Design of Gravel Packs in Deviated Wellbores

C. Gruesbeck, Exxon Production Research Co.

W. M. Salathiel, SPE-AIME, Exxon Production Research Co.
E. E. Echols, Exxon Production Research Co.

Introduction
Sand production from unconsolidated formations long
has been a source of completion problems. Millions of
dollars are spent throughout the world each year to
achieve effective sand-control measures. Millions more
are spent each year to remedy many originally successful
procedures that fail before the reservoir is depleted. Max-
imum reliability of initial sand-control practices is essen-
tial, therefore, particularly offshore and in remote loca-
tions where operating costs are high.
The most widely used sand-control technique involves
placing a screen in the wellbore and packing gravel
around it. The screen is sized to retain the gravel and the
gravel, in turn, is sized to retain the formation sand. This
technique has proven effective, especially when forma-
tion properties allow open-hole completions. In spite of
this success, many gravel-packing procedures have less
than desirable effectiveness because of unstable or in-
complete placement of gravel around the screen. This is
particularly true when the wellbores are deviated. As a
result, there is considerable incentive to develop gravel-
packing techniques that have both high initial success
ratio and the ability to provide sand-free production for
sustained periods of time.
Gravel packs in deviated wellbores need special design
considerations. Recent gravel-packing studies! have
shown that the wellbore angle has a dramatic effect on
gravel placement - high angles can lead to unstable,
incomplete gravel packs. In spite of the need to know the
0149-2136/79/0001-6805$00.25
© 1979 Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME
factors that control gravel placement in deviated well-
bores, little has been published on the relationship be-
tween the fluid mechanics of gravel packing and the final
distribution of gravel in deviated well bores . This is a
serious limitation because high-angle wells can be gravel
packed effectively when the design conditions are
selected correctly.
Observations made while gravel packing a small-scale
laboratory wellbore model are discussed in this paper.
Then, the process by which gravel is transported in de-
viated wells is described. Finally, the development of a
new design technique is reported that can be used to
predict whether a set of design conditions can lead to a
complete gravel pack that fills the entire well bore-screen
annulus, or to an unstable, incomplete gravel pack that
leaves voids in the annulus.
Gravel-Packing Apparatus
The dynamics of gravel transport in deviated wellbores
can be studied most effectively when the process can be
visualized. The experiments described here were con-
ducted in two transparent Lucite@ well bore models: a
small-scale, 3-in. (7.62-cm)-ID model that was 10 ft
(3.05 m) long, and a full-scale, 51fz-in. (13.9-cm)-ID
model that was 20 ft (6.09 m) long. Fig. 1 shows the
details of the small-scale model. A 1.9-in. (4.83-cm)-OD
wire-wrapped screen with 0.012-in. (0.305-mm) slots
was centered inside the Lucite tube. A stainless-steel tube
with liz-in. (1.27-cm) OD was placed inside the screen to
simulate the tailpipe . The entire model could be inclined

This paper describes a new technique for improving the effectiveness of gravel placement
between the screen and the wellbore in deviated wells. This technique can be used to predict
whether a set ofdesign conditions leads to a complete gravel pack that fills the entire annulus of
a wellbore, or to an unstable, incomplete gravel pack that leaves voids in the annulus. The
design procedure was used to gravel pack several high-angle wells successfully.

