A method of completing a well which includes the installion of a gravel pack completion adjacent a formation in the well. A fluid-loss agent is flowed into the well to form a barrier to flow into and/out of the formation prior to the installation of the gravel pack. A screen is then lowered into the well and is positioned adjacent the formation. A gravel slurry which includes a removal agent is flowed into the well to deposit gravel. The removal agent contacts and dissolves or disintegrates the flow barrier to thereby open flow to the formation during the placement of the gravel.
An environmentally safe lost circulation material and method of use which provides effective drill bit lubrication over a wide temperature range and allows drilling in a variety of porous or fractured subterranean structures. The lost circulation material comprises generally pelletized cottonseed hulls together with between approximately 0.001% and 0.01% by weight of preservative. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the lost circulation material comprises of between approximately 98% and 99.5% by weight of pelletized cottonseed hulls, between approximately 0.5% and 2.0% by weight of corn starch, between approximately 0.001% and 0.01% by weight of surfactant, and between approximately 0.001% and 0.01% by weight of preservative. In another preferred embodiment, the lost circulation material comprises between approximately 50% and 80% by weight of pelletized cottonseed hulls, between approximately 10% and 40% by weight of pelletized wood, between approximately 0.001% and 20% by weight of water-swellable cross-linked polymer,between approximately 0.5% and 2.0% by weight corn starch or other vegetable starch, between approximately 0.001% and 0.01% by weight of surfactant, and between approximately 0.001% and 0.01% by weight of preservative.
A well service fluid and method using same for brine-sensitive formations is disclosed. The fluid is an invert oil emulsion comprising heavy, solids-free brine, an oil or synthetic, and sufficient emulsifier to create the emulsion. The fluid has particular applicability in gravel packing a horizontal well.
A method and well tool for using a low-viscosity slurry to gravel pack a completion interval. The well tool is comprised of a screen and at least one alternate flowpath which is initially closed to flow by a valve means. Once a sand bridge is formed in the completion interval, the pressure of the pumped slurry increases which, in turn, opens the valve means to allow flow through the alternate flowpath. Preferably, a plurality of flowpaths of different lengths are provided, all of which include valve means which are adapted to open at different pressures.
An apparatus and method for gravel packing an interval of a wellbore comprises an outer tubular (112), which forms a first annulus with the wellbore, and an sand control screen (118) disposed within the outer tubular (112) forming a second annulus therebetween. Within the second annulus is an axially extending production pathway (146) and an axially extending slurry passageway (144), which is defined between a sheet member (140) positioned on the sand control screen (118) and a channel (132). The outer tubular (112) has outlets (116) that are substantially aligned with outlets (142) of the channel (132). When a fluid slurry containing gravel is injected through the slurry passageway (144), the fluid slurry exits through the outlets (116, 142) leaving gravel in the first annulus, thereby gravel packing the interval.
An apparatus (110) and method for treating an interval of a wellbore comprises an outer tubular (112) disposed within the wellbore. A sand control screen (118) is disposed within the outer tubular (112). A treatment fluid passageway (144) is formed between the sand control screen (118) and outer tubular (112). In addition, a production pathway (130) is formed between the sand control screen (118) and outer tubular (112). When the apparatus (110) is in an operable position, the region between the outer tubular (112) and the wellbore serves as a primary path for delivery of a treatment fluid, the production pathway (130) serves as a secondary path for delivery of the treatment fluid if the primary path becomes blocked and the treatment fluid passageway (144) serves as a tertiary path for delivery of the treatment fluid if the primary and secondary paths become blocked.
