SPE 77844
A Field Proven Analytical Method to Resolve the Open Hole Volume Gravel Packed in
a High Angle or Horizontal Well, Enables Enhanced Pre-job Simulation.
Roy N. Nelson, SPE, Baker Oil Tools and Sam Onwa, SPE, Baker Oil Tools
Copyright 2002, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and
Exhibition held in Melbourne, Australia, 8–10 October 2002.
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Abstract
This paper demonstrates an analytic approach to measuring
the success of horizontal, open hole gravel pack completions.
The approach is discussed using five UK North Sea case
histories in which a post job evaluation was used to determine
the percent of the open hole successfully gravel packed in
each well. The method was verified in the field using
radioactive tracer and / or temperature logs in three of the five
wells with 3000 ft to 5000 ft horizontal open hole sections.
The method closely estimates, without intervention, the actual
Effective Open Hole Diameter, Deff, following drilling and
hole clean-up operations. Using Deff, the observed Alpha
Ratio, and an iterative match point technique, the actual
lengths of the open hole gravel packed were computed. The
method also corrected existing simulation procedures for
calculating the volume of sand placed in the cased section
above the sand control screens.
During the pre-job planning or simulation phase, an
incorrect estimate of open hole diameter can result in
erroneous estimates of transport velocity, dune height ratio,
minimum pump rates required to avoid sand duning in the
work string, the Alpha and Total Pack Time, and the sand and
slurry volumes required. In addition, the relative success of
the gravel pack could not be correctly measured, using
previous methods where only the theoretical open hole
diameter and measured sand slurry volume were known.
This proven Alpha Ratio analytical method provides an
insight to the actual Effective Open Hole Diameter, enabling
continuous improvement through enhanced pre-job simulation
of subsequent project wells.
Introduction
“Horizontal Technology” can be applied in any open hole
having sufficient angle of deviation, normally greater then 55
degrees, resulting in Alpha and Beta Wave sand
displacement1,. This paper provides an analytical means of
measuring success upon completion of an “operationally
successful” horizontal Open Hole Gravel Pack (OHGP). Past
methods assumed that successful gravel packs had Hole
Volume Ratios with gravel displaced equivalent to 110% to
120% of hole volume. Success was then computed using a
simple ratio of the gravel volume placed to the assumed hole
volume. This measurement yielded erroneous results when the
Deff was significantly greater than the drilled hole diameter,
and/or hole sloughing occurred, where hole stability was not
maintained through the entire gravel placement process. Using
the Hole Volume Ratio method is also not valid for any case
where the fracture initiation pressure was exceeded, resulting
in very high observed gravel placement volumes. However,
this paper only addresses low viscosity placement technology,
where returns are taken at surface and the entire job is
conducted under the fracture initiation pressure.
To ensure successful implementation of highly deviated
open hole gravel packing operations and to identify risk
solutions in the planning phase, a design program proprietary
to Baker Oil Tools has been used and validated on more than
185 open hole horizontal gravel packs completed to date. The
program evaluates operational criteria pertaining to fracture
pressure, fluid pump rate, return fluid rate, pump pressure,
sand concentration, sand dune height, alpha wave placement,
beta wave placement, and sand transport velocity2. An
accurate Deff is important to enable valid pre-job simulation