JANUARY 1979 109

to simulate gravel-packing deviated wells.
During one experiment, the gravel slurry entered the
model through the inlet ports, then the fluid descended to
the bottom of the model, entered the screen, and as-
cended inside the tailpipe. Fig. 2 is a flow diagram
showing the auxilIary equipment used during gravel
packing. At the end of each experiment, the Lucite col-
umn was vibrated to settle the gravel to its maximum
packed density and the gravel-packing efficiency was
determined for each run from the ratio of the bulk volume
of the gravel at its maximum pack density to the volume
ofthe Lucite wellbore.
The Deviated-Well Gravel-Packing Problem
The well bore angle has a dramatic effect on the way
gravel fills a wellbore. When the wellbore is inclined less
than 45° and a tailpipe is lowered all the way to the bottom
inside a screen, gravel carried by low-viscosity fluids mls
the well bore from the bottom up. By contrast, when the
well bore is deviated 45° or more, incomplete gravel
packs result because gravel carried with either low- or
high-viscosity fluids bridges in the casing, unless the
gravel-pack design variables are properly selected.
During gravel placement in high-angle well bores (Fig.
3), a gravel dune forms near the inlet of the well bore. The
height of the gravel dune increases until the fluid velocity
in the open channel is high enough to transport gravel
INLETS
WIRE
WRAPpm
SCREEN
TAILPIPE SCREEN DETAIL
(0.012" SLOTS)
10 FT.
SECTION A - A
~H--0.5" TAILPIPE
t----H<-1.9" SCREEN
f--~-~-3.O" WELLBORE
Fig. 1-Transparent wellbore model.
Fig. 2-Gravel-packing apparatus.
110
over the dune and deposit it farther toward the bottom of
the wellbore. As the height of the dune increases and as
the dune continues to descend through the wellbore, the
pressure gradient ofthe gravel slurry over the bank may
become high enough to force the gravel-carrying fluid
into the upper portion of the screen. When fluid escapes
to the screen, the velocity of the fluid in the open channel
over the gravel bank decreases, gravel is deposited, and
the channel is bridged off completel y. Gravel then can be
deposited only upstream of the bridge, leaving the lower
portion of the screen exposed and resulting in an incom-
plete gravel pack. This process is illustrated by the data in
Fig. 4; here, the effect of wellbore angle on gravel-
packing efficiency (percent of full pack) in the 10-ft
(3.05-m) Lucite model is shown. These tests were con-
ducted using both tap water and then a 100-cp (l00
cPa's) fluid to carry 20/40 mesh gravel. The effects of
gravel concentration, fluid and solid properties, flow
rate, and resistance to fluid flow in the tailpipe annulus
were evaluated. This revealed that packing efficiency in
deviated wellbores increases with (1) lower gravel con-
centration, (2) decreasing particle diameter, (3) decreas-
ing particle density, (4) higher fluid density, (5) higher
flow rate, and (6) increasing resistance to fluid flow in the
tailpipe annulus.
High Flow Resistance in Tailpipe Annulus
Aids Gravel Placement
The most important variable when gravel packing in-
clined well bores is the resistance to fluid flow in the
tailpipe-screen annulus. During gravel placement, a high
flow resistance inside the tailpipe annulus prevents all the
fluid from escaping into the screen until the gravel is
transported over the equilibrium bank to the bottom of the
wellbore.
The fluid flow inside the screen-tailpipe annulus can be
diverted by placing a tight bladder seal inside the screen,
or by placing deformable baffles spaced at regular inter-
vals along the tailpipe.! The closely spaced baffles dis-
tribute the flow of fluid between the tailpipe-screen an-
nulus and over the gravel bank; this allows a stabilized
bank to propagate all the way to the bottom of the
wellbore. Baffle spacing and stiffness are critical for
successful gravel packing using this approach. If the
baffles are spaced too far apart, a gravel bridge can
form and an incomplete gravel pack will result. On the
other hand, if the baffles are spaced too closely or are
too stiff, excessive pressures can develop. This may
result in loss of circulation of the carrying fluid and
bridging of the gravel in the wellbore.
ESCAPING INTO SCREEN
Fig. 3-Formation of a gravel dune during gravel packing of
inclined wells.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
 A new technique to improve the effectiveness of gravel
packing involves increasing the resistance to fluid flow in
the screen annulus by using a large-diameter tailpipe
inside the screen. 2 The diameter of the tailpipe needed to
gravel pack deviated well bores depends on the wellbore
geometry, the properties of the fluid and solids, and the
flow rate. Our tests show that even horizontal wellbores
can be gravel packed efficientl y by this simple procedure,
if the proper design considerations are followed.
Fig. S shows the results of some of these tests con-
ducted in the 1O-ft (3.0S-m)-long model. In these exper-
iments, the wellbore was horizontal and 20/40 mesh
gravel was packed with tap water at an initial annular
velocity of I ftlsec or 13.2 gal/min (30.S cm/s or 0.833
dm3/s). As shown by these data, the gravel-packing effi-
ciency increases dramatically when the ratio of tailpipe
diameter to the inside diameter of the screen increases
beyond 0.6. These results suggest that a general design
criterion can be established to select the tailpipe diameter
needed to gravel pack full-scale, deviated wellbores.
To do this, a mathematical model of the gravel-
placement process was developed. But before discussing
how the mathematical model can be used to design a
gravel pack, we need to review the gravel-transporting
process. This discussion will give a more unified picture
of the gravel-packing problem.
Gravel-Transporting Process
When particles are carried by a nonsuspending fluid
through the annulus of a wellbore inclined more than 4So,
the solids settle in the annulus and form a dune. The dune
