High solids content fluid techniques

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12448871-B2
Application number	US-202418761950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2024
Priority date	Jul 3, 2023
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

A method includes placing, via a bailer, a slurry into a wellbore to deposit a slurry downhole. The slurry includes a solids mixture and a fluid. The method also includes terminating placement of the slurry for a period of time. A viscous pill inhibits settling of the solids mixture, and the slurry displaces the viscous pill in contact with a surface of a screen.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for depositing a solids slurry in a wellbore, the method comprising:
depositing, via a first bailer, a high viscosity fluid at a target location in the wellbore to form a viscous pill, the high viscosity fluid having a plastic viscosity that is greater than a working fluid viscosity of a working fluid in the wellbore; and
depositing, via a second bailer, a slurry at the viscous pill, wherein depositing the slurry at the viscous pill displaces the viscous pill from the target location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the slurry at the viscous pill maintains a particle size distribution of the slurry while depositing the slurry.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein depositing the slurry at the viscous pill maintains a packed volume fraction (PVF) that exceeds 0.75 and a solids volume fraction (SVF) less than the PVF.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the high viscosity fluid includes engaging a collet at the target location with the first bailer and depositing the high viscosity fluid until an upper surface of the viscous pill rises above the collet.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein depositing the slurry at the viscous pill includes engaging the collet with the second bailer and depositing the slurry below the upper surface of the viscous pill.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target location includes a screen, and depositing the high viscosity fluid forms the viscous pill between the screen and a wellbore wall of the wellbore.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein depositing the slurry at the viscous pill includes depositing the slurry between the screen and the wellbore wall such that at least a portion of the viscous pill is displaced through the screen.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the high viscosity fluid includes depositing the high viscosity fluid over a plurality of trips of the first bailer into the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein depositing the slurry includes depositing the slurry over a plurality of trips of the second bailer into the wellbore.

10. A gravel filter installation system, comprising:
a screen;
a viscous pill deposited at the screen, the viscous pill having a plastic viscosity greater than about 100 mPa·s at 100° C.;
a solids slurry having a particle size distribution (PSD) such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75, wherein the solids slurry comprises a solids volume fraction (SVF) less than the PVF of the solids slurry; and
a bailer configured to deposit the solids slurry at the viscous pill such that the solids slurry displaces the viscous pill.

11. The gravel filter installation system of claim 10 , further comprising a screen and a packer above the screen, the bailer including a discharge end complementary to a collet at the packer.

12. The gravel filter installation system of claim 11 , wherein an upper surface of the viscous pill, prior to deposition of the solids slurry, extends above the screen.

13. The gravel filter installation system of claim 10 , wherein the screen has a mesh size sufficient to prevent flowing of the solids slurry therethrough.

14. A method, comprising:
placing, via a bailer, a slurry into a wellbore to deposit the slurry downhole, wherein the slurry comprises a solids mixture and a fluid; and
terminating placement of the slurry for a period of time, wherein a viscous pill at the wellbore inhibits settling of the solids mixture, wherein the slurry displaces the viscous pill in contact with a surface of a screen.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the viscous pill has a plastic viscosity sufficient to allow linear flow placement of the slurry at bottomhole temperatures.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the solids mixture has a particle size distribution (PSD) such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75, wherein the slurry comprises a solids volume fraction (SVF) less than the PVF of the solids mixture.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein placing the slurry into the wellbore maintains the SVF and the PVF at the screen.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the viscous pill prohibits suspension of the slurry.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the slurry displaces the viscous pill through the screen.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the placing the slurry into the wellbore includes depositing the slurry below an upper surface of the viscous pill.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Santamaria Juan-Carlos
• Hendum Kinga
• Vaidya Nirupama
• Yusifzada Elvin
• Gadiyar Balkrishna
• Daeffler Christopher

Classifications

• E21B43/08

  Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} · CPC title

• E21B33/13

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title

• E21B43/04 Primary

  Gravelling of wells · CPC title

• C09K8/80 Primary

  Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open · CPC title