WO2014070380A1 - Gravel packing system and method - Google Patents

Gravel packing system and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2014070380A1
WO2014070380A1 PCT/US2013/063667 US2013063667W WO2014070380A1 WO 2014070380 A1 WO2014070380 A1 WO 2014070380A1 US 2013063667 W US2013063667 W US 2013063667W WO 2014070380 A1 WO2014070380 A1 WO 2014070380A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gravel
packers
packing
annular space
cross
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2013/063667
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Nicholas J. Clem
Daniel J. Turick
William N. Triplett
Andres Garcia
Colin Patrick ANDREW
Kenneth J. CHAUVIN
Original Assignee
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Baker Hughes Incorporated filed Critical Baker Hughes Incorporated
Priority to GB1507460.2A priority Critical patent/GB2522804A/en
Priority to BR112015009219A priority patent/BR112015009219A2/en
Publication of WO2014070380A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014070380A1/en
Priority to NO20150375A priority patent/NO20150375A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/02Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/04Gravelling of wells
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/12Packers; Plugs
    • E21B33/122Multiple string packers
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/02Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/04Gravelling of wells
    • E21B43/045Crossover 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.
  • 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 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.
  • Figures 1A-1B depict a cross sectional view of a gravel packing system disclosed herein.
  • Figures 2A-2L depict cross sectional views of the gravel packing system of Figures 1 A-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.
  • 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.
  • FIGS 2A-2L 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.
  • Figure 2A shows the cross-over tool 44, which includes the packer setting tool 82, in a position fully run in the borehole 46.
  • Figure 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.
  • 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.
  • Figure 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 Figure 2E again after having moved the cross-over tool 44 to realign flow out through the gravel packing port 92.
  • 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 Figure 2G.
  • An adjustment in location of the cross-over tool 44 allows for reverse flow to again remove excess gravel 120 as seen in Figure 2H.
  • gravel 120 is circulated into the annular space 50, followed by a reverse flow operation shown in Figure 2L.
  • 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 SYSTEM AND METHOD
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 61/721252, filed on November 1, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
[0006] Figures 1A-1B depict a cross sectional view of a gravel packing system disclosed herein; and
[0007] Figures 2A-2L depict cross sectional views of the gravel packing system of Figures 1 A-1B during various operational positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] 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.
[0009] Referring to Figures 1A and IB, an embodiment of a gravel packing system disclosed herein is illustrated at 10. 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.
[0010] Additionally, 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.
[0011] Referring to Figures 2A-2L, the gravel packing system 10 disclosed is shown in various positions. By positioning 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. Figure 2A shows the cross-over tool 44, which includes the packer setting tool 82, in a position fully run in the borehole 46. Figure 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. In Figure 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. Figure 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 Figure 2E again after having moved the cross-over tool 44 to realign flow out through the gravel packing port 92. In Figure 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 Figure 2G. An adjustment in location of the cross-over tool 44 allows for reverse flow to again remove excess gravel 120 as seen in Figure 2H. In Figure 2K gravel 120 is circulated into the annular space 50, followed by a reverse flow operation shown in Figure 2L.
[0012] Throughout all of the operations in Figures 2A-2L the pressure in 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.
[0013] It should be noted that although 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.
[0014] 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

CLAIMS What is claimed is:
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.
PCT/US2013/063667 2012-11-01 2013-10-07 Gravel packing system and method WO2014070380A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1507460.2A GB2522804A (en) 2012-11-01 2013-10-07 Gravel Packing system and method
BR112015009219A BR112015009219A2 (en) 2012-11-01 2013-10-07 gravel packing system and method
NO20150375A NO20150375A1 (en) 2012-11-01 2015-03-25 Gravel packing system and method

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201261721252P 2012-11-01 2012-11-01
US61/721,252 2012-11-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014070380A1 true WO2014070380A1 (en) 2014-05-08

Family

ID=50545918

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2013/063667 WO2014070380A1 (en) 2012-11-01 2013-10-07 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 (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6230801B1 (en) * 1998-07-22 2001-05-15 Baker Hughes Incorporated Apparatus and method for open hold gravel packing
US6789623B2 (en) * 1998-07-22 2004-09-14 Baker Hughes Incorporated Method and apparatus for open hole gravel packing
US20090188674A1 (en) * 2008-01-25 2009-07-30 Schlumberger Technology Corporation System and method for preventing buckling during a gravel packing operation
US20120175112A1 (en) * 2011-01-11 2012-07-12 Wesley Ryan Atkinson Gravel packing in lateral wellbore
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

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6230801B1 (en) * 1998-07-22 2001-05-15 Baker Hughes Incorporated Apparatus and method for open hold gravel packing
US6789623B2 (en) * 1998-07-22 2004-09-14 Baker Hughes Incorporated Method and apparatus for open hole gravel packing
US20090188674A1 (en) * 2008-01-25 2009-07-30 Schlumberger Technology Corporation System and method for preventing buckling during a gravel packing operation
US20120175112A1 (en) * 2011-01-11 2012-07-12 Wesley Ryan Atkinson Gravel packing in lateral wellbore
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
US20140116694A1 (en) 2014-05-01
GB2522804A (en) 2015-08-05
BR112015009219A2 (en) 2017-07-04
GB201507460D0 (en) 2015-06-17
NO20150375A1 (en) 2015-03-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7814981B2 (en) Fracture valve and equalizer system and method
US8371386B2 (en) Rotatable valve for downhole completions and method of using same
CA2933629C (en) Simultaneous injection and production well system
US20110209873A1 (en) Method and apparatus for single-trip wellbore treatment
US8668018B2 (en) Selective dart system for actuating downhole tools and methods of using same
US8701765B2 (en) Shunt isolation valve
WO2009108742A2 (en) Apparatus and methods for setting one or more packers in a well bore
US9745834B2 (en) Completion tool, string completion system, and method of completing a well
US20110203805A1 (en) Valving Device and Method of Valving
US8662179B2 (en) Remotely operated production valve and method
WO2012082469A2 (en) Plural barrier valve system with wet connect
US20140116694A1 (en) Gravel packing system and method
US10087710B2 (en) Tubing assembly with a temporary seal
US8727025B2 (en) Downhole tool seal arrangement and method of sealing a downhole tubular
AU2012391814B2 (en) System and method for actuating isolation valves in a subterranean well
CA3008281C (en) Gravel pack manifold and associated systems and methods
WO2013180706A1 (en) Auto-filling of a tubular string in a subterranean well
GB2532108A (en) System and method for actuating isolation valves in a subterranean well

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 13850734

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: IDP00201502601

Country of ref document: ID

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 1507460

Country of ref document: GB

Kind code of ref document: A

Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20131007

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1507460.2

Country of ref document: GB

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: BR

Ref legal event code: B01A

Ref document number: 112015009219

Country of ref document: BR

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 13850734

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 112015009219

Country of ref document: BR

Kind code of ref document: A2

Effective date: 20150424