restricts the area open to flow and increases the velocity
of the slurry in the open channel above the dune. If the
total flow rate is constant, the fluid transported over the
particle bank eventually reaches a velocity that prevents
the dune height from increasing and net deposition of
solids in the bank stops. The result is a state of dynamic
equilibrium between deposition and suspension of
100.--------------------------------.
III
CASING LENGTH = 10'
CASING ID =3.0"
SCREEN 10 = to"
TAILPIPE 00= 0.5"
GRAVEL: 2D/4D U S MESH
0-100 CP, 12 LB/GAL 2.64 GALIMIN
2D
0- 1 CP, 0.5 LB/GAL, 13.2 GAL/MIN
o 0
2D 4D 60 III 100
WELLBORE ANGLE
(DEGREES FROM VERTICAL)
Fig. 4-Effect of wellbore angle on gravel-packing efficiency.
JANUARY 1979
particles.
The equilibrium velocity is the average slurry velocity
required to transport the particles along the top of the
equilibrium bank. This velocity is sufficient to prevent
'longitudinal concentration gradients, but not necessarily
large enough to prevent a concentration gradient perpen-
dicular to the direction of flow. In fact, the particle
distribution above the stabilized bank consists of two
distinct zones. The first zone above the stabilized bank is
a narrow layer of closely grouped particles that jump and
slide along the top of the stationary bank. The second
zone is a sparsely populated region in which the particle
concentration gradually decreases to zero with increasing
distance from the stabilized bank.
If a flowing system is operating at equilibrium condi-
tions and the flow rate increases, the equilibrium bank
height will decrease and a new eqUilibrium state will be
established. If the flow rate is increased sufficiently, the
stationary bed may be eliminated completely. The parti-
cles in the upper part of the annulus then will be sus-
pended completely, while a bed of solids slides along the
bottom part of the annulus at a uniform rate. Subsequent
increases in flow rate eventually result in complete dis-
persion of the particles. The concentration of the particles
then approaches a uniform value throughout the height of
the annulus.
The final amount of gravel that can be placed in a
deviated wellbore depends on the height of the equilib-
rium bank formed under the chosen design coriditions. If
the equilibrium bank height is less than the inside diame-
ter of the casing, gravel can be transported over the bank
through the upper flow channel and deposited farther
toward the bottom of the wellbore. This process con-
tinues until the equilibrium gravel bank reaches the bot-
tom of the wellbore. When the eqUilibrium bank extends
all the way to the bottom of the wellbore, the gravel-
carrying fluid enters the screen-tailpipe annulus and
gravel is deposited in the open channel from the bottom of
100
HORIZONTAL WB.LBORE
CASING LENGTH = 10'
~
::I
.. CASING 10 = 3"
SCREEN 10 = to"
FlOWRATE = 13.2 GAL/MIN
FLUID = TAPWATER
~
...
CI
GRAVEL=2D/4D U S MESH
i 60
~
~
4D
~
!5
c:I
z
!iii! 1.0 LB. GRAVEVGAL.
u
If
0 0.8 1.0
RATIO - OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF TAILPIPE
INSIDE DIAMETER OF SCREEN
Fig. 5-Effect of tailpipe diameter on gravel-packing efficiency.
III
the well bore upward until the entire wellbore annulus is
fIlled with gravel.
Complete filling of the wellbore in deviated wellbores
can be accomplished only if (1) the rate of fluid loss is
small, and (2) the pressure gradient in the tailpipe annulus
is sufficient to force enough fluid to flow in the casing
screen annulus to build an equilibrium bank. The bank
must have an open channel at the top through which
gravel can be transported all the way to the bottom of the
wellbore.
If the rate of fluid loss is excessive, or if the pressure
gradient in the tailpipe annulus is not sufficient, the
equilibrium gravel bank will be equal to the diameter of
the casing, the gravel will form a bridge, and an incom-
plete gravel pack will result.
Fig. 6 is an idealized representation of an equilibrium
gravel bank descending in a deviated wellbore. In this
figure, the carrying fluid flows in three paths: into the
formation, over the equilibrium bank, and through the
annulus between the screen and the tailpipe. The height
of the equilibrium gravel bank increases with increasing
distance into the annulus, because fluid is lost from the
wellbore to the formation. A formal mathematical de-
scription of the dynamics of bank formation and propaga-
tion can be obtained by solving a system of unsteady-
state, two-phase mass and momentum balances over the
three regions where the fluid and gravel flow. However, a
much simpler approach is available.
Development of the Mathematical Model
The necessary condition for the propagation of an
equilibrium bank is that the maximum height of the bank
be less than the inside diameter of the casing. The equilib-
rium bank is highest just before it reaches the bottom of
the wellbore. At this stage, the fluid flows in two parallel
paths: over the equilibrium bank and through the tailpipe
annulus. Because the flow paths are parallel and the flow
resistance between them is negligible, the pressure gra-
dients are about equal:
(t;; t = (t;; t· ...................... (1)
The pressure gradient in the slurry flowing over the
equilibrium bank is greater than the pressure gradient
would be in an equal volume of solids-free fluid flowing
over the bank. This increment in pressure gradient result-
ing from the presence of solids is a measure of the energy
required to transport the particles over the equilibrium
bank. Eq. 1 thus can be written as
\~
~
.•. . va
....A . . . . . . . . . .B•. . •AN
.. K
O~~4tIJ4t
ttJIJllllIl&··
1ti;,,"'"
114.t..-
Fig. 6-Equilibrium gravel bank formed in a deviated wellbore.
112
2
2f*v*2p + tfJ = 2/tpv tp P. . ................. (2)
gcrH* gcrHtp
The first term is the contribution made by the particle-free
fluid to the pressure gradient in the open channel over the
equilibrium bank. tfJ is the increment reSUlting from the
