Abstract
ABSTRACT Prepacked screens (gravel pack screens fabricated with gravel pack sand incorporated into the device) are being used more frequently in gravel packed completions. Many types of prepacked screens are available, but little comparative data has been published. This paper is a comparative study of prepacked screen types. Included in the study are standard gravel pack screen, prepacked screens with two different configurations of pipe and wire jackets, and the more recently developed prepacked screens for restricted casing diameters. The prepack screens were tested with consolidated and unconsolidated gravel pack sands. The plugging potential, the blast resistance, and sand control capabilities of prepacked screens are presented. A 20 in. (500 mm) test cell of 7" (178 mm) casing was fitted such that an air or water sand blasting unit could be used to direct blasting sand at the test screens. The tests indicate prepacks with a thin layer of consolidated gravel pack sand can provide insurance against a gravel pack failure should voids occur in the gravel pack. Also, testing indicates little pressure loss will occur through a prepacked screen during production. The prepacks exhibit good resistance to plugging for particle diameters less than 38 microns. Therefore, current filtration practices employed for gravel pack completions are adequate for prepacked screen applications.
Published Version
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