Inhibiting Bridging In Annular Packs Within A Well

Abstract

Methods for placing an annular pack in a well include treating of the gravel in the annular pack to inhibit bridging and the formation of voids in the annular pack. The gravel can be treated to form a coating that improves the lubricity of the gravel. The gravel also can be treated with a surface-active agent. The treatment of the gravel inhibits clumping of the gravel particles which forms bridges in the annular pack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of placing an annular pack in a well, the method comprising:
 apply a lubricity coating to gravel to produce coated gravel;   incorporate the coated gravel into a carrier fluid at a surface of the well;   inject the carrier fluid comprising the coated gravel into the well; and   place the coated gravel along a perimeter of the well to form an annular pack.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricity coating is a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricity coating is a hydrophobic organosilane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricity coating is applied to the gravel using an agitation process in which humidity is minimized. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising degrading the lubricity coating on the coated gravel after the annular pack is in place in the well. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the annular pack is located between and contacts a screen and a casing in the well. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the annular pack is located between and contacts a screen and a formation wall in the well. 
     
     
         8 . A method of placing an annular pack in a well, the method comprising:
 apply a curable coating to gravel;   cure the curable coating to produce coated gravel;   incorporate the coated gravel into a carrier fluid at a surface of the well;   inject the carrier fluid comprising the coated gravel into the well; and   place the coated gravel along a perimeter of the well to form an annular pack.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the curable coating is a polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, after curing, the curable coating increases the lubricity of the gravel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, after curing, the curable coating forms an inert coating on the gravel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising degrading the lubricity coating on the coated gravel after the annular pack is in place in the well. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the annular pack is located between and contacts a screen and a casing in the well. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the annular pack is located between and contacts a screen and a formation wall in the well. 
     
     
         15 . A method of placing an annular pack in a well, the method comprising:
 treat gravel with a surface-active agent to produce treated gravel;   inject a carrier fluid comprising the treated gravel into the well; and   place the coated gravel along a perimeter of the well to form an annular pack.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the gravel is treated with the surface-active agent before the gravel is incorporated into the carrier fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surface-active agent is a surfactant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surface-active agent causes the treated gravel to be hydrophobic. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the annular pack is located between and contacts a screen and a casing in the well. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the annular pack is located between and contacts a screen and a formation wall in the well.