New tool designs for high rate gravel pack operations
Fracturing of the wellbore to improve hydrocarbon recovery has been a universally accepted practice in the oilfield. The fracturing procedures reduce skin by breaking through or bypassing near wellbore damage that inhibits production. In loosely consolidated formations, a propped fracture can reduce fluid velocity in the near wellbore region, which subsequently reduces fines migration that can plug the wellbore. Fracturing also provides highly conductive paths for gas and oil production. Gravel packing is another operation that is often needed during a well`s productive cycle. When a highly conductive fracture is created before a gravel packing operation is run, it has been found that well productivity increases. Performing the operations separately, however, diminishes the productivity gains because of formation damage that can occur between completion operations. A method of gravel packing that includes a tip-screenout-design fracturing procedure, performed with the gravel pack packer, screen, and blank in the hole, was proposed to allow the procedures to be performed simultaneously. This paper will describe the various types of gravel packing tools that are currently in use, their specific application, and a new series of gravel packing tools that was developed to resolve the difficulties that arose when the operations of fracturing and gravel packing were combined. Also discussed is the need that arose for tools that could sustain high flow rates in small casing diameters. Test results will be used to provide acceptable flow rates for different bore sizes.
- OSTI ID:
- 160655
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950501-; TRN: IM9603%%237
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 27. offshore technology conference, Houston, TX (United States), 1-4 May 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of 27. Annual Offshore Technology Conference: 1995 Proceedings. Volume 4: Field drilling and development systems; PB: 688 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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