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StarWars Laser Technology for Gas Drilling and Completions in the 21st Century
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1999
Year
Gasresearch InstituteEngineeringGas DrillingBlastingLaser ApplicationsLaser PhysicsSuper-intense LasersDirected Energy WeaponsHigh-power LasersLaser ControlOptical DiagnosticsLaser-based SensorBomb Damage AssessmentLaser Processing TechnologyLaser-assisted DepositionAir ForceAdvanced Laser ProcessingAerospace EngineeringLaser Processing (Business Administration)Laser SafetyGas LasersHigh-energy Lasers21St CenturyStarwars Laser TechnologyNatural Gas Wells
The study builds on the Gas Research Institute’s second‑phase program and the Chemical‑Oxygen‑Iodine Laser’s reputation as a high‑power directed‑energy weapon used by the U.S. Air Force. Its goal is to pioneer a fundamental shift in drilling and completion techniques for natural‑gas wells by applying the U.S. Defense Department’s StarWars laser technology. Researchers exposed over 100 rock samples—including sandstone, limestone, shale, salt, granite, and concrete—to COIL laser beams of varying power and duration, and also tested water‑, brine‑, oil‑, and gas‑saturated samples to simulate downhole conditions and assess vapor interference, gas atmosphere, confining stresses, and continuous versus chopped laser modes.
Abstract This paper describes results of the second phase of a GasResearch Institute (GRI) funded research program. Theoverall purpose of this research is to advance a fundamentalchange in the methods currently used to drill and completenatural gas wells applying the U.S. Defense Department'sStarWars laser technology. Results of tests conducted at theU.S. Air Force's high power laser research facilities arepresented. This phase of the research has used the ChemicalOxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL) high-powered laser invented bythe U.S. Air Force in 1977 for air-to-air defense. Located bof[b-dghj-npqrsvwxyz] U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed EnergyDirectorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, COIL hasgained notoriety as an airborne laser tactical weapon capableof tracking and destroying missiles. More than 100 rocksamples – including sandstones, limestones, shales, salt, granites and concrete – were exposed to laser beams ofvarying power and duration. The results were encouraging inthat the laser was able to penetrate all rock types. Samplessaturated with water, brine, oil and gas were also tested tomore accurately simulate the downhole drilling environment.The effects of vapor interference, gas atmosphere, confiningrock stresses and operating the laser in continuous andchopped modes will be discussed. The basic research conducted on laser-rock-fluidinteractions is helping provide the foundation on which todetermine the benefits of using StarWars laser technology fordrilling and completing natural gas wells.