Gravel Packing of Horizontal Wells (1987)

Gravel Packing of Horizontal Wells R.R. Anderson; R.R. Anderson Petrolphysics Ltd. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar W. Dickinson; W. Dickinson Petrolphysics Ltd. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar H. Dykstra H. Dykstra Consultant Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, September 1987. Paper Number: SPE-16931-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/16931-MS Published: September 27 1987 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Anderson, R.R., Dickinson, W., and H. Dykstra. "Gravel Packing of Horizontal Wells." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, September 1987. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/16931-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractOne hundred percent gravel packing of horizontal wells has been demonstrated in the laboratory using bidirectional (two lift), water slurrified gravel packing. The first lift provides 70-90+% fill. A second, subsequent, reverse direction lift provides both 100% fill and consolidation. Deviation has been varied from 700 to 1100; the process is self-regulating.IntroductionThe process of gravel packing horizontal wells has greatly benefited from from the success of reverse gravel circulation, developed first by The Texas Company for vertical wells. But problems arise when the axis of the well is rotated from the vertical to the horizontal, which fundamentally changes the gravity effects on sedimentation and gravel deposition. Hence the method to achieve a 100% gravel pack for a highly deviated well bore hole is different from that for a vertical bore hole.As a part of a continuing research and development program for radial placement using water jet drilling, Petrolphysics has evolved a step by step Petrolphysics Radial Placement (PRP) system, which is described in References 5, 6 and 7. In summary, for an existing vertical well these steps include:Section milling of a window in the existing vertical casing.Underreaming the formation in the casing window.Lowering an erectable whipstock into the underreamed zone on a conventional work string and positioning in azimuth with a gyro.Erecting the whipstock.Lowering a continuous electricresistance welded (ERW) tube through the working string into the whipstock high pressure seal.Pressurizing the vertical working string and hydrodynamically propelling the ERW tube into the formation via a horizontal bore holecut by the water jets.Positional logging of the radial ERW tube.Electrolytic cut-off of the drillhead from the radial ERW tube.First lift of gravel slurry into thehorizontal bore hole.Perforation of the radial ERW tube.Placement of the outer end filter in the radial ERW tube.P. 519^ Keywords: upstream oil & gas, gravel packing, vertical well, gravel dune, slotted liner, horizontal gravel, whipstock, radial erw tube, ullage flow space, completion installation and operations Subjects: Drilling Operations, Directional drilling, Perforating, Completion Installation and Operations, Completion Operations This content is only available via PDF. 1987. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.