Drilling method for maintaining productivity while eliminating perforating and gravel packing

Abstract

A method for well construction and completion is disclosed. First, a productive section of a well is drilled in the presence of a fluid system that controls fluid losses, is substantially non-damaging to the formation and includes particles in a particle size distribution sufficient to form a low permeability filter cake on a formation face and to allow the majority of the filter cake particles to flow back into the borehole after well completion. after drilling, a casing includes at least one and preferably a plurality of extendable permeable elements or member is run in the well so that the elements are positioned and aligned with sites in the producing formation and once extended form production conduits between the formation and an interior of the casing. A completed borehole is also disclosed including a casing having production conduits formed from the extendable members or elements.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to a method of drilling and completing a well. [0003] More particularly, this invention relates to a method for placing a means of communication between a productive formation and a well borehole without perforating and gravel packing the well borehole at sites of production. The method also relates to minimizing formation damage caused by conventional drilling, perforating, and gravel packing. The method combines and integrates elements of well drilling and construction with the well completion in a manner to reduce time, improve safety, and maximize productivity. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] The search for oil and gas reserves has taken the industry to remote sites including land, traditional offshore locations, and offshore deepwater. Historically the cost for exploring and developing hydrocarbons has been very high, and as the search for hydrocarbons continues in more re...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The present invention provides a method for drilling and completing a well, where the method

Problems solved by technology

Historically the cost for exploring and developing hydrocarbons has been very high, and as the search for hydrocarbons continues in more remote areas costs are escalating because of the amount of equipment and personnel required in these areas.

Formation damage can negatively affect productivity of the resulting wells.

These unconsolidated formations may produce sand particles and other debris which can cause well bore and surface facility problems as well as negatively affecting the productivity of the well.

This is a costly, time-consuming process.

There have been instances where leaks have caused perforating guns to low order detonate resulting in no or poor perforating performance and expensive fishing operations to remove the damaged perforating gun bodies.

Also, gravel pack screens have failed during the high-pressure pumping operation causing additional fishing operations or worse the damage isn't discover until the well is placed on production necessitating a workover of the well.

Formation damage is also a problem during conventional well construction and completion.

Another source of formation damage is the shaped charges or explosives used in perforating.

This causes crushing of the formation matrix reducing the permeability and flow potential of the formation.

Additional damage can come from the polymer gels used for controlling fluid losses after formation perforation.

However, most mud weighting mate

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