Methods to dehydrate gravel pack and to temporarily increase a flow rate of fluid flowing from a wellbore into a conveyance

#The present disclosure relates generally to methods to dehydrate gravel pack and to temporarily increase a flow rate of fluid flowing from a wellbore into a conveyance.

#Gravel packing operations are often performed during completion operations to prevent production of formation sand or other undesirable particles. A gravel pack completion sometimes includes a sand screen that is deployed on a conveyance and at a position proximate to the desired production interval. A fluid slurry including a liquid carrier and a particulate material known as gravel is then pumped down the conveyance and into the well annulus formed between the sand control screen and a perforated well casing or open-hole production zone. Improper dehydration of gravel sometimes results in formation of loose gravel pack which causes the sand screen to become exposed due to settling from the loose-packed area. The exposed sand screen is susceptible to premature failure.

#The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure, and should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

#FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic view of an on-shore well having a valve deployed in a wellbore during well completion to dehydrate gravel pack and to temporarily increase a flow rate of fluid flowing from the wellbore into a conveyance;

#FIG. 1B illustrates a schematic view of an offshore platform having a valve deployed in a wellbore during well completion to dehydrate gravel pack and to temporarily increase a flow rate of fluid flowing from the wellbore into a conveyance;

#The illustrated figures are only exemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environment, architecture, design, or process in which different embodiments may be implemented.

#In the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments described herein, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the illustrative embodiments is defined only by the appended claims.

#The present disclosure relates to methods to dehydrate gravel pack and methods to temporarily increase a flow rate of fluid flowing from a wellbore into a conveyance. The method includes deploying a valve device (valve) to a location proximate one or more fluid flow paths that fluidly connect a gravel pack to a conveyance, where the valve initially provides a new fluid flow path from the gravel pack to the conveyance. As referred to herein, a conveyance may be a drill string, drill pipe, coiled tubing, production tubing, downhole tractor or another type of conveyance deployable in a wellbore. Further, as referred to herein, the valve is any device or component configured to initially provide a fluid flow path and is further configured to close the fluid flow path after a threshold period of time (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 1 hour, or another desired or predetermined amount of time).