High solids content slurry methods and systems
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- combining a carrier fluid and a solids mixture to form a slurry, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75, wherein the solids mixture comprises at least a proppant PSD mode and a fines PSD mode;
circulating the slurry through a well bore to form a proppant pack from depositing the solids mixture in one or both of a fracture in a formation and an annulus between a screen and the wellbore;
contacting fines in the pack with a dispersant;
passing fluid through the pack to remove fines from the pack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The system comprises a well bore; a gravel packing slurry comprising a carrier fluid and a solids mixture, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75, wherein the solids mixture comprises at least a proppant PSD mode and a fines PSD mode; a pump to circulate the slurry in the wellbore and form a proppant pack; and a dispersant source effective to facilitate fines flowback from the pack. The method comprises circulating the slurry through a wellbore to form a proppant pack; contacting fines in the pack with a dispersant; and passing fluid through the pack to remove fines from the pack. Dispersants disclosed as present in the slurry or in another treatment fluid include polyelectrolyte, polysulfonate, polycarboxylate, lignosulfonates, polymelamine sulfonates, polystyrene sulfonates, polynaphthalene sulfonates, polyacrylates having a weight average molecular weight less than 10,000 Daltons, anionic, cationic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants, and nonionic surfactants.
221 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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combining a carrier fluid and a solids mixture to form a slurry, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75, wherein the solids mixture comprises at least a proppant PSD mode and a fines PSD mode; circulating the slurry through a well bore to form a proppant pack from depositing the solids mixture in one or both of a fracture in a formation and an annulus between a screen and the wellbore; contacting fines in the pack with a dispersant; passing fluid through the pack to remove fines from the pack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system, comprising:
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a well bore in fluid communication with a subterranean formation; a gravel packing slurry comprising a carrier fluid and a solids mixture, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75, wherein the solids mixture comprises at least a proppant PSD mode and a fines PSD mode; a pump to circulate the slurry in the well bore to deposit the solids mixture and form a proppant pack in one or both of a fracture in the formation and an annulus between a screen and the formation; and a dispersant source effective to facilitate fines flowback from the pack. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification