The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 1991
Filed:
May. 04, 1990
Holley M Cornette, Plano, TX (US);
Jean M Weingarten, Frisco, TX (US);
Atlantic Richfield Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for gravel-packing a formation which is especially useful in completing long production or injection zones and zones lying in deviated or horizontal boreholes wherein a gravel-pack tool is lowered to position a perforated liner adjacent the formation thereby forming an annulus between the liner and the formation. A gravel slurry is flowed down the borehole and is directed into a spiral flowpath by a distributor, e.g. helically-shaped vanes, on the tool as the slurry enters the annulus at the top of the liner. The spiraling of the slurry around the substantially-horizontal liner aids in directing gravel into production perforations if the well is cased and overcomes some of the gravitational effects on the settling of the gravel thereby providing a more uniform and efficient gravel pack around the liner.