results, and for post job analysis utilizing the Alpha Ratio
Method, will enhance pre-job simulation accuracy for
subsequent wells.
Project and well data for five Horizontal, Open Hole
Gravel Packs completed in the UK North Sea are summarized
in Table 1. Varying net to gross sand ratios were apparent and
the shale sequences were highly water reactive. GRIT
(radioactive tracer) logs were run in Wells 2 and 4, and a
temperature log run in Well 5. Baker Oil Tools “Beta Breaker”
valves were used in wells 2, 3, 4 and 5. Table 2 captures the
observed OHGP job information. The process used to
compute Deff and the effective screen length gravel packed,
2 R. NELSON AND S. ONWA
Leff, is shown for Well 3 only, although the same process was
utilized for the all wells.
This paper does not address shale stability, fluid
management, open hole cleaning, screen centralization, and
alternate methods of obtaining effective sand control.
Gravel Pack Service Tools. Maintaining hole stability is
critical to the operational success of the open hole gravel pack.
Hole sloughing may not occur at all, occur during the Alpha or
Beta Wave, or occur following screen placement. Sufficient
screen to sandface radial ID is required to maintain a
continuous gravel pack process. Using conventional gravel
pack crossover tools, the job could end prematurely at the
point where hole sloughing occurs, effectively reducing the
available radial ID and resulting in a premature sand out. The
introduction of Beta Breakers in the gravel pack system will
insure the process continues up hole of the Beta Breaker
location, where hole sloughing occurred down hole of the Beta
Breaker. Beta Breakers were used for both this purpose and as
a diagnostic tool for 4 of the 5 wells discussed.
Simulation Software. A variety of Baker Oil Tools software
was used in this study. GP Design Simulation was used to
perform pre-job designs, on rig corrections and post job
analyses. By inserting the actual observed data in this
simulation program, the Alpha and pack times can be
simulated and compared to those noted during the actual
completion. The XOTPAQ program incorporates some
features of the GP Design Simulation and the XOTMove
software. Volume Calculation Software was used both during
pre-job design and post well analysis to determine the fluid
and sand volumes required for the job, and following the job it
helped determine the percent of the open hole that was
successfully packed.
Computational Technique to Determine Deff. The first step
was to review the available data for the wells being
studied, including:
1. Project geological & reservoir characteristics general
overview
2. Review project fluid / sandface compatibility issues
3. Review well operations pertaining to the conduct of the
Sandface Clean-up and Open Hole Gravel Packs, including
process, and fluid systems
4. Qualify the data reviewed
5. Job & Data Summary – Tables 1 and 2
Upon completion of the data review and post job analysis,
it was concluded that the missing link required to establish a
measure of success was the actual open hole volume, or
effective hole diameter, Deff. Knowledge of the Deff would
allow a calculation of:
• Accurate transport velocities in the open hole
• Percent of open hole gravel packed for L
• length of open hole which was 100% gravel packed
for Leff
SPE 77844
Fig. 1 shows the results of a sensitivity analysis showing
the effect of Deff on the % Open Hole Gravel Packed. As the
Deff grows, the % gravel pack decreases. In the case where
hole sloughing occurred, once Deff is computed, the effective
open hole 100% gravel packed can be estimated, Leff.
The GP Design Simulation software was then re-run using
the actual well data, observed pump and return rates, slurry
characteristics, fluid weights and assuming a Hole Volume
Ratio of 1.1. This calculation produced an estimated Alpha