presence of suspended particles. The channel over the
equilibrium bank has a hydraulic radius, rHO. The fluid
has a velocity, v., equal to the equilibrium velocity of the
particle slurry. The right side of the equation is the
pressure gradient of the fluid in the screen-tailpipe an-
nulus, where the fluid has a density, p, velocity, vtp , and
flows through an annulus of hydraulic radius, rHtp'
The friction factors,J. and/tp, in Eq. 2 are functions of
the local Reynolds number and can be obtained from
appropriate data onfvs Reynolds number. 3 For example,
when the Reynolds number is between 2,000 and 105 , as
is usually the case when gravel packing with nonsuspend-
ing fluids,
f.=0.0791/(rH~*p t 25
, •.•.•..••.••••• (3)
/tp = 0.0791 l(rHtp;tpp t 25
• •.•...•....••.• (4)
To predict the equilibrium bank height, we also require
material balances on fluid and gravel, and considerations
of geometry .
The steady-state mass balances for the carrying fluid
and the gravel are
(l-C;) pq; - (l-C.)pq* - pqLs - P qtp = 0,
................................ (5)
and
C;q; - C.q* = 0, ......................... (6)
where q;, q., qtP, and qLs refer to the initial volumetric
flow rate, the volumetric flow rate over the equilibrium
bank, the volumetric rate in the tailpipe annulus, and the
volumetric rate of fluid loss to the formation. Ci and C.
are the initial and equilibrium particle concentrations.
Expressions now can be established for the hydraulic
radii in the respective channels by considering the
geometry of the system as follows. The area of the open
channel above the equilibrium bank can be related to the
equilibrium velocity and the equilibrium flow rate by
A. - !l.i = O.................... (7)
v.
Likewise, the flow rate and velocity of the tailpipe an-
nul us are related by the area of the annulus as
VtP - qtp = O. . .................. (8)
AlP
The hydraulic radius ofthe open channel, rH', is a func-
tion of the area of the open channel, the outside diameter
of the screen, the well bore diameter, and the location of
the screen inside the wellbore. For a concentric screen,
we can write
rHO - F(A., ds, d w ) = O.................... (9)
Eqs. 2 through 9 contain 10 unknown variables (h, v.'
rH', tfJ,/tp, Vtp, q., qtp, C., and A.). All other terms are
known design parameters.
The solution to the system ofEqs. 2 through 9 becomes
unique if we establish two additional relationships relat-
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
ing v *' the slurry equilibrium velocity, and t/J, the incre-
mental pressure gradient caused by the solids in the
flowing particle slurry, to the properties of the system.
These relationships were established experimentally as a
function of the properties of the solid and fluid, the
well bore geometry, and the angle of inclination of the
wellbore. Then, the system of simultaneous equations
thus constructed was solved by Newton-Raphson itera-
tion. The solution provides the dimensions of an equilib-
rium gravel bank, given the initial design conditions.
Before reporting the predictions of the mathematical
model, we discuss in detail the equipment and experi-
ments performed to relate the equilibrium velocity and
the incremental pressure gradient to the properties of
the system.
Gravel-Transporting Apparatus
The experiments to determine the equilibrium velocity
. and the pressure gradient of particle slurries were con-
ducted in the apparatus shown in Fig. 7, a 5 1h-in.
(13.9-cm)-ID Lucite tube 10 ft(3.05 m) long (to simulate
the casing). A l1,4-in. (3.l8-cm)-OD pipe was centered
inside the outer tube to simulate a screen without fluid
loss. The bottom ofthe Lucite outer tube was fitted with a
strip of water-resistant, coarse sandpaper to simulate the
rough wall of a field casing.
Each experiment began by adjusting the slurry pump
and the by-pass valves to deliver the desired flow rate to
the model and by turning on the stirrer to disperse the
gravel particles in the fluid. When the particles were
carried through the model, they settled in a bank until
they reached an equilibrium height. The particle bank
decreased the cross-sectional area open to flow, and the
slurry velocity in the model increased. Equilibrium was
reached when the rate of particle pickup caused by the
increased velocity was equal to the rate of settling. The
equilibrium velocity was determined by measuring the
equilibrium particle bank height (and thus the cross-
sectional area open to flow) with a cathetometer and by
determining the instantaneous particle concentration and
slurry flow rate. The pressure decrease in the slurry was
measured with a pressure transducer.
frictional, and buoyant forces that act on the particle as it
is transported over the equilibrium bank. Four dimen-
sionless groups that include these forces are (1) the
Reynolds number based on the open channel above the
equilibrium bank, (2) the Reynolds number based on the
particle diameter, (3) a dimensionless density difference
between the particle and the fluid, and (4) the particle
concentration. Fig. 8 shows a least-squares fit of the
critical velocity and these dimensionless groups for hori-
zontal transport of particles. The data are correlated with
a standard deviation of 0.5 ftlsec (15 cm/s).
The equilibrium velocity decreases with decreasing
inclination, until an angle is reached at which the parti-
cles will roll down an inclined particle bank. At this
angle, the equilibrium velocity is zero. The angle at
which the equilibrium velocity is zero depends on the
effective weight of the particles in the fluid and the
angularity of the particles. Here, the angle at which the
equilibrium velocity vanished varied between 45° and 55°
from the vertical.
Slurry Pressure Gradient
The pressure gradient of the particle slurry flowing over
the equilibrium bank is greater than the pressure gradient
of an equal volume of solids-free fluid flowing over the
bank. The difference in pressure gradient is a measure of
Fig. 7-Particle transport apparatus.
6.0

