US4664191A — Minimizing formation damage during gravel pack op…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 219 words

A method for minimizing formation damage caused by intrusive fluids prior to a gravel packing operation in loosely consolidated formations penetrated by at least one well comprising: (a) filling the casing of said well with an underbalanced completion fluid; (b) placing within said well a removable packer capable of isolating the space between said casing and the formation from the downhole well pressure; (c) setting through said packer a first tubing suitable for perforating and stabilizing the flow of fluids into said well; (d) perforating said casing; (e) introducing a blocking agent into said formation via the perforations which agent upon solidification is sufficient to minimize formation damage by avoiding the introduction of formation fluids; (f) causing said blocking agent to solidify while forming a solidified plug within said well and a solid mass within the adjacent washed out portion of said formation; (g) removing said first tubing from said well; (h) placing within said well a second tubing having a slotted portion therein sufficient to allow gravel packing of the well and the formation; (i) removing said solidified plug from said wellbore along with solidified gel from said washed-out portion of the formation; and (j) placing a gravel pack within said well and said washed out portion of the formation via said second tubing which consolidates said formation.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 219 words

A method for minimizing formation damage caused by intrusive fluids prior to a gravel packing operation in loosely consolidated formations penetrated by at least one well comprising: (a) filling the casing of said well with an underbalanced completion fluid; (b) placing within said well a removable packer capable of isolating the space between said casing and the formation from the downhole well pressure; (c) setting through said packer a first tubing suitable for perforating and stabilizing the flow of fluids into said well; (d) perforating said casing; (e) introducing a blocking agent into said formation via the perforations which agent upon solidification is sufficient to minimize formation damage by avoiding the introduction of formation fluids; (f) causing said blocking agent to solidify while forming a solidified plug within said well and a solid mass within the adjacent washed out portion of said formation; (g) removing said first tubing from said well; (h) placing within said well a second tubing having a slotted portion therein sufficient to allow gravel packing of the well and the formation; (i) removing said solidified plug from said wellbore along with solidified gel from said washed-out portion of the formation; and (j) placing a gravel pack within said well and said washed out portion of the formation via said second tubing which consolidates said formation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which solidifies after about 2 to about 4 hours.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which forms a solid sufficient to withstand pressures of from about 1,000 psig to about 20,000 psig.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which forms a solid able to withstand temperatures greater than about 450° F.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which becomes solid and is made thermally stable for temperatures of from about 350° F. to about 450° F. for from about 0.5 of a day to about 4 days.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture into which a gel breaker is added in amounts sufficient to breakdown the subsequently formed solid gel at temperatures of less than from about 60° F. to about 250° F. within from about 2 hours to about 24 hours.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture into which an oxygen scavenger is placed in a concentration of about 0.10 to about 0.75 weight percent of said mixture, and said oxygen scavenger is a material selected from the group consisting of sodium thiosulfate and a short chain alcohol.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which contains a gel breaker capable of breaking down a subsequently formed solid gel at temperatures less than from about 60° F. to about 250° F. within from about 2 to about 24 hours.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method as recited in claim 1 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which contains a gel breaker capable of breaking down said subsequently formed solid gel where said gel breaker is a material selected from the group consisting of an enzyme and an oxidizing agent.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 249 words

A method for minimizing formation damage caused by intrusive fluids during a gravel packing operation in loosely consolidated hydrocarbonaceous bearing formations penetrated by at least one well comprising: (a) filling the casing of said well with an underbalanced completion fluid; (b) placing within said well a removable packer capable of isolating the space between said casing and the formation from the downhole well pressure; (c) setting through said packer a first tubing suitable for perforating and stabilizing the flow of fluids into said well; (d) perforating said casing; (e) introducing a blocking agent into said formation via the perforations which agent upon solidification is sufficient to minimize formation damage by avoiding the introduction of formation fluids: (f) causing said blocking agent to solidify and consolidate the formation while forming a solidified plug within said well and a solid mass within the adjacent formation or washed out portion of said formation; (g) removing said first tubing from said well; (h) placing within said well a second tubing having a slotted portion therein sufficient to allow gravel packing of the well and the washed out portion of the formation; (i) removing said solidified plug from said wellbore along with solidified gel from said washed-out portion of the formation; (j) placing a gravel pack within said well and said washed out portion of the formation via said second tubing which consolidates said formation; and (k) establishing fluid communication between said formation and said well sufficient to produce hydrocarbonaceous fluids from said well.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 249 words

