Sand control system and method for controlling sand production

Abstract

A method for controlling sand production in a well drilled in a subterranean formation comprising installing an expandable sand screen assembly in the well. The expandable sand screen assembly comprises an expandable sand screen in an unexpanded configuration. A slurry is pumped down the well and circulated through the annular space defined by the expandable sand screen and the formation. The expandable sand screen is expanded thereby dehydrating the slurry in the annular space.

1 . A method for controlling sand production in a well drilled in a subterranean formation comprising:
 a) installing an expandable sand screen assembly comprising an expandable sand screen in an unexpanded configuration into the well;   b) pumping a slurry down the well;   c) circulating the slurry through an annular space defined by the expandable sand screen and the formation; and   d) expanding the expandable sand screen and thereby dehydrating the slurry in the annular space.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a gravel pack behind the expandable sand screen. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the expandable sand screen is expanded so that the gravel pack is compressed in step d). 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein step d) is performed by displacing an expansion device through the expandable sand screen wherein the expansion device is selected from the group consisting of expansion pigs, mandrels, and cones. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the expandable sand screen assembly further comprises blank sections of pipe, additional sections of expandable sand screens, collapsible centralizers, expansion tools, or external packers. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the well is a long horizontal or deviated well. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein step b) comprises:
 pumping the slurry through a tubular inside the expandable sand screen assembly.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein step b) comprises: pumping the slurry through a crossover tool into the annular space. 
   
   
       9 . A sand control system comprising:
 a well drilled in a formation;   an expandable sand screen installed in the well in an expanded configuration;   an annular space located between the outer surface of the expandable sand screen and the formation; and   a gravel pack located in the annular space;   
     wherein the gravel pack was dehydrated by expanding the expandable sand screen. 
   
   
       10 . The sand control system of  claim 8  wherein the well is a horizontal or deviated well. 
   
   
       11 . A method for producing oil or gas comprising:
 a) drilling a well in a subterranean formation comprising:   b) installing an expandable sand screen assembly comprising an expandable sand screen in an unexpanded configuration into the well;   c) pumping a slurry down the well;   d) circulating the slurry through an annular space defined by the expandable sand screen and the formation;   e) expanding the expandable sand screen thereby dehydrating the slurry in the annular space; and   f) producing oil or gas from the well.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step c) comprises:
 pumping the slurry through a tubular inside the expandable sand screen assembly.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step c) comprises: pumping the slurry through a crossover tool into the annular space.