time of 395 min., as shown in Fig. 2 and 3. The job pressure
and pump rate data were interpreted as shown in Fig. 4, to
determine the observed Alpha Time of 764 min. and a Pack
Time of 1031 min. at a pump rate of 7.47 BPM. It was
concluded that a correlation was needed to resolve the
variation between the observed and simulated results.
Further study indicated that for an observed pump rate,
return ratio, fluid density and gravel mix ratio:
• Dune Height Ratio is dependent on rate
• Dune Height Ratio is independent of open hole length
(L)
• Dune Height Ratio increases with Deff
• As Deff increases, both the Alpha and Pack times
increase
It is therefore concluded that for a given data set, as the
hole size (Deff) grows, the dune height ratio increases, and the
unpacked hole volume at the end of the Alpha period is
constant. This observation was captured by introducing the
“ALPHA RATIO”, which equals the ratio of the Alpha to the
Total Pack time. Therefore the actual observed Well 3 Alpha
Ratio of 0.74 may be used to compute the actual effective hole
diameter, Deff.
The GP Simulation Software was used to determine the
Volume Ratio, Dune Height Ratio and Alpha Ratio for a given
hole size, summarized in Table 3, and plotted in Fig. 5.
Knowing the Observed Alpha Ratio of 0.74, the Well 3 Deff,
Hole Volume Ratio and Dune Height Ratios were calculated
to be 9.44 inch, 1.52 and 0.71 respectively.
The computed Deff was then used in the GP Design
Software, using the total length of the screen in the open hole
(L) and the results interpreted. This simulation yielded a Dune
Height Ratio Match of 0.71, but there was no match to the
Alpha or Pack times. The only remaining unknown was the
length of screen gravel packed. Consequently the length of
open hole gravel packed was iterated to Match Point No. 1 as
depicted in Fig. 6 and 7, yielding a Leff of 868 ft at a Deff of
9.44 inch.
Validation of Results. A volumetric calculation, using the
Sand Logger results, was then completed at Deff and L to
establish the percent gravel packed for a stable open hole, as
depicted in Tables 4 and 5, or 81%. L was then iterated to
Match Point No. 2 at Deff until a volumetric balance equal to a
100% gravel pack, yielding the same result of Leff = 1700 ft.
(Tables 6 and 7).
 A FIELD PROVEN ANALYTICAL METHOD TO RESOLVE THE OPEN HOLE VOLUME
SPE 77844 GRAVEL PACKED IN A HIGH ANGLE OR HORIZONTAL WELL, ENABLES ENHANCED PRE-JOB SIMULATION
The Gravel Volume Calculation Software assumes that
100% of the screen OD to blank pipe ID above the screens is
gravel packed. This is not the case when sand is deposited
only during the Alpha wave, plus 100% to some height
following the Beta wave to Sand Out. The result is an
underestimation of the gravel actually placed in the open hole.
This can be significant, such as in the case of Well 3 where
there was 1553 ft of blank pipe between the upper extension
gravel pack port and the top of the screens. The XOTPAQ
software allows determination of the dune height ratio across
the blank in the casing, and therefore enables the
appropriate corrections.
The validity of radioactive or temperature logs to establish
the end point of an open hole gravel pack has always been
questioned. These study results verify the accuracy of such
logs, where a near match was observed, as shown in Table 8.
Well 2 and Well 4 had a computed Leff of 1778 ft and 474 ft
respectfully which matched the radioactive log, while there
was a near match for the Well 5 temperature log results.
Pre-drilled Liner. This paper does not show a case history
for a well where screens were run inside a pre-drilled liner,
then gravel packed. The Alpha Ratio Method is valid for this
completion design, too, but the calculated hole volume must
be net of the volume displaced by the liner.
OBSERVATIONS
