Single or multi-fire semi-automatic perforation system and methods of use
In one example, a method includes running a downhole system, that includes a reusable plug and a perforation system, into a wellbore, positioning, and setting in the wellbore, the reusable plug at a stage of the wellbore such that the reusable plug is located uphole of the perforation system, with the perforation system, perforating a casing at the stage of the wellbore, unsetting the reusable plug, and flushing proppant around and past the reusable plug.
1 . A method, comprising:
running a downhole system, comprising a reusable plug and a perforation system, into a downhole environment that comprises a wellbore;
positioning, and setting in the wellbore, the reusable plug at a stage of the wellbore such that the reusable plug is located uphole of the perforation system;
with the perforation system, perforating a casing at the stage of the wellbore;
unsetting the reusable plug; and
flushing proppant around and past the reusable plug.
2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein after the proppant is flushed, pumping fluid is used to remove proppant remaining on the reusable plug.
3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the perforating comprises firing a projectile into the casing.
4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein after the perforating is performed, the reusable plug is moved to another stage of the wellbore, and set.
5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein an axial LiDAR doppler analyzer component of the downhole system is used to monitor a portion of the downhole system and/or conditions in the wellbore.
6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein after the perforating is performed, the downhole system is pumped down to a location where the reusable plug is located downhole of the stage of the wellbore that was perforated.
7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein running the downhole system into the downhole environment comprises pumping the downhole system down the wellbore using a pumping fluid.
8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein communication between the downhole system and a surface location is maintained even after the perforating has been performed.
9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the perforation system comprises a perforation gun, and after the perforating is performed, and while the perforation gun remains in the wellbore, the perforation gun reloads itself with a projectile for a subsequent perforating operation at another stage of the wellbore.
10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising monitoring pressure above and/or below the reusable plug.
11 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the downhole system operates autonomously with respect to its movements and operations within the wellbore.
12 . A method, comprising:
running a downhole system, comprising a reusable plug and a perforation system, into a downhole environment that comprises a wellbore;
with the perforation system, perforating a casing at a stage of the wellbore;
positioning, and setting in the wellbore, the reusable plug such that the reusable plug, after being set, is located downhole of a location where the perforating was performed;
hydraulic fracture stimulating the stage of the wellbore;
unsetting the reusable plug; and
flushing proppant around and past the reusable plug.
13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein after the proppant is flushed, pumping fluid is used to remove proppant remaining on the reusable plug.
14 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the perforating comprises firing a projectile into the casing.
15 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein an axial LiDAR doppler analyzer component of the downhole system is used to monitor a portion of the downhole system and/or conditions in the wellbore.
16 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein running the downhole system into the downhole environment comprises pumping the downhole system down the wellbore using a pumping fluid.
17 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein communication between the downhole system and a surface location is maintained even after the perforating has been performed.
18 . The method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising monitoring pressure above and/or below the reusable plug.
19 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the downhole system operates autonomously with respect to its movements and operations within the wellbore.
20 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the perforating is performed with the reusable plug in an unset state.
21 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein after the reusable plug is set, a check is performed, using an uphole side pressure sensor of the downhole system and a downhole side pressure sensor of the downhole system, to determine if a pressure differential is present across the reusable plug.
22 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the reusable plug is located uphole of the perforation system.
23 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the reusable plug is located downhole of the perforation system.
24 . A method, comprising:
running a downhole system, comprising a reusable plug and a perforation system, into a downhole environment that comprises a wellbore;
positioning, and setting in the wellbore, the reusable plug at a stage of the wellbore such that the reusable plug is located uphole of the perforation system;
with the perforation system, perforating a casing at the stage of the wellbore;
after the perforating is performed, the stage that was perforated is hydraulic fracture stimulated using a fluid;
unsetting the reusable plug; and
flushing proppant around and past the reusable plug, and a flow rate of the proppant flushing is lower than a flow rate of the fluid that was used to hydraulic fracture stimulate the stage that was perforated.