Consolidated material to equalize fluid flow into a wellbore

• US 10,513,915 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Al-Mulhem, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Kristyn A
• Application Number:
  US15/827,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20190162059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/56 Compositions for consolidating loose sand or the like around wells without excessively decreasing the permeability thereof compositions for plastering borehole walls C09K8/50; Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials in general C09K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/025 Consolidation of loose sand or the like round the wells without excessively decreasing the permeability thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/12 Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons

Abstract

Methods for equalizing flow into a wellbore using consolidated material are described. An unconsolidated material and a consolidation fluid are flowed into a wellbore formed in a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean zone, and a permeability of the subterranean zone to flow fluid through the subterranean zone into the wellbore is non-uniform across an axial length of the wellbore. The unconsolidated material and the consolidation fluid are contacted across at least an axial segment of an inner surface of the wellbore, and the unconsolidated material is bound with the consolidated fluid to form a pack, in which the pack has a permeability that is more uniform than the permeability of the subterranean zone. A flow of fluids from the axial segment of the subterranean zone into the wellbore is controlled through the pack.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

flowing an unconsolidated material and a consolidation fluid into a wellbore formed in a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean zone, wherein a permeability of the subterranean zone to flow fluid through the subterranean zone into the wellbore is non-uniform across an axial length of the wellbore;

contacting the unconsolidated material and the consolidation fluid across at least an axial segment of an inner surface of the wellbore;

binding the unconsolidated material with the consolidation fluid to form a pack, the pack having a permeability more uniform than the permeability of the subterranean zone;

after binding the unconsolidated material with the consolidation fluid, dissolving at least a portion of the pack with a postflush fluid to increase permeability of the pack; and

after dissolving at least a portion of the pack with the postflush fluid, equalizing a flow of fluids from the axial segment of the subterranean zone into the wellbore through the pack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the consolidation fluid comprises a resin and a curing agent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unconsolidated material comprises sand, ceramic proppants, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the consolidation fluid binds the unconsolidated material after contacting the pack across at least the axial segment of the inner surface of the wellbore.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising contacting the pack with a postflush fluid to increase the permeability of the pack after contacting the pack across at least the axial segment of the inner surface of the wellbore.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the postflush fluid comprises an aqueous fluid, a solvent, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the postflush fluid comprises methanol, water, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the pack is left to harden for substantially 48 hours or less after contacting the pack with the postflush fluid.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the permeability of the pack after contacting the pack with the postflush fluid is substantially 80% or less of a permeability of the unconsolidated material.

10. A method for completing a well, the method comprising:

flowing an unconsolidated material into a wellbore formed in a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean zone, wherein a permeability of the subterranean zone to flow fluid through the subterranean zone into the wellbore varies across an axial length of the wellbore;

flowing a consolidation fluid into the wellbore;

at least partially consolidating the unconsolidated material within the wellbore using the consolidating fluid to form an at least partially consolidated material having a permeability that is different from the permeability of the subterranean zone, wherein the at least partially consolidated material coats an inner wall of an axial segment of the wellbore;

after at least partially consolidating the unconsolidated material, dissolving at least a portion of the at least partially consolidated material to increase permeability of the at least partially consolidated material; and

after dissolving the portion of the at least partially consolidated material, equalizing a flow of fluids from the axial segment of the subterranean zone into the wellbore through the at least partially consolidated material.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the consolidation fluid comprises a resin and a curing agent.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the unconsolidated material comprises sand, ceramic proppants, or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the consolidation fluid and the unconsolidated material are flowed together into the wellbore.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the consolidation fluid is flowed into the wellbore after flowing the unconsolidated material into the wellbore.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising contacting the at least partially consolidated material with a postflush fluid to increase the permeability of the at least partially consolidated material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the postflush fluid comprises an aqueous fluid, a solvent, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the postflush fluid comprises methanol, water, or combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least partially consolidated material is contacted with the postflush fluid to increase permeability, and the at least partially consolidated material is left to harden for substantially 48 hours or less.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the permeability of the at least partially consolidated material after contacting the at least partially consolidated material with the postflush fluid is substantially 80% or less of a permeability of the unconsolidated material.