
 Orlenko L.P., 2006. Physics of explosion and shock. Moscow: Fizmatlit.
 Pashchenko A.F., Ageev P.G.. 2015. Elastic waves and plasma -a new era of
enhanced oil recovery. Proceedings of
 ICNAAM-2105. AIP Publishing. Vol. 1738. pp. 480053.
 Tarnovsky E.I., 2009. Technology and techniques to increase components recovery
from formations. Tomsk: TPU.

Presented by
Mohamed Refaat Atta

Plasma pulse technology

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