Foam Gravel Packing

Abstract

ABSTRACT Foam gravel packing experiments run in a full-scale model wellbore demonstrated that foam is a viable alternative to conventional carrier fluids such as water and viscous polymer solutions in select instances. Because of its special characteristics, foam may have advantages over these fluids in completions where low pressure or sensitive formations are encountered. Results from experiments were used to design and implement gravel pack completions in nine shallow, low pressure wells in California. Other wells in the area had a history of lost circulation and washouts during drilling and completion operations using conventional fluids. The foam gravel packs suffered no loss of circulation during placement and proved to be less costly than the conventional slurry packs used in the past.