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Title: Wellbore pressure differential control for gravel pack screen

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6316051

A method is described for minimizing cross-flow of fluid in a wellbore in an earth formation and fitted with a gravel packing and an auger-type gravel pack screen, comprising the steps of: providing an auger-type gravel pack screen having a generally tubular liner member defining a space therewithin; providing a quantity of wellbore fluid loss control material comprising a graded particulate salt disposed in said space which will provide a substantially impermeable barrier to the flow of fluid out of said space through said liner into said gravel packing and said earth formation; filling at least a portion of said space with said material; installing said screen in said gravel packing; removing said material from said space after installation of said screen in said gravel packing by entraining said material in a carrier fluid while allowing at least some of said material to flow out of said space through said screen to form a filter cake on at least one of said gravel packing and said earth formation to minimize said cross-flow of fluid into said earth formation.

Assignee:
Atlantic Richfield Co., Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5234055; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-774393
OSTI ID:
6316051
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 10 Oct 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English