Method and apparatus for gravel packing a well

Patent · Tue Jan 13 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6901405

Burroughs, T C

This patent describes a perforate liner wash-down and gravel packing apparatus for wells comprising, a perforated liner to be positioned within a well; means connected to the upper end of the liner for lowering the liner into the well; a wash pipe of smaller diameter than the liner connected to the lowering means and extending downwardly within the liner in generally concentric relation thereto; means permitting fluid flow downwardly through the wash pipe into the well for washing the liner down prior to gravel packing and permitting a reverse flow upwardly through the wash pipe during gravel packing; and means mounting the wash pipe for vertical movement relative to the liner from a lower liner wash-down position to a raised upper gravel pack position. The mounting means is responsive to fluid pressure resulting from a reversal of fluid flow in the wash pipe upon the beginning of gravel packing to raise the wash pipe in the liner to the upper position, thereby to allow direct fluid communication between the lower end of the wash pipe and the inside of the liner during the raised gravel packing position. A method is described for gravel packing a liner in a production zone of a well comprising the steps of: mounting a tubular wash pipe within a cross-over structure carrying a concentric perforated tubular liner for movement of the wash pipe relative to the liner between a raised gravel packaging position and a lowered wash-down position; and running within the well the cross-over structure thus formed suspended form a tubing with the cross-over structure having a cross-over tool carrying the perforated tubular liner with the wash pipe therein.

• Assignee: NOV; EDB-87-043387; NOV-87-044096
• Patent Number(s): US 4635725
• OSTI ID: 6901405
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
CLEANING
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
FLUID FLOW
GRANULAR MATERIALS
HOISTING
LINERS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PACKINGS
PERFORATION
PIPES
POSITIONING
WASHING
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS