US20140116694A1 - Gravel packing system and method - Google Patents
Gravel packing system and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140116694A1 US20140116694A1 US14/043,408 US201314043408A US2014116694A1 US 20140116694 A1 US20140116694 A1 US 20140116694A1 US 201314043408 A US201314043408 A US 201314043408A US 2014116694 A1 US2014116694 A1 US 2014116694A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gravel
- packers
- packing
- annular space
- cross
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/13—Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices, or the like
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/04—Gravelling of wells
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/10—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
- E21B33/12—Packers; Plugs
- E21B33/122—Multiple string packers
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/04—Gravelling of wells
- E21B43/045—Crossover tools
Definitions
- Gravel packing is performed to provide structural support to walls of an open borehole.
- Typical gravel packing systems employ a casing within a borehole thereby allowing gravel to be packed in an annular space defined between the casing and walls of the open borehole.
- the system includes at least two packers with at least one of the two packers being sealable to an open hole, a barrier sealably engaged with the at least two packers defining an annular space between the open hole and the barrier, a cross-over tool operably connectable to at least one of the at least two packers and the barrier, and at least one regulator in operable communication with the barrier configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the annular space maintain a substantially constant while gravel is packed at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, downstream is defined by a direction of travel of gravel that is being packed.
- the method includes running a cross-over tool within an open borehole, engaging the cross-over tool with at least one of at least two packers wherein at least one of the at least two packers is set in the open borehole and a barrier sealed to the at least two packers defining an annular space between the barrier and the open borehole, packing gravel at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, and maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the annular space.
- FIGS. 1A-1B depict a cross sectional view of a gravel packing system disclosed herein.
- FIGS. 2A-2L depict cross sectional views of the gravel packing system of FIGS. 1A-1B during various operational positions.
- the gravel packing system 10 includes at least two packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 , with four being illustrated herein, fluidic barriers 30 , 34 , 38 , in the shape of tubulars, a regulator 42 and a cross-over tool 44 .
- At least one of the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 is sealably engagable with an open borehole 46 in an earth formation 48 , while the barriers 30 , 34 , 38 are sealably engaged to the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 thereby defining annular spaces 50 , 54 , 58 between the barriers 30 , 34 , 38 and the open borehole 46 .
- Any of the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 not sealably engaged with the open borehole 46 can be sealed to a cased section above the open borehole 46 , for example.
- the regulator 42 is configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in at least one of the annular spaces 50 , 54 , 58 at a selected pressure regardless of the pressure within the barriers 30 , 34 , 38 or any other spaces adjacent to the regulator 42 .
- the regulator 42 in this embodiment sets the selected pressure to be maintained as the hydrostatic pressure at the position of the regulator 42 when a first of the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 is set.
- the cross-over tool 44 is sealably connectable to various portions of the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 and the barriers 30 , 34 , 38 such that gravel pumped therethrough can be packed into the annular spaces 50 , 54 and 58 .
- the gravel packing system 10 has features such as, seal bores 62 , circulating sleeves 66 , production sleeves 70 , indicator couplings 74 and, gravel pack sleeves 78 , that are connected to the packers 18 , 22 , 26 and the barriers 30 , 34 and 38 , as well as a packer setting tool 82 , tubing 84 , return port coupling 88 , gravel packing port 92 , gravel packing sleeve opening tool 96 , set down indicator 100 , pick up indicator 104 , close-only tool 108 and open-only tool 112 that are connected to the cross-over tool 44 .
- These additional features allow operators to perform such operations as positional indicating, setting, actuating valves, opening ports and closing ports, for example, to facilitate the gravel packing that will be discussed below.
- the gravel packing system 10 disclosed is shown in various positions.
- the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 can be set and the sleeves 66 , 70 , 78 , 96 moved to actuate valves, open or close various ports as will be described next, all without fully removing the cross-over tool 44 from the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 .
- FIG. 1 A block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for removing the cross-over tool 44 at different locations relative to the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 and the barriers 30 , 34 , 38 and flowing fluid and/or gravel 120 therethrough and applying pressure against a plug 116 seated thereat.
- the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 can be set and the sleeves 66 , 70 , 78 , 96 moved to actuate valves, open or close various ports as will be described next, all without fully removing the cross-over tool 44 from the packers 14 , 18 , 22 , 26 .
- FIG. 2A shows the cross-over tool 44 , which includes the packer setting tool 82 , in a position fully run in the borehole 46 .
- FIG. 2B shows the cross-over tool 44 with the plug 116 run thereagainst and blocking flow therethrough such that pressure applied thereagainst sets the packer 14 that is located most upstream as defined by flow built behind the plug 116 .
- FIG. 2C the cross-over tool 44 has been moved to a location to set the packer 26 that is located furthest downstream. Downstream being defined by a direction of travel of gravel being packed. This position isolates the annular spaces 50 , 54 from the inside of the barriers 30 , 34 , 38 while leaving the annular space 58 connected thereto through the cross-over tool 44 .
- FIG. 2B shows the cross-over tool 44 with the plug 116 run thereagainst and blocking flow therethrough such that pressure applied thereagainst sets the packer 14 that is located most upstream as defined by flow built behind the plug 116 .
- FIG. 2D shows gravel 120 being circulated through the cross-over tool 44 and into the annular space 58 , after the cross-over tool 44 had been moved again.
- Reverse circulation to remove any extra gravel 120 is illustrated in FIG. 2E again after having moved the cross-over tool 44 to realign flow out through the gravel packing port 92 .
- FIG. 2F the gravel packing port 92 has been aligned with the packer 22 to allow it to be set through pressure applied thereto.
- Gravel 120 is shown being packed into the annular space 54 in FIG. 2G .
- An adjustment in location of the cross-over tool 44 allows for reverse flow to again remove excess gravel 120 as seen in FIG. 2H .
- gravel 120 is circulated into the annular space 50 , followed by a reverse flow operation shown in FIG. 2L .
- each of the annular spaces 50 , 54 and 58 when isolated, remains at the hydrostatic pressure set by the regulator 42 regardless of the higher pressures applied against the plug 116 during the various operations.
- This hydrostatic pressure supports the open borehole 46 while not allowing fracturing of the earth formation 48 that could occur had the regulator 42 not prevented pressure in the annular spaces 50 , 54 , 58 from exceeding the desired set pressure.
- the regulator 42 also prevents drops in pressure within the annular spaces 50 , 54 and 58 below the hydrostatic pressure even if pressure within the barriers 30 , 34 , 38 drops below the hydrostatic set pressure of the regulator 42 .
- the illustrated embodiment of the system 10 includes just one of the regulators 42 , alternate embodiments could employ a plurality of the regulators 42 . Such a system could have one of the regulators 42 in operable communication with each of the annular spaces 50 , 54 , 58 .
Abstract
A gravel packing system includes at least two packers with at least one of the two packers being sealable to an open hole, a barrier sealably engaged with the at least two packers defining an annular space between the open hole and the barrier, a cross-over tool operably connectable to at least one of the at least two packers and the barrier, and at least one regulator in operable communication with the barrier configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the annular space while gravel is packed at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, downstream being defined by a direction of travel of gravel being packed.
Description
- Gravel packing is performed to provide structural support to walls of an open borehole. Typical gravel packing systems employ a casing within a borehole thereby allowing gravel to be packed in an annular space defined between the casing and walls of the open borehole. There are applications wherein it is desirable to gravel pack an open borehole without a casing positioned therewith. Systems and methods to enable and improve on such operations are of interest to the industry.
- Disclosed herein is a gravel packing system. The system includes at least two packers with at least one of the two packers being sealable to an open hole, a barrier sealably engaged with the at least two packers defining an annular space between the open hole and the barrier, a cross-over tool operably connectable to at least one of the at least two packers and the barrier, and at least one regulator in operable communication with the barrier configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the annular space maintain a substantially constant while gravel is packed at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, downstream is defined by a direction of travel of gravel that is being packed.
- Further disclosed herein is a method of packing gravel. The method includes running a cross-over tool within an open borehole, engaging the cross-over tool with at least one of at least two packers wherein at least one of the at least two packers is set in the open borehole and a barrier sealed to the at least two packers defining an annular space between the barrier and the open borehole, packing gravel at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, and maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the annular space.
- The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
-
FIGS. 1A-1B depict a cross sectional view of a gravel packing system disclosed herein; and -
FIGS. 2A-2L depict cross sectional views of the gravel packing system ofFIGS. 1A-1B during various operational positions. - A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
- Referring to
FIGS. 1A and 1B , an embodiment of a gravel packing system disclosed herein is illustrated at 10. Thegravel packing system 10 includes at least twopackers fluidic barriers regulator 42 and across-over tool 44. At least one of thepackers open borehole 46 in anearth formation 48, while thebarriers packers annular spaces barriers open borehole 46. Any of thepackers open borehole 46 can be sealed to a cased section above theopen borehole 46, for example. Theregulator 42 is configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in at least one of theannular spaces barriers regulator 42. Theregulator 42 in this embodiment sets the selected pressure to be maintained as the hydrostatic pressure at the position of theregulator 42 when a first of thepackers cross-over tool 44 is sealably connectable to various portions of thepackers barriers annular spaces - Additionally, the
gravel packing system 10 has features such as,seal bores 62, circulatingsleeves 66,production sleeves 70,indicator couplings 74 and,gravel pack sleeves 78, that are connected to thepackers barriers packer setting tool 82,tubing 84,return port coupling 88,gravel packing port 92, gravel packingsleeve opening tool 96, set downindicator 100, pick up indicator 104, close-only tool 108 and open-only tool 112 that are connected to thecross-over tool 44. These additional features allow operators to perform such operations as positional indicating, setting, actuating valves, opening ports and closing ports, for example, to facilitate the gravel packing that will be discussed below. - Referring to
FIGS. 2A-2L , thegravel packing system 10 disclosed is shown in various positions. By positioning thecross-over tool 44 at different locations relative to thepackers barriers gravel 120 therethrough and applying pressure against aplug 116 seated thereat, thepackers sleeves cross-over tool 44 from thepackers FIG. 2A shows thecross-over tool 44, which includes thepacker setting tool 82, in a position fully run in theborehole 46.FIG. 2B shows thecross-over tool 44 with theplug 116 run thereagainst and blocking flow therethrough such that pressure applied thereagainst sets thepacker 14 that is located most upstream as defined by flow built behind theplug 116. InFIG. 2C thecross-over tool 44 has been moved to a location to set thepacker 26 that is located furthest downstream. Downstream being defined by a direction of travel of gravel being packed. This position isolates theannular spaces barriers annular space 58 connected thereto through thecross-over tool 44.FIG. 2D showsgravel 120 being circulated through thecross-over tool 44 and into theannular space 58, after thecross-over tool 44 had been moved again. Reverse circulation to remove anyextra gravel 120 is illustrated inFIG. 2E again after having moved thecross-over tool 44 to realign flow out through thegravel packing port 92. InFIG. 2F thegravel packing port 92 has been aligned with thepacker 22 to allow it to be set through pressure applied thereto.Gravel 120 is shown being packed into theannular space 54 inFIG. 2G . An adjustment in location of thecross-over tool 44 allows for reverse flow to again removeexcess gravel 120 as seen inFIG. 2H . InFIG. 2K gravel 120 is circulated into theannular space 50, followed by a reverse flow operation shown inFIG. 2L . - Throughout all of the operations in
FIGS. 2A-2L the pressure in each of theannular spaces regulator 42 regardless of the higher pressures applied against theplug 116 during the various operations. This hydrostatic pressure supports theopen borehole 46 while not allowing fracturing of theearth formation 48 that could occur had theregulator 42 not prevented pressure in theannular spaces regulator 42 also prevents drops in pressure within theannular spaces barriers regulator 42. - It should be noted that although the illustrated embodiment of the
system 10 includes just one of theregulators 42, alternate embodiments could employ a plurality of theregulators 42. Such a system could have one of theregulators 42 in operable communication with each of theannular spaces - While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Claims (15)
1. A gravel packing system comprising:
at least two packers with at least one of the two packers being sealable to an open hole;
a barrier sealably engaged with the at least two packers defining an annular space between the open hole and the barrier;
a cross-over tool operably connectable to at least one of the at least two packers and the barrier; and
at least one regulator in operable communication with the barrier configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the annular space while gravel is being packed at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, downstream being defined by a direction of travel of gravel being packed.
2. The gravel packing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one regulator sets the substantially constant pressure as the hydrostatic pressure at a position of the at least one regulator when a first of the at least two packers is set.
3. The gravel packing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one regulator prevents pressure in the annular space from exceeding a set pressure level.
4. The gravel packing system of claim 1 , wherein the location downstream of at least one of at least two packers is downstream of both of the at least two packers.
5. The gravel packing system of claim 4 , wherein subsequent packing of gravel at the location downstream of both of the at least two packers, the cross-over tool can be shifted to thereby allow gravel packing of another annular space.
6. The gravel packing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least two packers is more than two packers and the cross-over tool can be moved to sequentially pack gravel at a plurality of locations.
7. The gravel packing system of claim 6 , wherein the sequentially packing of gravel is from a furthest downstream location first to ever less downstream locations.
8. The gravel packing system of claim 1 , wherein the cross-over tool is configured to be moved relative to at least the at least two packers and the barrier to allow actuation of the at least two packers, alteration of valves, transporting of gravel therethrough and allowing reverse flows therethrough to purge excess gravel therefrom.
9. The gravel packing system of claim 8 , wherein the actuation of the at least two packers, alteration of valves, transporting of gravel therethrough and reversing of flow therethrough can all be accomplished without fully withdrawing the cross-over tool from the at least two packers.
10. A method of packing gravel comprising:
running a cross-over tool within an open borehole;
engaging the cross-over tool with at least one of at least two packers wherein at least one of the at least two packers is set in the open borehole and a barrier sealed to the at least two packers defining an annular space between the barrier and the open borehole;
packing gravel at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers; and
maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the annular space.
11. The method of packing gravel of claim 10 , further comprising preventing pressure in the annular space from exceeding a set pressure.
12. The method of packing gravel of claim 10 , further comprising setting the substantially constant pressure in the annular space to be substantially equal to hydrostatic pressure in the annular space prior to setting the at least two packers.
13. The method of packing gravel of claim 10 , further comprising packing gravel in the annular space.
14. The method of packing gravel of claim 10 , further comprising packing gravel at additional locations with each location being located upstream of previously packed locations.
15. The method of packing gravel of claim 13 , wherein the packing gravel at the location and at additional locations is completed without withdrawing of the cross-over tool from the at least two packers.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/043,408 US20140116694A1 (en) | 2012-11-01 | 2013-10-01 | Gravel packing system and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201261721252P | 2012-11-01 | 2012-11-01 | |
US14/043,408 US20140116694A1 (en) | 2012-11-01 | 2013-10-01 | Gravel packing system and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140116694A1 true US20140116694A1 (en) | 2014-05-01 |
Family
ID=50545918
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/043,408 Abandoned US20140116694A1 (en) | 2012-11-01 | 2013-10-01 | Gravel packing system and method |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20140116694A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112015009219A2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2522804A (en) |
NO (1) | NO20150375A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014070380A1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090188674A1 (en) * | 2008-01-25 | 2009-07-30 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | System and method for preventing buckling during a gravel packing operation |
US20120199362A1 (en) * | 2011-02-03 | 2012-08-09 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Methods of maintaining sufficient hydrostatic pressure in multiple intervals of a wellbore in a soft formation |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6789623B2 (en) * | 1998-07-22 | 2004-09-14 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Method and apparatus for open hole gravel packing |
CA2338431C (en) * | 1998-07-22 | 2005-12-13 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | Apparatus and method for open hole gravel packing |
US20120175112A1 (en) * | 2011-01-11 | 2012-07-12 | Wesley Ryan Atkinson | Gravel packing in lateral wellbore |
-
2013
- 2013-10-01 US US14/043,408 patent/US20140116694A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2013-10-07 BR BR112015009219A patent/BR112015009219A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2013-10-07 GB GB1507460.2A patent/GB2522804A/en active Pending
- 2013-10-07 WO PCT/US2013/063667 patent/WO2014070380A1/en active Application Filing
-
2015
- 2015-03-25 NO NO20150375A patent/NO20150375A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090188674A1 (en) * | 2008-01-25 | 2009-07-30 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | System and method for preventing buckling during a gravel packing operation |
US20120199362A1 (en) * | 2011-02-03 | 2012-08-09 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Methods of maintaining sufficient hydrostatic pressure in multiple intervals of a wellbore in a soft formation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO20150375A1 (en) | 2015-03-25 |
WO2014070380A1 (en) | 2014-05-08 |
GB201507460D0 (en) | 2015-06-17 |
GB2522804A (en) | 2015-08-05 |
BR112015009219A2 (en) | 2017-07-04 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CLEM, NICHOLAS J.;TURICK, DANIEL J.;TRIPLETT, WILLIAM N.;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20130106 TO 20130122;REEL/FRAME:032337/0684 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |