Toe-to-heel gravel packing methods
US8322420B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC09K2208/12
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Gravel packing of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is carried out in a wellbore having a cased section and an uncased section that contains water-based drilling fluids. A first water-based displacement fluid that contains a shale inhibitor is introduced into the wellbore to displace the water-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A second water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. A sand control screen assembly is run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore to facilitate a gravel packing operation. A gravel pack slurry containing gravel and a viscosified carrier fluid is introduced into the wellbore to facilitate gravel packing of the uncased section. The gravel packing operation may be carried without the use of shunt flow paths and with the use of a sand screen assembly having at least one diverter valve to divert fluid returns to facilitate prevention of pressure build up.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.