Summary of Systems Studied cJ

UoI
en 5.0

.••..-•••
The gravel-carrying fluids studied were brines with a
density range of 8.33 to 14.6 lblgal (998.2 to 1749.5 ~
kg/m3 ); their viscosities ranged from 1 to 100 cp (l to 100 ~ •
... 4.0
• •
c.J
cPa· s). A polymer (polyvinylpyrrolidone) was used to Q
UoI
increase viscosity. All fluids were essentially New- >
tonian. The particles used included Brady sand, Ottawa :&
sand, and sintered bauxite particles, representing a =
cc
3.0
11:1
specific gravity range of 2.6 to 3.72. Five particle sizes ;!
were studied: 40/60, 20/40, 15/18, 10/20, and 6/9 =
fa 2.0
meshes. The particle loading varied from 0.2 to 10 lblgal
(24 to 239.7 kg/m3 ) of fluid.
Q
UoI •
>
ffi
en 1.0
Equilibrium Velocity 11:1
Q
We seldom can predict with any confidence the flow
characteristics and pressure gradients of solid-liquid slur-
6.0
ries. Both theoretical and experimental work have been
reported in the literature,4-8 but these references do not
deal with the conditions that exist during gravel packing.
The equilibrium velocity depends on the particle con-
= 15 *J.I
v, [ rH v, P
39
t
CALCULATED EQUILIBRIUM VELOCITY

[d p;, rO.73 [Pp;

p P t17 [ C*f14
centration as well as the viscous, inertial, gravitational, Fig. a-Equilibrium velocity over horizontal particle banks.

