Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Charles S Yeh

Randy C Tolman

Narasimha-Rao Venkata Bangaru

Jeffrey Roberts Bailey

Michael D Barry

Michael Thomas Hecker

David C Haeberle

Jon Blacklock

Bruce A Dale

Ted Alan Long

Tracy J Moffett

Terje Moen

Arthur Herman Dybevik

Ole Sveinung Kvernstuen

Hans Brekken

Lars Faret

Pavlin B Entchev

Stephen Reid

Mehmet Deniz Ertas

Kjartan Roaldsnes

Knut H Nesland

Stephen McNamee

Iain Morrison Macleod

David A Howell

John W Mohr

Lee Mercer

Manh V Phi

Christopher Andrew Hall

Timothy G Benish

John Steven Sladic

Renzo Moises Angeles Boza

Henry Nguyen

Adnan Ozekcin

Raghavan Ayer

Scott R Clingman

Eric R Grueschow

David A Baker

Chris E Shuchart

Andrey A Troshko

Hyunwoo Jin

Michael T Hecker

Darren F Rosenbaum

Patrick Charles Hyde

Michael J Siegman

Andrew J Elrick

Iain M Macleod

John S Sladic

Stephen Mcnamee

Patrick C Hyde

Robert M Shirley

Christian S Mayer

Timothy K Ellison

Robert F Hodge

Elizabeth L Templeton-Barrett

Peter Olenick

Andy J Veselka

Rodney S Royer

Patrick Hyde

Michael S Chelf

Annabel Green

William Barry Fisher

Petrus A J Stevens

William B Fisher

Arthur H Dybevik

Michael J;c/o Exxonmobil Production Siegman

Michael J c/o Exxonmobil Production Siegman

Petrus Aj Stevens

Renzo M Angeles-Boza

Renzo M Angeles Boza

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

Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules in sand control structures and/or methods of completing the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore, defines a tubular conduit, and includes a fluid-permeable segment. The hydrocarbon wells also include a sand control structure that is positioned within an annular space that extends between the wellbore and the fluid-permeable segment of the downhole tubular. The sand control structure is configured to restrict migration of formation sands from the subsurface region and into the tubular conduit via the fluid-permeable segment and includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. The methods include positioning a downhole tubular within a wellbore and providing a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules to an annular space that extends between the wellbore and a fluid-permeable segment of the downhole tubular.

Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules in sand control structures and methods of completing the hydrocarbon wells

A sand screen assembly offering alternate flow path technology for gravel slurry is provided. The sand screen assembly utilizes transport conduits along an outer diameter of a base pipe for transporting gravel slurry from sand screen to sand screen, thereby providing for a consistent gravel packing along the wellbore. The assembly also includes a unique in-flow control section. The in-flow control section allows the operator to restrict or control the flow of production fluids into the sand screen assembly once a gravel packing operation is completed. Multiple assemblies may be connected using a unique coupling assembly. A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation using the sand screen assembly is also provided herein.

Downhole sand control assembly with flow control and method for completing a wellbore

A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a first base pipe and a second base pipe. Each base pipe comprises a tubular body forming a primary flow path and has transport conduits along an outer diameter for transporting fluids as a secondary flow path. The method also includes connecting the base pipes using a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly has a manifold, and a flow port adjacent the manifold that places the primary flow path in fluid communication with the secondary flow path. The method also includes running the base pipes into the wellbore, and then causing fluid to travel between the primary and secondary flow paths. A wellbore completion apparatus is also provided that allows for control of fluid between the primary and secondary flow paths.

Downhole flow control, joint assembly and method

A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a first base pipe and a second base pipe. Each base pipe comprises a tubular body forming a primary flow path. Each base pipe has transport conduits along an outer diameter for transporting fluids as a secondary flow path. The method also includes connecting the base pipes using a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly has a manifold, and a flow port adjacent the manifold that places the primary flow path in fluid communication with the secondary flow path. The method also includes running the base pipes into the wellbore, and then causing fluid to travel between the primary and secondary flow paths. A sand screen assembly is also provided that allows for control of fluid between primary and secondary flow paths.

Downhole sand control assembly with flow control, and method for completing a wellbore

A wellbore apparatus and method comprising a first wellbore tool having a primary flow path and at least one secondary flow path and a second wellbore tool having a primary flow path and secondary flow path. A radial center of the primary flow path in the first wellbore tool is offset from a radial center of the primary flow path in the second wellbore tool which comprises a crossover joint connecting the first wellbore tool to the second wellbore tool having a primary flow path fluidly connecting the primary flow path of the first wellbore tool to the primary flow path of the second wellbore tool, and at least one secondary flow path fluidly connecting the at least one secondary flow path of the first wellbore tool to the at least one secondary flow path of the second wellbore tool.

Crossover joint for connecting eccentric flow paths to concentric flow paths

A sand control device is used for restricting the flow of particles from a subsurface formation into a tubular body within a wellbore during production operations. The sand control device is divided into compartments along its length that provide redundancy for particle filtration. Each compartment first comprises a base pipe. The base pipe defines an elongated tubular body having a permeable section and an impermeable section within each compartment. Each compartment also comprises a first filtering conduit and a second filtering conduit. The filtering conduits comprise filtering media and generally circumscribe the base pipe. The filtering conduits are arranged so that the first filtering conduit is adjacent to the non-permeable section of the base pipe, while the second filtering conduit is adjacent to the permeable section of the base pipe.

