@article{CHEN2026, 
author = {Xiaozhe CHEN and Rongke GAO and Liandong YU},
title = {Comprehensive design experiment on laser processing sandstone for oil and gas development},
year = {2026},
journal = {Experimental Technology and Management},
volume = {43},
number = {10},
pages = {228-235},
keywords = {laser processing of sandstone, oil and gas development, comprehensive experimental design, educational reform},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.16791/j.cnki.sjg.2026.10.030},
doi = {10.16791/j.cnki.sjg.2026.10.030},
abstract = {ObjectiveAs an advanced non-contact processing technology, laser processing technology has shown prominent technical advantages and broad application prospects in high-efficiency oil and gas development. It has become an important technical approach for hard rock breaking in deep and ultradeep wells, precision perforation, and microstructural characterization of cores. Currently, the three most widely used laser types in oil and gas engineering are continuous-wave fiber lasers, nanosecond pulsed lasers, and femtosecond pulsed lasers; however, a systematic understanding of the interaction mechanisms between these lasers and sandstone remains lacking. Existing experimental studies also exhibit prominent limitations, including fragmented experimental systems, ambiguous multifactor coupling correlations, and insufficient integration between mechanism investigations and engineering applications. To address these shortcomings, this study designs a comprehensive experiment of laser processing of sandstone for oil and gas development and establishes a full-process experimental system integrating parameter optimization and mechanism analysis.MethodsSystematic experimental investigations were conducted on sandstone laser processing using the three typical laser types mentioned above. A progressive experimental system was established, including comparative tests of their basic characteristics, single-factor controlled experiments, and multifactor orthogonal experiments. Standardized sandstone sample preparation was performed to minimize the influence of sample heterogeneity on experimental results. The core process parameters of the three laser types were optimized and calibrated to establish baseline conditions for subsequent experiments. Single-factor experiments were conducted using a controlled variable method to quantify the influence of key parameters on sandstone processing performance, and thermal effect simulations were completed via ANSYS software to verify the experimental results. Based on the single-factor experiment results, an L9 orthogonal array with three factors and three levels was designed for representative oil and gas development scenarios. Range analysis was used to determine the relative influence of different process parameters and identify the primary controlling factors. Integrated macro- and microscale characterization was performed with an ultra-depth-of-field 3D optical microscope and scanning electron microscope to elucidate the laser–sandstone interaction mechanisms under thermal and nonthermal processing modes. Rock breaking efficiency, hole morphology, processing accuracy, and heat-affected zone width were selected as core evaluation indicators to verify the engineering feasibility of the optimized process.ResultsThe experimental results revealed four key findings. First, the comprehensive experimental system effectively quantified the fundamental processing characteristics of sandstone processing under the three laser types and clarified their distinct interaction mechanisms. Continuous-wave fiber lasers and nanosecond pulsed lasers were primarily governed by thermal effects, while femtosecond pulsed lasers enabled nonthermal processing with negligible heat-affected zones. The applicable ranges of different laser technologies for oil and gas development scenarios were therefore established. Second, range analysis of the orthogonal experiment identified the dominant control factors for different processes. Laser power was found to be the key factor controlling deep well rock breaking using continuous-wave fiber lasers, with a range value of 0.12. Processing duration was the primary parameter affecting reservoir perforation using nanosecond lasers, with a range value of 3.02. Objective lens magnification was the dominant factor influencing microstructure modification using femtosecond lasers, with a range value of 32.51. Third, scenario-based verification using optimized process parameters showed that the optimized continuous-wave fiber laser process improved rock-breaking efficiency by 42% compared with the baseline parameters. The optimized nanosecond laser process increased the regularity of hole morphology during reservoir perforation by 35%, while the femtosecond laser achieved micron-level precision without thermal damage, satisfying the engineering requirements of different oil and gas development scenarios. Fourth, repeatability tests showed that the relative standard deviations of key indicators, such as processing aperture and rock breaking depth, were below 5% under the optimal conditions for all three laser types, confirming the stability and reproducibility of the proposed experimental approach.ConclusionsBy integrating statistical analysis and multidimensional characterization techniques, this study establishes a complete closed-loop experimental system encompassing parameter optimization, mechanism analysis, and engineering application. The developed methodology achieves the expected research objectives by clarifying the interaction mechanisms between different laser types and sandstone, thereby providing systematic experimental guidance and a reliable data foundation for the mechanism investigation, process optimization, and engineering application of laser processing technology in oil and gas development.}
}