JANUARY 1979 ll3

 the energy required to transport the solid particles. Fig. 9
is a plot of this difference for horizontal particle trans-
port. In the range of variables encountered in gravel
packing, the difference in pressure gradient between the
particle slurry and an equal volume of fluid flowing over
the equilibrium particle bank is a linear function of the
product of the particle volume concentration, and the
dimensionless density difference between the particles
and the fluid. This conclusion is in general agreement
!1':ll?Lq!~ with the work ofNewittetal. 6 The correlation is valid for
i~M~i~ particle slurries carried in fluids with viscosities up to 6 cp
Lb ab (6 cPa' s), and it represents an upper limit for fluids with
~ Lri greater viscosities. The incremental pressure gradient of
I
:colOcoiq
! a particle sl urry caused by the presence of solids is also a
function of the angle of inclination of the wellbore.
!~M~:V
Predictions Veritied in Full-Scale Model
To verify the predictions of the mathematical model, we
gravel packed a full-scale, 20-ft (6.09-m)-long Lucite
well bore model with a 5th-in. (13.9 cm) ID, containing a
27's-in. (7.3-cm) wire-wrapped screen. The tests con-
firmed the predictions ofthe model.
Table 1 compares calculated results with experimental
results for six high-angle gravel packs. The first gravel
pack was performed with the model deviated 70°. The
~ 20/40 mesh gravel was carried with tap water at 0.95
~
w
bbIlmin (2.517 mm 3 /s). A tailpipe with a 1. 66-in. OD
a:: (4.22-cm) was used inside the 27's-in. (7.3-cm) screen.
,.......-M C\J
...I
W !wa:ir-:!cri The predicted height of the equilibrium gravel bank for
o C\JM C\J
these design conditions is 5V2 in. (13.9 cm). This is equal
o
:! to the inside diameter of the casing; thus, for these design
w conditions, the mathematical model correctly predicted
...I
c(
o that gravel would bridge in the casing and that an incom-
~ plete gravel pack would result. The gravel bridged in the
...I
...I
:::I
casing when only half the casing annulus was filled with
IL gravel.
! Runs 2 and 3 resulted in a 93% packing efficiency
W
...I (percent of full pack) because two important variables
m were changed. In Run 2, the gravel pack was again
c(
I- performed with tap water at 0.95 bbllrnin (2.517 mm3 /s) ,

30.0,----------------,
•
I-
u. 25.0
N-- •
l-
~ •
(f)
or ••
~ ,"'co
>'~I •
...J
0) MMOOMM 2D.o
C. (f) Ol MMC\JIt)MM
e fii:o
a..
ex) cO ~ -=
cO a:i N
"-
*
0:::::'- -- 'r" >* ~ •
"0
'3 -* C>
u
15.0 •
u:: O)~
N
•
-c: I
a:. ·E
t1l It) It) M It) 0 (0
o)O)COO)C\JO) ::;:
~:i5 0000"':0
-u.~
.0
~
"'-'----'
•

-@,~EO
c:Ol~t
«0)-0)
~
jl
>/
0 0 0 0 ~~
""'''''''''''0)(0(0
.,..

c:
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
~1"'-C\JM~It)(O epp-p)c*
Fig. 9-Pressure gradient due to particles in a slurry over a
horizontal equilibrium bank.

