Method for placing a gravel pack in an oil well with an electric wireline

• US 5,033,549 A
• Filed: 12/27/1989
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Perf-O-Log Incoporated
• Inventors: Carisella, James V., Champeaux, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schoeppel, Roger J.
• Application Number:
  US07/457,369
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 166/278, 166/378, 166/380-382, 166/385, 166/51, 166/227, 166/228, 166/235, 166/236, 166/229
• US Class Current: 166/278
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/04 Gravelling of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/08 Screens or liners expandable screens or liners E21B43/108

Abstract

A method for setting a gravel pack in an oil well through tubing situation includes the steps of running a tool body into the well using an electric wireline. The tool body is precisely positioned relative to the surrounding casing, and radially extending members attached to the tool are used to center the tool body in the well bore. Sand control media such as a gravel pack is disposed in the well annulus circumferentially about the tool body using a dump bailer. The use of radially extending members allow the tool body to pass through restricted diameter openings such as in production tubing, fittings, nipples, pressure control device, packers, valves and the like.

Claims

1. A method for installing a sand control device in an oil/gas well comprising the steps of:

a) running a plurality of stackable tool bodies into the well, each via electrical wireline deployment;

b) positioning each tool body in a desired location relative to the surrounding formation and in flow communication with each so that hydrocarbons can be produced, flowing internally from one tool body to the others;

c) using radially extending members that extend from each tool body to generally center the respective tool body in the well bore providing an annulus about the tool body; and

d) disposing sand control media in the well annulus circumferentially about the assembly of the tool bodies.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireline is a braided line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireline is a slick line.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein in step "b" the tool bodies are positioned using a casing collar locator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sand control media is a gravel pack material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the tool bodies pass through one or more areas of restricted diameter and in step "c" the radially extending members collapse at the restricted diameter areas.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein in step "c" the restricted diameter area is a section of production tubing.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein in step "c" the restricted diameter area is a fitting.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein in step "c" the restricted diameter area is a valve.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step "e" of using the lower end portion of the tool assembly to retain the sand control media at a desired elevation in the well.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of pumping fluid from the wellhead surface area in order to enhance uniform settling of the gravel pack.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the fluid includes a suspension agent.

13. A method for installing a sand control device in an oil/gas well comprising the steps of:

a) running a plurality of stackable tool bodies into the well, each via wireline deployment;

b) positioning each tool body in a desired location relative to the surrounding formation and in flow communication with each so that hydrocarbons can be produced, flowing internally from one tool body to the others;

c) using radially extending members that extend from each tool body to generally center the respective tool body in the well bore providing an annulus about the tool body; and

d) disposing sand control media in the well annulus circumferentially about the assembly of the tool bodies,

e) wherein the tool body is positioned using gamma rays.

14. A method for installing a sand control device in an oil/gas well comprising the steps of:

a) running a plurality of stackable tool bodies into the well, each via wireline deployment;

b) positioning each tool body in a desired location relative to the surrounding formation and in flow communication with each so that hydrocarbons can be produced, flowing internally from one tool body to the others;

c) using radially extending members that extend from each tool body to generally center the respective tool body in the well bore providing an annulus about the tool body; and

d) disposing sand control media in the well annulus circumferentially about the assembly of the tool bodies,

e) wherein the tool assembly has a common longitudinal through bore and a sealing medium is placed above and below the sand control media.

15. A method for installing a sand control device in an oil/gas well comprising the steps of:

a) running a plurality of stackable tool bodies into the well, each via wireline deployment;

b) positioning each tool body in a desired location relative to the surrounding formation and in flow communication with each so that hydrocarbons can be produced, flowing from one tool body to the others;

c) using radially extending members that extend from each tool body to generally center the respective tool body in the well bore providing an annulus about the tool body; and

d) disposing sand control media in the well annulus circumferentially about the assembly of the tool bodies,

e) wherein in step "d" the sand control media is disposed in the annular gap between the tool and formation using a dump bailer.

16. A method for installing a sand control device in an oil/gas well comprising the steps of:

a) running a plurality of stackable tool bodies into the well, each via wireline deployment;

b) positioning each tool body in a desired location relative to the surrounding formation and in flow communication with each so that hydrocarbons can be produced, flowing internally from one tool body to the others;

c) using radially extending members that extend from each tool body to generally center the respective tool body in the well bore providing an annulus about the tool body; and

d) disposing sand control media in the well annulus circumferentially about the assembly of the tool bodies,

e) placing a sealing medium above the sand control media.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step "e" the sealing medium is placed above and below the sand control media.

18. A method for installing a sand control device in an oil/gas well through tubing situation comprising the steps of:

a) running a plurality of stackable tool bodies into the well, each via wireline deployment;

b) positioning each tool body in a desired location relative to the surrounding formation and in flow communication with each so that hydrocarbons can be produced, flowing from one tool body to the others;

c) using radially extending members that extend from each tool body to generally center the respective tool body in the well bore providing an annular gap about the tool body; and

d) disposing sand control media in the well annulus circumferentially about the assembly of the tool bodies, and without circulation of the sand control media from the surface via a flow bore.