ConocoPhillips
Hydrocarbon production through creation of collapsable cavities by acid placement through lateral conduits

Abstract:

The invention relates to the completion of hydrocarbon wells using acid. It is known to create cavities in the formation using acid, which then collapse to leave a highly permeable region for production of hydrocarbons. An issue with this technique can be that the wellbore/tubing adjacent the cavity is damaged. The invention involves passing thin conduits through the formation transversely of the main wellbore, through which conduits acid is delivered to create unstable cavities at a distance from the main wellbore thereby stimulating production without risking instability of the main wellbore.