Hole sloughing and the probability of screen plugging due to
hole sloughing occurred during the gravel pack operations for
all wells. In Well 3, sloughing occurred near the toe. In all
cases the lithology at the gravel pack termination point below
the casing shoe was greater than 70% water reactive shale.
The transport velocity in the open hole is also a function of
hole size. During the Alpha Wave the dune grows in height
until the fluid velocity over the top of the dune is sufficient to
erode the gravel and deposit it on the front side of the dune1.
The GP design software simulates this event. If the hole size is
underestimated, the simulated transport velocities could be in
error. The actual transport velocities at Deff are summarized in
Table 8.
Well 3 at 81% of L gravel packed, and the longest interval
packed at 1700 ft, had the:
• highest total overbalance at the completion of the
alpha wave
• highest treatment rate of 7.4 BPM
• high transport velocity at Deff of 257 ft/min.
• shortest open hole screen interval of 2215 ft
• longest sandface exposure to gravel pack operations
time of 1031 min.
Well 4, at 15% gravel pack, and the shortest interval
packed at 474 ft was in mid range total overbalance at the
completion of the alpha wave and had the:
• lowest treatment rate of 5.76 BPM
• lowest transport velocity at Deff of 229 ft/min.
3
• second longest open hole screen interval of 4946 ft
• highest Deff of 9.85 inch.
By comparing the No. 3 and No. 4 wells, it could be
concluded that a high total overbalance should be maintained,
and transport velocities in the range of 250 plus feet/min
are advisable.
Beta Breaker performance also was evaluated. There was
no indication that the beta valves opened prematurely while
being run in hole.
There were no cases where the gravel pack terminated at
the location of the Beta Breakers. For the No. 3 well, the Beta
Breaker was activated during the beta wave.
In addition to being a proven diagnostic tool, it appears
that hole sloughing downstream of the Beta valve may cause
Beta valve activation, thereby extending the gravel pack where
sloughing would have terminated the pack if the Beta Breaker
had not been present in the completion.
The Match Point #1 Alpha Ratio Analysis and Match Point
#2 Volumetric results are comparable in all wells, except Well
3. We concluded that the GP Design Alpha time includes the
blank pipe inside the casing. Well 3 had 1553 ft of blank pipe
inside the casing, which would result in an underestimation of
the open hole alpha time. A correction would yield a GP
Design Match Point much nearer the Volumetric calculation,
as seen for the other 4 wells.
If the actual Alpha wave pump rate was near the minimum
rate required to avoid sand duning in the work string, such as
found for No. 1 well, the Alpha Ratio Method yielded no
solution at larger values of Deff. In such cases, the Match
Point No. 2 Volume Calculation only was used.
It was also observed, that if the Alpha Ratio Method or the
Volume Calculation match point methods determined
different 100% OHGP lengths, Leff, hole sloughing may have
occurred during the BETA wave.
CONCLUSIONS
As summarized in Tables 8 and 9, Alpha Ratio Method
closely estimated, without intervention, the actual Effective
Open Hole Diameter, Deff, following drilling and hole clean-
up operations. Using Deff, the observed Alpha Ratio, and an
iterative match point technique, the actual length of the open
hole gravel packed, Leff, was computed.
Conclusions resulting from this case are:
1. Knowing the ratio of the observed alpha time to the pack
time, the Alpha Ratio Method is a proven method to
estimate the effective open hole diameter, Deff
2. Using Deff,
a. The actual transport velocity in the open hole may be
calculated (Table 8)
b. The length of open hole 100% packed can be
calculated, Leff
