Method for gravel packing of wells

摘要

A well penetrator has a housing moveable down a well casing with a radially moveable punch being supported in the housing for movement between retracted and extended positions; a fluid jet is discharged from the outer end of the punch with liquid for the jet coming from a tube fixedly positioned at one end in the housing and held in slightly bowed condition when the punch is retracted to permit movement of the punch to its extended position from its retracted condition without the creation of excessive force on this metal tube. The jet creates a bulbous drumstick shaped cavity in the earth which is packed with a gravel slurry which hardens and cannot move into the casing due to the bulbous shape of the hardened slurry mass. Similar procedures are employed using a hose or lance with a nozzle at its outer end; one nozzle embodiment includes radial jets activated to transversely enlarge the cavity at a location spaced from the casing.