Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Andy J Veselka

Charles S Yeh

Michael D Barry

Tracy J Moffett

Federico G Gallo

Timothy K Ellison

Matthew Scott Jackson

Elizabeth L Templeton-Barrett

A chemically-activated inflow control device. The inflow control device comprises a tubular body configured to be connected in series to joints of sand screen in a wellbore. The tubular body forms a bore that receives a slotted base pipe. At the same time, the tubular body is fluidly connected with the sand screen joints, forming an annular flow path between the slotted base pipe and surrounding sand screen. Production fluids moving into the sand screen pass across a component that degrades in the presence of water. If the well begins producing water, the degradable component will dissolve, activating a sealing mechanism within the inflow control device and closing a restricted flow path. In this way, production fluids are not able to travel from the annular flow path into the bore of the slotted base pipe. A method for completing a wellbore having a chemically-activated inflow control device is also provided.

Inflow control device and method for completing a wellbore

A method and systems for sand control in wells are described in examples. An example uses a prepack screen assembly comprising an inner screen comprising openings having an inner size and an outer screen comprising openings having an outer size. Packing material is disposed between the inner screen and the outer screen comprising pores with a pore size that is selected based, at least in part, on the outer size, the inner size, or both.

Material control to prevent well plugging

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Andy J Veselka