Experimental and Theoretical Simulation of Gravel-Pack Displacement in Extended Horizontal-Offshore Wells

Martins, André Leibsohn; Magalhaes, Joao Vicente Martins de; Calderon, Agostinho; Mathis, Stephen P.; Trujillo, Carlos Narbona; Nguyen, H.T.

doi:10.2118/86509-pa

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This code was written in PASCAL language using DELPHI™ 7.0 environment. More software details are explained in Martins et al 6 The methodology developed for the analysis proposed in this article consists on the calculation of the operational window where flow rates vary with time in a way that a constant downhole pressure is maintained. The implementation methodology is as follows:…”

Section: Variable Flow Rate Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing Multiple Alpha Waves for Openhole Gravel-Pack Operations

Calderon

Magalhaes

Oliveira

et al. 2007

European Formation Damage Conference

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fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractMultiple alpha wave placement is an effective strategy to minimize operational time and risk in open hole gravel pack operations. This article deals with the adaptation of a mechanistic model, originally developed for OHGP placement, to account for flow rate variation throughout the operation. The final goal is to provide charts of flow rates versus time for a constant downhole fracture pressure. Based on these charts, a feasible pumping schedule can be proposed for each specific operation aiming time reduction and operational safety. Finally, a case study of the multiple alpha wave design is presented and its advantages highlighted.

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Section: Variable Flow Rate Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing Multiple Alpha Waves for Openhole Gravel-Pack Operations

Calderon

Magalhaes

Oliveira

et al. 2007

European Formation Damage Conference

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“…Particularly for long horizontal wells in loosely consolidated sands, the design of sand control completions has to strike the best trade-off between maximizing the protection against sand production and minimizing the impact on productivity, both initially and through the life of production. While optimization of this technology either by laboratory studies or through computational simulations has been the subject of many studies over the last decades (Gurley et al, 1977) and is still actively investigated today (Becker and Gardiner, 2000;Blok et al, 2000;Hilbert et al, 2011;Jain et al, 2011;Martins et al, 2005;Navaira et al, 2009;Neal, 1983;Oyeneyin, 1987;Suri and Sharma, 2010), the current design of screens and supporting tubing (basepipe) in a sand control completion are based on empirical pressure drop correlations that are developed for the individual elements, but not for the entire sand control assembly. Yet, the complexity of the geometry (illustrated in Figure 1 for a gravel pack completion) implies the complexity of the flow whereas the total pressure drop from the formation to the well is, in general, different from the sum of the individual components.…”

Section: Gravel Pack -Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation and Visualization of Near-Well Flow

et al. 2012

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The ability to understand and optimize the exact circumstances by which fluids enter the wellbore is increasingly crucial to achieving effective and economic production. The well completion, the connection to the reservoir, must be designed and operated in accordance with the true physics of the near well flow environment. The ability to visualize such flows, then parameterize and extrapolate the results with realistic simulation models, affords a powerful advantage in creating well completions that are simple to install, reliable to operate, and, of course, deliver all the flow the reservoir is capable of yielding. This paper illustrates the use of advanced visualization in this process. Two examples are presented, featuring detailed images of flow through complex sand control completions hardware (gravel pack) and of flow through wormholes in acid-stimulated carbonate rock.

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“…2,3 While this has probably suited the objective of such tests, it has not captured the issues surrounding the rat-hole and transition zone, which has been identified as an area of concern. 2,3 While this has probably suited the objective of such tests, it has not captured the issues surrounding the rat-hole and transition zone, which has been identified as an area of concern.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Mechanism For Extending Horizontal Gravel-Pack Completions-Successful Case History In Campos Basin

Pereira

Lima

Barretto

et al. 2005

Offshore Technology Conference

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TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractDeepwater reservoirs with their inherent low reservoir fracture gradient are generally restricted in the length of horizontal section that can be safely gravel packed. Historically, increasing maximum length required introducing relatively complex apparati such as intermediate valves in the washpipe or systems providing additional flow paths to bypass any bridges after they have formed.This paper presents an annular packoff mechanism that has the capability to potentially alleviate this problem and improve overall reliability. The component is a simple "add on," that consists of a liner that bridges the rat-hole and extends down into the open hole below the rat hole since this is the primary region of concern for premature screenout during an HzGP. The potential of screenout here is due to the reduced flow velocity and irregularities in the flow regime. The added liner is run with the standard HzGP completion equipment. This is a typical issue in the deep water and heavy oil reservoirs of Brazil where the reservoirs are predominantly found at a relatively shallow below the ocean floor in relation to water depth. Annular flow velocity through the rat hole and area of concern is critical in avoiding premature screen-out. For a given flow rate, the annular velocity in the rat hole will be lower than that in the open hole due to the larger annular area in the rat hole. The lower annular velocity in the rathole section results in a relatively high alpha wave. When slurry flows in the area open to flow above the top of the alpha wave in the rat-hole into the open-hole section, it is forced to dip down into the area open to flow in the open hole. This phenomenon is a major area of concern during scale model testing because of the turbulence that establishes a dip in the alpha wave height followed immediately by an increase in alpha wave height in this transition area. This "pinching" effect potentially induces a premature screenout situation. The first wellbore completed with this system has verified that no negative impact on circulating rates or pressures occurs during the course of an HzGP when the new system is used. The case history discusses the pressure curves and flow-rate responses during the operation and shows how the system can increase the operating envelope and reliability of the HzGP treatment. This addition of this component has been shown to more than double the length of horizontal section that can be safely gravel packed, especially under conditions where low reservoir fracture gradient is the primary limiting factor.

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Experimental and Theoretical Simulation of Gravel-Pack Displacement in Extended Horizontal-Offshore Wells

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

Designing Multiple Alpha Waves for Openhole Gravel-Pack Operations

Designing Multiple Alpha Waves for Openhole Gravel-Pack Operations

Simulation and Visualization of Near-Well Flow

Novel Mechanism For Extending Horizontal Gravel-Pack Completions-Successful Case History In Campos Basin

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