Method and apparatus for gravel packing with a tool that maintains a pressure in a target wellbore section
First Claim
1. A method for use in a wellbore, comprising:
- performing a gravel pack operation with a tool assembly in a section of the wellbore, the tool assembly attached to a tool string;
providing a bypass mechanism in the tool assembly;
actuating the bypass mechanism between at least a first position and a second position using a remote signal; and
maintaining communication of an elevated pressure through the bypass mechanism to the wellbore section to provide an overbalance condition in the wellbore section, the bypass mechanism adapted to communicate pressure from inside the tool string to the wellbore section if the bypass mechanism is in the first position, and the bypass mechanism adapted to communicate pressure from an annular region outside the tool string to the wellbore section if the bypass mechanism is in the second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing a gravel pack operation includes a bypass mechanism (e.g., a bypass valve) that is actuatable between plural positions. The bypass mechanism is part of a tool assembly, with the bypass mechanism providing different flow paths through the tool assembly corresponding to the plural positions of the bypass mechanism. For example, if the bypass mechanism is in a first position, an elevated pressure is communicated from an annular region outside a tool string to a target wellbore section. On the other hand, if the bypass mechanism is in the second position, the elevated pressure is communicated from inside the tool string to the target wellbore section. In either position, an overbalance condition is maintained in the target wellbore section so that swabbing effects are reduced or eliminated due to movement of the tool assembly during a gravel pack operation.
14 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for use in a wellbore, comprising:
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performing a gravel pack operation with a tool assembly in a section of the wellbore, the tool assembly attached to a tool string;
providing a bypass mechanism in the tool assembly;
actuating the bypass mechanism between at least a first position and a second position using a remote signal; and
maintaining communication of an elevated pressure through the bypass mechanism to the wellbore section to provide an overbalance condition in the wellbore section, the bypass mechanism adapted to communicate pressure from inside the tool string to the wellbore section if the bypass mechanism is in the first position, and the bypass mechanism adapted to communicate pressure from an annular region outside the tool string to the wellbore section if the bypass mechanism is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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12. A method for use in a wellbore, comprising:
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performing a gravel pack operation with a tool assembly in a section of the wellbore;
actuating a bypass mechanism in the tool assembly between plural positions during phases of the gravel pack operation;
maintaining communication of an elevated pressure through the bypass mechanism to the wellbore section to provide an overbalance condition in the wellbore section, the elevated pressure communicated through different paths in the tool assembly corresponding to the plural positions of the bypass mechanism, wherein actuating the bypass mechanism comprises actuating the bypass mechanism using a remote signal; and
providing a flow control device to control flow through an inner bore of the tool assembly.
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28. A gravel pack apparatus attachable to a tool string, comprising:
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a tool assembly comprising a sealing element and a bypass mechanism, the bypass mechanism adapted to communicate an elevated pressure past the sealing element to a target wellbore section to maintain an overbalance condition in the target wellbore section, the bypass mechanism having an actuator that is adapted to be remotely actuatable by a remote signal between at least a first position and a second position, the bypass mechanism if in the first position adapted to communicate pressure from outside the tool string to the target wellbore section, and the bypass mechanism if in the second position adapted to communicate pressure from inside the tool string to the target wellbore section.
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36. A gravel pack apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:
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a sealing element adapted to seal against the wellbore; and
a tool assembly comprising a bypass mechanism having at least first and second positions, the bypass mechanism adapted to communicate elevated pressure to a wellbore section past the sealing element to provide an overbalance condition in the wellbore section, the bypass mechanism having a remotely-operable actuator that is adapted to be operated without user manipulation of the tool assembly to move the bypass mechanism between the at least first and second positions.
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Specification