3. The radioactive tracer log results, for wells No. 2 at 1778
feet and No. 4 at 474 feet, were confirmed as so far as
estimating the length of open hole gravel packed. Caution
must be exercised, however, because it was determined
4 R. NELSON AND S. ONWA
that the “fading out of the signal” does not indicate the end
of the sand placement interval. The last point prior to a
total fade out of signal should be used.
4. The temperature log result of 1206 ft, for the No. 5 well
was consistent with the Match Point analysis for length of
open hole gravel packed of 1006 to 1175 ft.
5. The actual average open hole diameters (Deff) were much
greater than previously estimated, being in the range of
8.99 inch to 9.83 inch. Consequently, for gravel pack
design purposes, an average open hole diameter of 9.42
inch would apply for the pre-job simulation of gravel pack
operations in this area and reservoir.
6. The Alpha Ratio Method is valid when the observed pump
rate exceeded the “simulated pump rate to avoid dunning
in the work string”.
7. For longer lengths of blank pipe in the casing, an Alpha
Time correction is required.
8. If there is no match between the Leff at Deff estimates using
the Alpha Ratio Method (Match Point 1) and the
Volumetric Method (Match Point 2), hole sloughing likely
occurred during the Beta Wave. Therefore the entire
screen length, L, would have been packed during the Alpha
Wave to the indicated Dune Height Ratio at Deff.
Nomenclature:
HZ: Horizontal
OHGP:Open Hole Gravel Pack
TD: Well measured total depth, ft
L:Length Screen in Open Hole from the casing shoe to the
well bottom screens, ft
Leff: Effective Open Hole Length, ft
D: Drilled Open Hole ID or Bit Size, inch
Deff: Effective Open Hole Diameter, inch
Alpha & Beta Wave1: With the screen installed, the pumping
of the brine/gravel slurry can begin. Because brine
does not have sufficient viscosity to suspend the
gravel, a dune forms in the wellbore/screen annulus.
This dune grows in height until the fluid velocity over
the top of the dune is sufficient to erode the gravel
SPE 77844
and deposit it on the front side of the dune. This
mechanism leads to the dune extending down the
wellbore as an equilibrium bank, for which
Penberthy et. al. coined the term “Alpha Wave”
because it is the first wave in the gravel placement
process. Once the alpha-wave reaches the toe of the
well, the gravel begins to backfill the portion of the
wellbore above the alpha-wave. Penberthy et. al.
coined the term “Beta Wave” for this
secondary wave.
Dune Height Ratio: Ratio of the height to the top of the dune
during the Alpha Wave to the Deff
Pack t: Post job observed total gravel pack or “Job” time
from initiation of the Alpha Wave to termination of
the Beta Wave (Sand Out), min
Alpha t: Post job observed time to displace open hole Alpha
Wave, min.
Alpha Ratio: Observed Alpha t / Observed Pack t
Beta t: Post job observed time to displace open hole Beta
Wave, min.
Hole Volume Ratio: Ratio of Actual Hole Volume / Drilled
Hole Volume
Acknowledgment:
The authors wish to thank Baker Oil Tools for the resources
and time to write this paper.
References:
1. Stephen P. Mathis, SPE (Baker Oil Tools), Luiz A.G. Costa, SPE,
Andrea N. de Sa, Heitor Tsuha, Agostinho Calderon (Petrobras),
Juan Carlos Arango, Ken MacDonald, Scott A. Hebert, SPE
(Baker Oil Tools), “Horizontal Gravel Packing Successfully
Moved to Deepwater Floating Rig Environment”, SPE 56783
2. R.J. Wetzel, Jr., SPE, Steve Mathis, SPE, and, Gene Ratterman,
SPE ,Baker Oil Tools and Randall Cade, SPE, Baker Hughes
INTEQ, “Completion Selection Methodology for Optimum
Reservoir Performance and Project Economics in Deepwater
Applications”, SPE 56716
 A FIELD PROVEN ANALYTICAL METHOD TO RESOLVE THE OPEN HOLE VOLUME
SPE 77844 GRAVEL PACKED IN A HIGH ANGLE OR HORIZONTAL WELL, ENABLES ENHANCED PRE-JOB SIMULATION 5

