Method and system for deploying perforating gun for multiple same location reservoir penetrations without drilling rig

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for conducting multiple successive same-location firings of a number of shaped charges carried by a perforating gun attached to an orienting tool that is, in turn secured to the length of coiled tubing that is lowered into the wellbore by a coiled tubing unit and precisely positioned by engagement with a fixed receiving member that is secured proximate the end of a length of producing tubing to align its charges with the penetration created by the first fired-charges in order to produce deeper and larger diameter penetrations that result in enhanced hydraulic fracturing of the reservoir and increased gas production from the completed well.

1 . An apparatus for penetrating a predetermined interval of a tight reservoir rock formation adjacent a well bore, the apparatus comprising a perforating gun containing a plurality of shaped charges releasably attached to the downhole end of an orienting tool, which orienting tool is secured to the end of a length of coiled tubing or a wireline, where the orienting tool is configured to enter into secure releasable mating engagement with a corresponding receiving member that is joined to the end of a length of production tubing and located at a predetermined position above and proximate to the interval that is to be penetrated at the same location by the sequential firing of a plurality of shaped charges contained in the gun. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the orienting tool is a latching tool and the receiving member is a latch coupling. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the latching tool and the attached gun are disengaged from the latch coupling by application of a downward force and an upward force, whereby the gun can be disposed to at least a second operable position at a second interval that is to be perforated without withdrawing the gun to the earth's surface. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  in which the latching tool has a plurality of projecting members which are releasably received in a plurality of corresponding recesses in the interior surface of the latch coupling and the respective upper and lower surfaces of the projecting members and recesses are configured to permit axial movement of the latching tool relative to the latch coupling in either direction. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the end of the latching tool opposite the gun is secured to the downhole end of a length of coiled tubing extending from a coiled tubing unit for control of movement of the latching tool and gun from the earth's surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which the gun is provided with a first series of charges that are wired for discharge at a first position adjacent a first downhole interval and a second series of charges that are wired for discharge at a second position displaced from the first position, the second position being determined by engagement of the latching tool with a second latch coupling disposed and secured to the production tubing proximate the second position. 
     
     
         7 . A method of sequentially performing a plurality of penetrations along a predetermined interval of a wellbore in a tight reservoir rock formation in order to deeply penetrate into the rock, the method comprising:
 a. securing a latch coupling to the downhole end of a length of production tubing that terminates at a predetermined position above and proximate to the interval to be penetrated;   b. lowering via a coiled tubit unit, a perforating gun that is secured to the downhole end of a latching tool into position adjacent the interval to be perforated, the opposite end of the latching tool being secured to the downhole end of the coiled tubing;   c. releasably engaging the latching tool with the latch coupling;   d. firing a first series of charges from the gun to penetrate the reservoir rock along the interval with a first series of openings;   e, pulling the latching tool upwardly in the wellbore to disengage the tool from the latch coupling;   f. retrieving the gun from the wellbore, reloading the gun with fresh charges and returning the gun and latching tool to an engaged position with the latch coupling; and   g. firing a second series of charges from the gun into the formation at the same locations as the first series to provide openings penetrating deeper into the formation than the first series of openings.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , which includes repeating steps (e) through (g) to fire at least a third series of charges to further penetrate the formation. 
     
     
         9 . A method of sequentially performing a plurality of perforations at a predetermined interval of a wellbore in a tight reservoir rock formation in order to produce successively deeper penetrations into the rock, the method comprising:
 a. securing a latch coupling to the downhole end of a length of production tubing at a predetermined fixed position above and proximate to the interval to be perforated;   b. providing a perforating gun comprised of a plurality of sections where each section contains a plurality of shaped charges positioned in the same predetermined array and the arrays are axially and radially aligned with each other;   c. securing the perforating gun to the downhole end of a supporting member;   d. securing to the supporting member a plurality of latching tools that correspond in number to the sections comprising the perforating gun, the latching tools being spaced apart axially a distance that corresponds to the axial distance between the shaped charge arrays in the gun;   e. securing the supporting member to the downhole end of a length of coiled tubing extending from a coiled tubing unit at the earth's surface;   f. lowering via the coiled tubing unit the first section of the gun into position adjacent the interval to be perforated;   g. releasably engaging the latching tool with the latch coupling closest to the gun;   h. firing a first series of charges from the gun to penetrate the reservoir rock along the interval with a plurality of openings;   i. releasing the engaged latching tool to disengage the tool from the latch coupling and lowering the gun via the coiled tubing unit to engage the adjacent latching tool with the latch coupling to position the second section of the gun adjacent the penetrations;   j. firing a subsequent series of charges from the gun into the formation at the same locations as the first series to provide openings penetrating deeper into the formation than the first series of openings; and   k. repeating steps (h) and (i) until all of the charges in the gun have been fired into the formation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  in which the gun is comprised of at least two sections. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  in which the gun is assembled with three sections. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  in which the latching tool is moved vertically by the coiled tubing unit to disengage the tool from the latch coupling. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  in which the gun fires in response to a signal transmitted from the earth's surface.