US2223374A - Apparatus and method of graveling wells - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1940. L, A. LAYNE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF emvsnme WELLS Filed Sept. 30, 1938 Z r 3 00 3 7 5 2 m K 5 m 7 8 n NMWWMMWMWWWQQ I g W; 4% 0 w 3 7 7 I 4 ll 4 5 5 Y 7. A 2 Pl INVENTQR ATTO NEYS.

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Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,223,374 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF GRAVELING WELLS Leslie A.

Texas Company,

Layne, Houston, Tex., assignor to The a corporation of Delaware Application September 30, 1938, Serial No. 232,536

8 Claims.

\ The invention relates to a. means and method for gravel packing wells by disposing a body of gravel in the well bore where the gravel is to be confined against migration into the formation and where the well is sealed so that the fiow is directed through the gravel pack.

The present application relates to somewhat the similar subject matter as that disclosed in my prior co-pending application 181,855 filed December 27, 1937, for a Means and method for graveling wells.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a permanent equipment for the well wherein perforated liner is positioned at the elevation of the producing formation and sealed in place so as to receive a deposit of gravel.

Still another object is to provide in combination a liner and well bottom assembly with a body of gravel confined therebetween.

9 Still another object of the invention is to provide a means and method for introducing gravel into a well bore by circulating a carrier liquid into and out of the well. 7

Other and further objects of the invention will i be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

The figure shows a diagrammatic arrangement of a well bore being graveled with certain parts shown in section.

In the figure the well bore 2 has been drilled and a casing 3 extends downwardly into the well bore to a point 4 adjacent the top of a productive formation 5. This casing 3 may or may not be cemented in position.

The well bore has been extended into the producing formation and a liner 1 of large diameter has been inserted into the well bore. This liner may have had the perforations or slots 8 therein at the time it was introduced into the I well bore or these openings 8 could have been formed after the liner was set by a suitable perforating operation. The top of the liner carries a packer In which has been expanded to form a seal with the inside of the lower end of the casing 3. In this manner, the well bore is sealed against the introduction of foreign materials from the well except those which may enter through the openings 8. The lower end 12 of the liner is preferably seated upon the bottom of the well bore.

A well bottom assembly 15 is shown as having been lowered through the casing 3 and the liner 1 so that the set shoe 16 thereof is adjacent the bottom of the well. The screen or strainer l3 surmounts the shoe and the setting or production string H, as the case may be, extends to the surface and preferably passes through the casing head l8 and is controlled by a'valve Hi.

The casing head l8 has the flow line connections 20 thereon and a discharge line 2| may be connected to one of these outlets, which line is closed by a valve 22.

The other connection 20 may have the pipe 25 connected thereto which pipe is the discharge from thegraveling apparatusindicated generally at 26. This apparatus may be of any desired type and usually includes a pump 21 which picks up a fiow of liquid through the suction pipe 28 and discharges it intothe transfer pipe 29. One branch 30 of this pipe enters the gravel drum 3| l6 and is operated by a valve 32. a

A valve 33 in the transfer pipe 29 determines the proportion of the flow which may be directed through the gravel drum. A discharge pipe or outlet 34 from the gravel drum is controlled by a a valve 35 and joins the transfer pipe 29 to form the pipe through which either the liquid or gravel and liquid may be forced into the well casing.

A seal 40 may be provided around the produc- 25 tion or setting string I! so that any pressure in the well may be confined, and in this manner a suitable pressure from the pump 21 may be used to introduce the gravel into the well in spite of any pressure there may be present in the well. The flow of gravel and carrier liquid will enter the casing 3 and if desired the flow line 2| may be opened to allow a discharge of the carrier liquid but the reduction in the rate of flow as the carrier liquid enters the casing 3 will allow the gravel to settle out and fall into the well bore as indicated by the particles 42. On the other hand, if it is desired to discharge the carrier liquid through the screen I3 and the production string H, the valve 22 may be closed and the valve l9 opened. In this manner the carrier liquid will flow downward through the casing 3 and the liner 1 to the elevation of the screen l3.

If desired the discharge liquid may be partially through the flow line 2| and partially through the production string ll. The body of gravel 45 may be accumulated to any desired elevation inside of the liner 1 but a test as to whether or not the gravel covered the strainer l3 can be made by closing the valve 22. If the strainer is covered by gravel, naturally there will be an increase in pressure because there will be no escape for the liquid except that which can be forced through the gravel deposit 45.

With this particular type of construction any desired amount of gravel can be deposited in the well above the strainer I 3.

Broadly, the invention contemplates a liner to be setin a well bore to confine the gravel and to assist in forming a gravel pack in the well bore.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of depositing and retaining gravel filters in well bores comprising the stepsof inserting a relatively coarse rigid tubular strainer or screen member in the well bore adjacent the productive formation, inserting a second strainor or screen .in said first strainer, said second strainer being of a gauge to exclude thesand of the producing formation, and circulating a filter of gravel or similar material into said first strainer and around said second strainer.

2. A method of completing awell comprisingv ducing formation, positioning pipe at the elevation of the producing formation, which pipe is provided With openings therethrough, setting a screen within said pipe, washing the well,

' and depositing gravel around said screen and within said pipe so that the gravel is confined against migration into the formation, the'introduction of the gravel being by means of a carrier liquid pumped into the well casing under pressure.

4. A method of completing a well comprising 40 casing the well bore to substantially. the pro.-

ducing formation, positioning a perforated pipe at the elevation of the producing formation, setting a screen within said pipe, washing the well, and sealing the pipe with the casing to exclude an inflow from the formation except through the deposit of gravel.

5. A well equipment assembly comprising a casing, a casing head thereon, flow. line connections on said head, a perforated liner pipe extending into the producing formation from the bottom of said casing, a packer sealing said liner and casing, a well bottom assembly in said liner, and a body of gravel within said liner and about said well bottom.

6. A well assembly including a string ,of pipe 5 in the well, a casing head thereon, a pair of flow lines connected to said head, a perforate area in said pipe, a well bottom assembly in said pipe, means to direct a stream of carrier liquid and gravel into one of said flow lines, said other flow Z line connection being adapted to discharge the carrier liquid as the gravel settles in the well bore.

7. A well assembly including a string of pipe in the well, a casing head thereon, a plurality of flow. lines connected to said head, a perforate area in saidpipe a well bottom assembly in said pipe, means. to directa stream of carrier liquid and gravel into one'of said flow. lines, said other flow line connection being adapted to remain closed and the carrier liquid to return to the surface through the well .bottom assembly.

8. The combination of a well casing, a strainer string therein, a removable strainer in said string disposed entirely Withinsaid casing, and means to form a filter of divided material in the annular space around in said casing;

I LESLIE A. LAYNE.

said strainer and with-

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