Patent ID: 6675891
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
An apparatus for gravel packing a production interval of a wellbore using an alpha-beta gravel packing technique, the apparatus comprising:a packer assembly; first and second sand control screen assemblies connected relative to the packer assembly; a cross-over assembly providing a lateral communication path downhole of the packer assembly for a gravel packing fluid and a lateral communication path uphole of the packer assembly for a return fluid; a wash pipe assembly in communication with the lateral communication path uphole of the packer assembly and extending into the first and second sand control screen assemblies such that an annulus is formed therebetween; and a valve positioned within the wash pipe assembly in a location between the first and second sand control screen assemblies, the valve actuatable from a closed position to an open position when a beta wave is proximate the location of the valve.