High solids content slurries and methods

摘要

A slurry and method are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The slurry comprises a solids mixture comprising a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75; a carrier fluid in an amount to provide a solids volume fraction (SVF) less than the PVF of the solids mixture; and a stability additive to inhibit settling of the solids mixture. The method comprises circulating the slurry into a wellbore to deposit the slurry downhole; terminating the slurry circulation for a period of time, wherein the stability additive inhibits settling of the solids mixture; and thereafter circulating the deposited slurry in contact with a surface of a screen. Stability additives disclosed include colloidal particles, hydratable polymer particles, and particles having an aspect ratio above 6.

主权项

1. A method, comprising: combining a carrier fluid and a solids mixture to form a preferably flowable slurry, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes, wherein a first PSD mode comprises solids having a volume-average median size at least three times larger than the volume-average median size of a second PSD mode such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) of the solids mixture exceeds 0.75, and wherein the solids mixture, preferably the second PSD mode, comprises a degradable material; circulating the slurry through a wellbore to form a pack of the solids mixture having a PVF exceeding 0.75 in one or both of a fracture in a formation and an annulus between a screen and the wellbore; degrading the degradable material in the pack to increase porosity and permeability of the pack; wherein the second PSD mode comprises a water-soluble solid, and the carrier fluid comprises an invert emulsion wherein the water-soluble solid is dispersed in an oil phase, and the degradation comprises breaking the emulsion to dissolve the water-soluble solid in an aqueous medium; and producing a reservoir fluid from the formation through the increased porosity pack.