Apparatus and method for progressively gravel packing an interval of a wellbore
US6588507B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/04
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An apparatus (38) and method for progressively gravel packing an interval of a wellbore (32) is disclosed. The apparatus (38) comprises a sand control screen (52) that is positioned within the wellbore (32) and a tubular member (42) that is disposed within the wellbore (32) forming a first annulus (56) with the sand control screen (52) and a second annulus (58) with the wellbore (32). The tubular member (42) initially prevents fluid communication between the first annulus (56) and the second annulus (58). Once the gravel packing operation begins, however, the tubular member (42) selectively allows fluid communication from the first annulus (56) to the second annulus (58) by progressively establishing fluid communication between the first annulus (56) and the second annulus (58) from a first end of the interval (48) to a second end of the interval (48).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.