Patent ID: 9638012
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation, the method comprising: providing a first sand screen assembly having one or more sand control segments, each of the sand control segments comprising: providing a first joint assembly comprising: providing a packer assembly comprising: connecting the sand screen assembly, the first joint assembly, and the packer assembly in series, wherein (i) the perforated base pipe of the one or more sand control segments, the non-perforated base pipe of the first joint assembly, and the inner mandrel of the packer assembly are in fluid communication; and (ii) the at least one transport conduit in the one or more sand control segments, the at least one transport conduit in the first joint assembly, and the at least one transport conduit in the packer assembly are in fluid communication; running the first sand screen assembly and connected first joint assembly and packer assembly into the wellbore; setting the at least one sealing element into engagement with the surrounding wellbore; injecting a gravel slurry into the wellbore in order to form a gravel pack below the packer assembly after the sealing element has been set; and further injecting gravel slurry into the wellbore in order to deposit a reserve of gravel packing material around the non-perforated base pipe above the sand screen assembly.