Back to results
US 2011/0030952 A1Published application
Methods of gravel packing long interval wells
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsTianping Huang, James B. Crews, Allen D. Gabrysch, Brian A. Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Changing concentrations of brine in a gravel pack carrier fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) increases the fluid efficiency for gravel packing long interval wells, such as wellbore producing interval greater than about 100 feet (about 30 m). VES-gelled fluids used as gravel packing fluids herein also include surfactants, fluid loss control agents, internal breakers and brine in addition to the grave. The viscoelasticity of fluid system can suspend and deliver high concentration of the gravels while reducing carrier fluid volume.
Claims20
A method of gravel packing an interval in a wellbore comprising:
- drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation to create an interval in the formation;
- introducing a pipe into the wellbore adjacent the interval thereby forming, an annulus between the pipe and a wellbore wall;
- introducing a first gravel pack carrier fluid into a first section of the annulus, where the first gravel pack carrier fluid comprises:
- water having a first salt concentration;
- at least one viscoelastic surfactant (VES) in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of the water;
- at least one internal breaker;
- at least one fluid loss control agent;
- and
- gravel;
- and
- introducing a second gravel pack carrier fluid into a second section of the annulus adjacent the first section of the annulus, where the second gravel pack carrier fluid is identical to the first gravel pack carrier fluid except that it has a second salt concentration different from the first salt concentration.
8 more elements
A method of gravel packing an interval in a wellbore comprising:
- drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation to create a generally horizontal interval in the formation, where the interval comprises a heel and a toe;
- introducing a pipe into the wellbore adjacent the interval, where an annulus is present between the pipe and a wellbore wall;
- introducing a first gravel pack carrier fluid into a first section of the annulus, where the first gravel pack carrier fluid comprises:
- water having a first salt concentration;
- at least one viscoelastic surfactant (VES) in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of the water;
- at least one internal breaker;
- at least one fluid loss control agent;
- and
- gravel;
- introducing a second gravel pack carrier fluid into a second section of the annulus adjacent the first section of the annulus, where the second gravel pack carrier fluid is identical to the first gravel pack carrier fluid except that it has a second salt concentration different from the first salt concentration;
- the method further comprising conditions selected from the group consisting of:
- (1) where the first section of the annulus is adjacent the heel;
- and
- where the first salt concentration is greater than the second salt concentration;
- and
- (2) where the first section of the annulus is adjacent the toe;
- and
- where the first salt concentration is greater than the second salt concentration.
15 more elements
A method of gravel packing a horizontal interval in a wellbore comprising:
- drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation to create a horizontal interval in the formation, where the interval comprises a heel and a toe;
- introducing a pipe into the wellbore adjacent the interval, where an annulus is present between the pipe and a wellbore wall;
- introducing a first gravel pack carrier fluid into a first section of the annulus, where the first gravel pack carrier fluid comprises:
- water having a first salt concentration;
- at least one viscoelastic surfactant (VES) in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of the water;
- at least one internal breaker;
- at least one fluid loss control agent;
- and
- gravel;
- introducing a second gravel pack carrier fluid into a second section of the annulus adjacent the first section of the annulus, where the second gravel pack carrier fluid is identical to the first gravel pack carrier fluid except that it has a second salt concentration different from the first salt concentration.
- introducing a third gravel pack carrier fluid into a third section of the annulus adjacent the second section of the annulus, where the third gravel pack carrier fluid is identical to the first and second gravel pack carrier fluids except that it has a third salt concentration different from the first salt concentration and the second salt concentration where the first salt concentration is greater than the second salt concentration which is in turn greater than the third salt concentration.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.