Wells – Processes – Graveling or filter forming
Patent
1995-08-21
1997-04-08
Tsay, Frank
Wells
Processes
Graveling or filter forming
166 51, 166205, E21B 4304, E21B 4308
Patent
active
056179197
ABSTRACT:
A gravel-packing apparatus and method is disclosed which involves a movable sleeve over a screen. The screen is fixed to a packer downhole while the sleeve is operated from the surface. As the sleeve is lifted to expose more of the screen, the granular material deposits along the outside of the screen and through the exposed perforations, starting from the packer and working its way up. The annulus is sealed by multiple cup seals or other suitable seals for the environment so that the slurry pressure applied from the surface is directed to deposition of the granular material adjacent the exposed perforations. As more granular material is deposited, the crew at the surface may further pull the sleeve up or the developed pressure downhole itself can force the sleeve further up, exposing additional perforations and continuing the deposition process of the granular material. At the conclusion of the operation, the outer sleeve is removed and the screen is left in place for subsequent production from the gravel-packed perforations. Later, if desired, the gravel screen may be retrieved from the wellbore. The shifting sleeve may be a solid member with external seals against the casing to temporarily obstruct some of the perforations. In the alternative, the sliding sleeve may be an inflatable member with built-in seals. A flow restriction may be placed in the washpipe-screen annulus flow path to improve the development of downhole pressure and cause the sleeve to rise automatically. Packing diaphragms may be provided with or without the flow restriction to assist annular packing.
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