A method for minimizing formation damage caused by intrusive fluids during a gravel packing operation in loosely consolidated hydrocarbonaceous bearing formations penetrated by at least one well comprising: (a) filling the casing of said well with an underbalanced completion fluid; (b) placing within said well a removable packer capable of isolating the space between said casing and the formation from the downhole well pressure; (c) setting through said packer a first tubing suitable for perforating and stabilizing the flow of fluids into said well; (d) perforating said casing; (e) introducing a blocking agent into said formation via the perforations which agent upon solidification is sufficient to minimize formation damage by avoiding the introduction of formation fluids: (f) causing said blocking agent to solidify and consolidate the formation while forming a solidified plug within said well and a solid mass within the adjacent formation or washed out portion of said formation; (g) removing said first tubing from said well; (h) placing within said well a second tubing having a slotted portion therein sufficient to allow gravel packing of the well and the washed out portion of the formation; (i) removing said solidified plug from said wellbore along with solidified gel from said washed-out portion of the formation; (j) placing a gravel pack within said well and said washed out portion of the formation via said second tubing which consolidates said formation; and (k) establishing fluid communication between said formation and said well sufficient to produce hydrocarbonaceous fluids from said well.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which solidifies after about 2 to about 4 hours.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which forms a solid sufficient to withstand pressures of from about 1,000 psig to about 20,000 psig.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which forms a solid able to withstand temperatures greater than about 1,000° F.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which becomes solid and is made thermally stable for temperatures of from about 350° F. to about 450° F. for from about 0.5 of a day to about 4 days.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture into which a gel breaker is added in amounts sufficient to breakdown the subsequently formed solid gel at temperatures of less than from about 60° F. to about 250° F. within from about 2 hours to about 24 hours.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture into which an oxygen scavenger is placed in a concentration of about 0.10 to about 0.75 weight percent of said mixture, and said oxygen scavenger is a material selected from the group consisting of sodium thiosulfate and a short chain alcohol.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which contains a gel breaker capable of breaking down a subsequently formed solid gel at temperatures less than from about 60° F. to about 250° F. within from about 2 to about 24 hours.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method as recited in claim 10 where in step (e) said blocking agent comprises a solidifiable gel mixture which contains a gel breaker capable of breaking down said subsequently formed solid gel where said gel breaker is a material selected from the group consisting of an enzyme and an oxidizing agent.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 222 words

A method for minimizing formation damage caused by intrusive fluids during a gravel packing operation in loosely consolidated formations penetrated by at least one well comprising: (a) filling the casing of said well with an underbalanced completion fluid; (b) placing within said well a removable packer capable of isolating the space between said casing and the formation from the downhole well pressure; (c) setting through said packer a first tubing suitable for perforating and stabilizing the flow of fluids into said well; (d) perforating said casing; (e) introducing a blocking agent into said formation via said perforations which agent upon solidification is removable by hydrochloric acid of a strength of about 15 volume percent or by physical means; (f) causing said blocking agent to solidify while forming a solidified plug within said well and a solid mass within the adjacent washed out portion of said formation; (g) removing said first tubing from said well; (h) placing within said well a second tubing having a slotted portion therein sufficient to allow gravel packing of the well and the formation; (i) removing said solidified plug from said wellbore along with solidified gel from said washed-out portion of the formation; and (j) placing a gravel pack within said well and said washed out portion of the formation via said second tubing which consolidates said formation.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 222 words

A method for minimizing formation damage caused by intrusive fluids during a gravel packing operation in loosely consolidated formations penetrated by at least one well comprising: (a) filling the casing of said well with an underbalanced completion fluid; (b) placing within said well a removable packer capable of isolating the space between said casing and the formation from the downhole well pressure; (c) setting through said packer a first tubing suitable for perforating and stabilizing the flow of fluids into said well; (d) perforating said casing; (e) introducing a blocking agent into said formation via said perforations which agent upon solidification is removable by hydrochloric acid of a strength of about 15 volume percent or by physical means; (f) causing said blocking agent to solidify while forming a solidified plug within said well and a solid mass within the adjacent washed out portion of said formation; (g) removing said first tubing from said well; (h) placing within said well a second tubing having a slotted portion therein sufficient to allow gravel packing of the well and the formation; (i) removing said solidified plug from said wellbore along with solidified gel from said washed-out portion of the formation; and (j) placing a gravel pack within said well and said washed out portion of the formation via said second tubing which consolidates said formation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-05-11	1990-11-10	1991-05-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-05-11	1994-11-10	1995-05-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-05-11	1998-11-10	1999-05-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Minimizing formation damage during gravel pack operations

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