DIRECT PAK Ultra Screen System Successfully ... - Baker Hughes

Case History
DIRECT PAK Ultra Screen System Successfully
Deployed for Cased-Hole Completion
Completed gravel-pack operation in Equatorial Guinea
Benefits
• Bypass of premature bridging
• Complete gravel pack around screen
• Remaining gravel transported to
unpacked areas
Background and challenges
• Equatorial Guinea, West Africa
• Highly deviated well
• Avoiding premature bridging
Baker Hughes solution and results
• DIRECT PAK ultra multi-path
screen technology system pumped
with radioactive tracers
• Successful transport of gravel pack
along entire interval length as
depicted in the gamma ray log of
the radioactive tracers
In a cased-hole operation in
Equatorial Guinea, Africa, an
operator sought to deploy a gravelpack
operation in a highly deviated
well while avoiding any premature
bridging. Such premature bridging
can leave voids throughout
the gravel pack. These voids in
downhole assemblies can lead
to formation production, fines
migration, formation collapse and
other destructive events.
Baker Hughes recommended using
the DIRECT PAK ultra multi-path
screen technology system. The
DIRECT PAK ultra screen technology
requires tubes located on the
outside diameter of the screen
to allow bypass of premature
bridging to ensure a complete
gravel pack around the screen. If
premature bridging were to occur,
the remaining gravel would be
transported to areas in the zone
that remained unpacked.
Lower zone tracer log

Pumped with radioactive tracers, the final
annular pack was measured to determine if a
100% pack occurred. Different radioactive tracers
were used during each stage of the gravel pack.
Tracers were put into early stages and placed
deepest into the wellbore and perforations,
followed by the next tracer type. If the tubes
engaged, the tracers located voids and
indicated bypass.
The job was completed, pumping approximately
7,500 lb (3402 kg) of proppant into the
perforations and around the screen. After
reviewing the pumping schedule, the pump
rate remained around 5 bbl/min (0.002 m 3 /s),
ideal for pumping through the bypass tubes.
There were also pressure increases present
during the schedule. Both of these events
indicated that premature bridging could have
occurred, and the gravel was diverted into the
tubes to pack the remainder of the job.
Pressure (psi)
4,500
3,600
2,700
1,800
900
0
0
CHGP versus Time
15
12
9
6
3
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time (min)
Tubing P Annulus P Rate Actual ppa DH ppa
Rate (BPM)/Density (PPA)
The gravel was successfully transported
throughout the entire interval length using
the DIRECT PAK ultra screen technology.
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