114 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

but a tailpipe with a 1.9-in. (4.83-cm) OD was used. In
Run 3, a 1. 66-in. (4.22 cm)-OD tailpipe was used, but
the carrying fluid was a calcium bromide brine with a
density of 14.2Ib/gal (1701.5 kg/m 3 ).
Run 4 is a gravel pack conducted in a horizontal well-
bore. Calcium chloride brine with a density of 11.51b/gal
(1378 kg/m 3) carried the gravel at a rate of 0.95 bbIlmin
(2.517 mm3/s). The gravel pack was successfully com-
pleted when a tailpipeofl.9-in. (4. 83-cm)-OD was used.
Runs 5 and 6 were performed at an inclination of 64°,
using 6/9 mesh gravel carried with tap water at a gravel
content ofO.51b/gal (59.9 kg/m3). Increasing the outside
diameter of the tailpipe from 1.05 to 1.66 in. (2.67 to
4.22 cm) increased the gravel-packing efficiency from 55
to 93%. These examples clearly demonstrate that high-
angle wells can be gravel packed effectively when the
design conditions are selected correctly.
Conclusions
Gravel placement in deviated well bores requires special
design considerations. High angles can lead to unstable,
incomplete packs unless the proper design conditions are
selected for gravel placement. Design conditions that
lead to complete filling of a deviated well bore may be
determined using two experimental relationships relating
v.' the equilibrium velocity, and 1/1, the incremental pres-
sure gradient caused by the solids in the flowing particle
slurry, to the properties of the system. The first relation-
ship is the slurry velocity necessary to prevent particle
deposition in the annular space between the screen and
the casing, while the second one is a measure of the
energy required to transport solid particles over the
equilibrium bank of particles in the casing.
Experimental relationships for the equilibrium veloc-
ity and the pressure gradient of particle slurries were
combined with steady-state mass and momentum bal-
ances to develop a mathematical model of the gravel-
placement process. The predictions of the model were
verified in full-scale gravel-packing studies.
Twenty deviated wellbores with angles of deviation
from 45° through 62° and with lengths ranging from 40 to
240 ft (12.2 to 73.2 m) have been gravel packed using the
techniques developed here. Evidence from the amount of
gravel placed in these wells indicates that essentially
100% fill has been achieved in all cases.
Nomenclature
A = area, sq ft (m2)
C = particle volume concentration, cu ft/cu ft
(m3 /m3 )
d = diameter, ft (m)
f = friction factor, dimensionless
F = function
gc = conversion factor,
32.17 Ibm ~
Ibf sec 2
JANUARY 1979
L = length, ft (m)
ap = pressure difference, Ibf/sq ft (kPa)
ap = pressure gradient, Ibf/sq ft/ft (kPa/m)
L
q = fluid volumetric flow rate, cu ft/sec (m3/s)
rH = hydraulic radius, ft (m) = 4 x ar~a
wetted penmeter
v = velocity, ftlsec (m/s)
Vs = settling velocity of particle in infinite dilution
(J = angle of deviation from vertical, degrees
J.L = fluid viscosity, Ibm/ft-sec (Pa' s)
p = fluid density, Ibm/cu ft (kg/m3)
1/1 = difference in pressure gradient between a slurry
and an equal volume of fluid flowing under
otherwise identical conditions, lbf/sq ft/ft
(kPa/m)
Subscripts
i = initial conditions
* = equilibrium conditions
Ls = fluid loss to formation
M = property of slurry
p = property of solid particle
s = screen diameter
tp = annular region between screen and tailpipe
w = wellbore diameter
Acknowledgment
We thank the management of Exxon Production Re-
search Co. for permission to publish this paper.
References
1. Maly, G. P., Robinson, J. P., and Laurie, A. M.: "New Gravel
Pack Tool for Improving Pack Placement," J. Pet. Tech. (Jan.
1974) 19-24.
2. Gruesbeck, C., Salathiel, W. M., Muecke, T. W., and Cooke,
C. E.: "Method and Apparatus for Gravel Packing Wells," U.S.
Patent No. 4,046,198 (Sept. 6,1977).
3. Bird, R. B., Stewart, W. E., and Lightfoot, E. N.: Transport
Phenomena, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City (1960).
4. Thomas, D. G.: "Transport Characteristics of Suspensions: Part IV
- Minimum Transport Velocity for Large Particle Size Suspen-
sions in Round Horizontal Pipes." AIChE Jour. ()962) 8, No.3,
373.
5. Sinclair, C. G.: "The Limit Deposit-Velocity of Heterogenous
Suspensions," paper presented at the Third Congress of the Euro-
pean Federation of Chemical Engineering, London, June 20-29,
1962.
6. Durand, R.: "Basic Relationships of the Transportation of Solids in
Pipes - Experimental Research Convention," Proc., ASCE, U. of
Minnesota, Minneapolis (1953) 89.
7. Newitt, D. M., Richardson, J. F., Abbott, M., and Turtle, R. B.:
"Hydraulic Conveying of Solids in Horizontal Pipes," Trans., ICE
(1955) 33,93.
8. Turian, R. M. and Tran-Fu, Y.: "Flow of Slurries in Pipelines,"
AIChE Jour. (May 1977) 23, No.3, 232. JPT
Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum Engineers office Sept. 20, 1977.
Paper accepted for publication July 11, 1978. Revised manuscript received Oct. 11,
1978. Paper (SPE 6805) first presented at the SPE-AIME 52nd Annual Fall Technical
Conference and ExhiMion, held in Denver, Oct. 9-12, 1977.
115