Factors Affecting Horizontal Well Gravel-Pack Efficiency

Abstract

Abstract Four major factors affecting horizontal well gravel pack were studied using a 3-D simulator developed for horizontal well gravel packing. The factors include settling effect, gravel concentration, injection rate, and carrier fluid viscosity. The gravel pack process was simulated and the effectiveness and pack efficiency of the gravel pack job is determined using the simulator. The effect of carrier fluid viscosity on gravel-pack efficiency was studied by varying the viscosity between 1 and 51 cp, injection rate between 1 and 4 barrel per minute, and gravel concentration between 0.50 and 4.0 pound mass per gallon. These three factors affect the settling factor of the gravel as it enters the horizontal section which subsequently affects the pack effciciency of the gravel pack process.