Well treatment method

• US 4,008,763 A
• Filed: 05/20/1976
• Issued: 02/22/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Lowe, Clovis Carroll Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suchfield, George A.
• Application Number:
  US05/688,274
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250, 166/253, 166/276, 166/278, 73/153
• US Class Current: 166/253.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/04 Gravelling of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/11 using tracers; using radioactivity

Abstract

A method wherein a plurality of solid particle packs, often called gravel packs, are emplaced in a wellbore to prevent production of solids from formations into the wellbore, the improvement comprising incorporating in each pack a tracer material which is unique to that particular pack. Thereafter, fluid produced from the well can be analyzed at the earth'"'"'s surface to determine if any and, if so, which pack is leaking solid particles into the well. Subsequent workover of the well can then be limited to the pack or packs indicated to be leaking rather than being directed to all packs in the well.

Claims

1. In a gravel packing method in a well wherein a plurality of packs are emplaced, the improvement comprising incorporating in each pack a tracer material which is unique to that particular pack, and analyzing fluid thereafter produced from said well to determine if any and if so which pack is leaking solid particles into said well.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said tracer materials can be differentiated by visual inspection.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the tracer material is solid particles, and different colored particles are incorporated in each pack.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said tracer material can be differentiated by chemical analysis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said tracer material can be differentiated by spectrographic analysis.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said tracer material can be differentiated by X-ray analysis.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said tracer material is incorporated in packs that extend into a formation as well as packs that do not leave the wellbore so that upon analysis at the earth'"'"'s surface it can be determined if it is a formation pack or a wellbore pack that is leaking solids into the wellbore.