Gravel placement through perforations and perforation cleaning for gravel packing

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Pet. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/14161-PA· OSTI ID:7181399

Penberthy, Jr, W L

In large-scale model testing, the effectiveness of gravel prepacking under four different conditions was studied: when there had been no previous sand production, after sand production had occurred, after perforation washing, and after perforation surging. In the case of no previous sand production, pressure parting occurred in the unconsolidated formation when a critical injection pressure level was exceeded. The orientation was normal to the least principal stress. In those cases where earlier fluid production caused the removal of formation sand, prepacking produced multiple pressure parts in the low-stress-state sand in the vicinity of the perforation because stable cavities had not formed. The orientation of these pressure parts was also normal to the least principal stress. Gravel prepacking after perforation washing and surging resulted in grave-placement geometries that were controlled by the stress state and geometry of the formation sand around the perforation after these operations. Prepacking after perforation washing generally resulted in placement that resembled the geometry of the washed region, which was usually a void. Prepacking after surging resulted in pressure parting and considerable mixing of the prepack gravel with the formation sand because stable cavities had not formed. Perforation washing results demonstrated that washing should be conducted at the maximum practical pump rate with water used as the wash fluid. Perforation surging tests indicated that the amount of formation sand removed was proportional to the surge pressure.

• Research Organization: Exxon Production Research Co. (US)
• OSTI ID: 7181399
• Journal Information: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 40:2; ISSN JPTJA
• 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
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRAULICS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PACKINGS
PERFORATION
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SIMULATION
TESTING
WASHING
WATER
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS