Method to improve well performance in gravel packed wells
This patent describes a method for improving the effectiveness of a gravel pack within an unconsolidated or loosely consolidated hydrocarbonaceous fluid containing formation or reservoir. It comprises perforating a wellbore in a manner sufficient to create a hydraulic fracture of a size and length sufficient to produce hydrocarbonaceous fluids from the formations; fracturing hydraulically the formation with a viscous fracturing fluid having a proppant therein sufficient to prop the fracture while also preventing the entry of most formation fines into the wellbore because a filter screen is formed around the fracture face and within the fracture which retards fines movement from the formation; and thereafter gravel packing the wellbore so as to form a smaller screen with gravel therein of a size sufficient to exclude formation fines that have escaped from the propped fracture which gravel is smaller than that used to prop the created fracture thereby minimizing pack plugging and removing substantially all fines from fluids entering the wellbore.
- Assignee:
- Mobil Oil Corp., Fairfax, VA (USA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4979565; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-443689
- OSTI ID:
- 5648386
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 30 Nov 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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