Sand control screen having improved reliability

A method and system for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation including first and second sand screens and intermediate tubular joint for gravel transport and/or gravel packing. The assembly provides transport conduits for carrying gravel slurry and packing conduits for gravel slurry placement. The method also includes running the sand screens and intermediately connected joint assembly into the wellbore, and gravel packing not only in the wellbore annulus behind the sand screens, but also behind the intermediate joint assembly to provide a reserve of packing sand behind the intermediate joint assembly to supplement or repack any annular packing sand in the annulus behind the sand screens that may be lost due to sand screen breach, partial collapse of tubular, or other shifting of the gravel pack sand. A wellbore completion apparatus and system is also provided that allows for placement of such gravel reserve.

Wellbore apparatus and method for sand control using gravel reserve

A completion jointhas two sand control jacketsA-B connected on each end of an intermediately-mounted inflow control device. Both jacketsA-B communicate with a housing chamberthrough dedicated open end-ringsA-B. The basepipe's flow openingsare isolated from this housing chamberby a sleevefitted with flow ports. The housingis removable to allow access to the flow portsfor pinning to configure the portsopen or closed for a given implementation.

Apparatus and methods for well control

A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a sand screen assembly representing one or more joints of sand screen, joint assembly, and packer assembly. The packer assembly has at least one mechanically-set packer with at least one alternate flow channel. The sand screen assembly and joint assembly also each have transport conduits for carrying gravel slurry, and packing conduits for delivering gravel slurry. The method also includes running the sand screen assembly, connected joint assembly and packer assembly into the wellbore, and setting a sealing element of the packer assembly into engagement with the surrounding wellbore. Thereafter, the method includes injecting gravel slurry into the wellbore to form a gravel pack such that a reserve of gravel packing material is placed above the sand screen assembly. A wellbore completion apparatus is also provided that allows for placement of the gravel reserve.

Systems and methods for managing pressures present in an annular space defined between casing strings contained within a subterranean well. These systems and methods may include providing a pressure distribution casing that includes a plurality of pressure distribution passages and distributing fluids present within the annular space along a length of the pressure distribution casing and/or between the annular space and the subterranean formation using a portion of the plurality of pressure distribution passages. Pressure distribution passages may be present on an inner surface of the pressure distribution casing, on an outer surface of the pressure distribution casing, and/or within a wall of the pressure distribution casing and may distribute the fluids along the length of the pressure distribution casing without distributing the fluids across and/or through a wall of the pressure distribution casing, such as between the inner surface and the outer surface of the pressure distribution casing.

Systems and methods for managing pressures in casing annuli of subterranean wells

A tool assembly is provided that includes an actuatable tool such as a valve or a setting tool. And includes a location device that senses the location of the tool assembly within a tubular body based on a physical signature. The tool assembly also includes an on-board controller configured to send an activation signal to the actuatable tool when the location device has recognized a selected location of the tool based on the physical signature. The actuatable tool, the location device, and the on-board controller are together dimensioned and arranged to be deployed in the wellbore as an autonomous unit.

Autonomous downhole conveyance system

A sand control device for restricting flow of particles from a subsurface formation into a tubular body within a wellbore, the device being divided into compartments along its length, each compartment comprises a base pipe. The base pipe defines an elongated tubular body having a permeable section and an impermeable section within each compartment, also comprising a first filtering conduit and a second filtering conduit. The filtering conduits are arranged so that the first filtering conduit is adjacent to the non-permeable section of the base pipe, while the second filtering conduit is adjacent to the permeable section of the base pipe.

Fluid filtering device for a wellbore and method for completing a wellbore

Apparatus and method for completing a wellbore including providing a packer having an inner mandrel, alternate flow channels along the inner mandrel, and a sealing element external to the inner mandrel, including connecting packer to tubular body, then running the packer and connected tubular body into the wellbore. In one aspect, the packer and connected tubular body may be placed along an open-hole portion of the wellbore. Tubular body may be a sand screen, with the sand screen comprising a base pipe, a surrounding filter medium, and alternate flow channels. The method includes setting a packer and injecting a gravel slurry into an annular region formed between the tubular body and the surrounding wellbore, and then further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow the gravel slurry to at least partially bypass sealing element of the packer.

Packer for alternate flow channel gravel packing and method for completing a wellbore

Completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation with packer assembly having first mechanically-set packer as first zonal isolation tool, and second zonal isolation tool comprises internal bore for receiving production fluids, and alternate flow channels. First packer has alternate flow channels around inner mandrel, and sealing element external to inner mandrel and includes operatively connecting packer assembly to a sand screen, and running into wellbore. First packer set by actuating sealing element into engagement with surrounding open-hole portion of the wellbore. Thereafter, injecting a gravel slurry and further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow it to bypass the sealing element, resulting in a gravel packed wellbore within an annular region between sand screen and surrounding formation below packer assembly.

Wellbore apparatus and methods for multi-zone well completion, production and injection

Growing community of inventors

Spring, TX, United States of America

Charles S Yeh