Method of Supporting a Subterranean Conduit

Abstract

A method and apparatus for consolidating a formation penetrated by a wellbore utilize radial stress. The radial stress is created by loading the wellbore, wellbore casing or production pipe with preferably round, dense bead like materials. The shape and density of the bead like material transfers the axial direction of stress created by the vertical height of the bead like materials to a radial direction. The radial stress can also be generated by inflating an inflatable device. The radially directed stress can compact the geologic formation. This can include compaction of loose sand which otherwise may enter the production flow of hydrocarbon. The bead like materials can also support the wellbore casing or production piping from point loading. This can include point loading created by the movement of salt or other subterranean formations. The bead like materials can include barite, hematite, iron oxide, ilmenite, metal, alloy and combinations thereof.

1 . A method of providing support to a subterranean wellbore structure comprising
 a) placing bead material into the wellbore structure;   b) extending the volume of bead material to a selected height within the wellbore structure;   c) swelling the size of one or more of beads comprising the bead material;   d) generating a radial force from the swelling of the size of the beads; and   e) supporting the wellbore structure with the radial force.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising swellable beads and swelling the size of one or more beads by exposing the swellable beads to an activating fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  comprising swelling the size of one or more beads wherein the swellable beads comprise at least one of the following: rubber, crumb rubber, crumb tire rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber (EPT), butyl rubber, brominated butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, neoprene rubber, styrenen butadiene copolymer rubber (SBR), sulphonateed polyethylene, ethylene acrylate rubber, epichlorohydrin ethylene oxide copolymer, silicone rubber and fluorsilicone rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  comprising swelling the size of one or more beads by exposing the swellable beads to water or other polar fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  comprising swelling the size of one or more beads wherein the swellable beads comprise at least one of the following: starch-polyacrylate acid graft copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol cyclic acid anhydride graft copolymer, isobutylene maleic anhydride, acrylic acid type polymers, vinylacetate-acrylate copolymer, polyethylene oxide polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose type polymers, starch-poly-acrylonitrile graft copolymers and the like and highly swelling clay minerals such as sodium bentonite. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  providing support to a wellbore structure comprising using the weight of the bead material to create radial stress on the wellbore structure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  providing support to a wellbore structure comprising
 a) including within the wellbore structure one or more perforations in a wellbore casing; and 
 b) placing bead material within a wellbore casing. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  providing support to a wellbore structure wherein
 a) the wellbore structure containing a fractured geologic formation proximate to a fractured wellbore; and 
 b) placing bead material within at least a portion of the fracture. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising
 a) introducing the bead material into the wellbore structure; 
 b) forming a bead packing; 
 c) allowing the bead packing to expand; and 
 d) allowing the expanding bead packing to press onto the wellbore structure wall. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method for providing support to a subterranean wellbore structure comprising introducing bead material into the wellbore structure, forming a bead packing, and pressing the bead packing onto the wellbore structure wall. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising
 a) placing an inflatable device in the bead packing; 
 b) inflating the inflatable device in the packing of the bead material; and 
 c) increasing the radial force pressing against the wellbore structure wall. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a) including swellable bead material in the bead material introduced into the wellbore structure; 
 b) activating the swellable bead material, swelling the bead material in the packing, and 
 c) creating radial stress on the wall of the wellbore structure. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing support to a wellbore structure comprising:
 a) placing a inflatable device positioned in and extending along a portion of the axial length of the wellbore structure; and   b) inflating the inflatable device within or proximate to bead material.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising
 a) inserting an inflatable device along a portion of the axial length of the wellbore structure; 
 b) inserting the inflatable device within the bead material placed in the wellbore structure; 
 c) inflating the inflatable device; 
 
     
     
         15 . A device for supporting a wellbore structure comprising a plurality of swellable bead material installed above the bottom of a wellbore or above one or more well packers. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising a packing of bead material structured to be permeable to hydrocarbon, water or gas. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  comprising bead material of stainless steel, steel, carbon steel, tungsten carbide. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising bead material having a diameter of from 0.01 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15  for applying stress to a wellbore comprising an inflatable device structured to apply stress to the bead material. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising installing one or more of the inflatable devices proximate to or within a packing of bead material. 
     
     
         21 . A device comprising one or more inflatable devices that extend along the longitudinal axis of the wellbore proximate to or within a packing of bead material. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising one or more inflatable devices that are tubular shaped. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising the inflatable device embedded within a volume of bead material wherein at least one of the beads is swellable. 
     
     
         24 . The swellable bead material of  claim 15  comprising at least one or more of the following: rubber, crumb rubber, crumb tire rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (EPM and EPDM), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber (EPT), butyl rubber, brominated butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, neoprene rubber, styrenen butadiene copolymer rubber (SBR), sulphonateed polyethylene, ethylene acrylate rubber, epichlorohydrin ethylene oxide copolymer, silicone rubber or fluorsilicone rubber. 
     
     
         25 . The swellable bead material of  claim 15  comprising one or more of the following: starch-polyacrylate acid graft copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol cyclic acid anhydride graft copolymer, isobutylene maleic anhydride, acrylic acid type polymers, vinylacetate-acrylate copolymer, polyethylene oxide polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose type polymers, starch-poly-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, sodium bentonite or highly swelling clay minerals.