Tables 1 and 2 - Review Project, Well and Job Data - Summarize

Table 1 - Well Data Summary

Observation or Parameter Well 1 Well 2 Well 3 Well 4 Well 5
Casing OD, inch 9.625 10.75 9.625 10.75 9.625
Length of 5 1/2" Blank Pipe, ft 639 283 1553 173 399
Length 5 1/2" Excluder Screen inside casing, ft 20 42 23 162 32
Distance Beta Breaker #1 from Casing Shoe, ft none 3446 769 2097 3098
Distance Beta Breaker #2 from Casing Shoe, ft none none none 3571 3899
Length Screen in 8 1/2" Open Hole, ft 2991 4748 2215 4741 4623
Length Drilled Open Hole, ft 3036 5043 3006 4946 4856
Well Drilled Depth, ft MD 9650 11075 11488 10600 10650
Drill in Fluid Perfflow Perfflow Perfflow Perfflow Perfflow
Drill in fluid displacement Solid Free Solid Free Solid Free Solids Free Perfflow

Table 2 Summary - Open Hole Gravel Pack

Observation or Parameter Well 1 Well 2 Well 3 Well 4 Well 5
- Screen OD, inch 6.54 6.32 6.32 6.32 6.32
- Screen ID, inch 4.892 4.892 4.892 4.892 4.892
- wash pipe OD, inch 3.5 4 4 4 4
- wash pipe to screen ID ratio 0.72 0.82 0.82 0.82 0.82
- Brine Carrier Fluid, ppg 10.6 10 10 11.6 10
- Slurry Density, ppg 10.89 10.173 10.087 11.787 10.098
- sand concentration in ppga 0.58 0.32 0.16 0.4 0.18
- pump rate at end of Alpha wave, BPM 6.55 6.04 7.4 5.76 7.1
- return ratio 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.92 0.95
- surface treating pressure at end of Alpha wave, psi 1020 1236 1418 1156 1342
- Alpha time, min 142 390 764 228 351
- total PAQ time, min 165 582 1031 285 596
- total gravel displaced to open hole, lbs 24188 49526 58054 28400 33790
OHGP assuming Deff = 110 % Drilled Hole ID, % 41 39 104 22 36

Fig. 1 - Using the Gravel Pack Simulation Software, a sensitivity analysis to Deff and the computed Hole Volume Ratio to show the relative
effect on the OHGP

Fig. 1 - Well 3 - Hole Volume Ratio VS. % OH GP

116

112
% OH GP

108

104

100

96
0.95 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25

Hole Volume Ratio

6 R. NELSON AND S. ONWA SPE 77844

Fig. 2 and 3 – Using the Gravel Pack Simulation Software, and the “ACTUAL” job data, assuming a Hole Volume ratio of 1.1, attempt to match
the observed Alpha and Pack Times shown in Fig. 4
Fig. 2 - Assumed Deff = 1.1 Hole Volume Ratio Ver 01-04-2000
Well 3 - Horizontal Gravel Packing Design Criteria
3000 0.90
Centralized: FALSE
Fluid Return Rat io = 0.9 BETA BREAKER at 9350 ft
Max. Hole Angle, deg. = 90 Assumed Volume Ratio = 1.1
2500 Hole Dia., in = 8.688 Deff = 8.688 inch 0.85
Screen OD, in = 6.32

Dune Height/Hole Diameter Ratio

Wash Pipe OD, in = 4
Pipe Roughness, in = 0.001
Fluid Vis., cps = 1
2000 0.80
Pump Pressure, psi

Fluid Dens., ppg = 10

Mix Ratio, ppga = 0.16
Gravel Dia., in = 0.027

1500 Recommended Operating Conditions: 0.75

Minimum pump rate during alpha w ave: 5.7 BPM
Maximum treating w ellhead pressure: 3,047 psi
Well 3 Design q at 7.47 BPM
FRAQ = 11.6 ppg
1000 0.70
Dune ratio = 0.645

500 0.65

0 0.60
3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0
Pump Rate, BPM
Ppump-alpha at bottom Ppump-beta at TOS Ppump-Frac Dune/Hole Ratio

Fig. 3 for Assumed Hole Volume Ratio = 1.1

Well 3 - Flow Rate and Pack Time vs. Ver 01-04-2000

Dune Height/Hole Diameter Ratio

10.0 5000

Centralized: FA LSE
9.0 Reco mmended Operating Co nditio ns: Fluid Return Ratio = 0.9 4500
M inimum pump rate during alpha wave: 5.7 B P M M ax. Ho le A ngle, deg. = 90
Pump R ate M aximum treating wellhead pressure: 3,047 psi Ho le Dia., in = 8.688
8.0 Screen OD, in = 6.32 4000
Wash P ipe OD, in = 4
Return Rate
P ipe Ro ughness, in = 0.001
7.0 Fluid Vis., cps = 1 3500
Fluid Dens., ppg = 10
For Design q = 7.47 BPM M ix Ratio , ppga = 0.16
6.0 Dune Ratio = 0.645 Gravel Dia., in = 0.027 3000
Estimated
5.0 Alpha t = 395 min. 2500
Pack t = 600 min.
4.0 Alpha Ratio = 0.66 2000

3.0 Pack Tim e 1500

Alpha T ime

2.0 1000

1.0 500

0.0 0
0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90

D une H e ight/ H ole D ia me te r R a tio

Fig. 4 – The interpretation of the post job BDAQ data to determine the actual Alpha and Pack Times
Fig. 4 Screenout with 2610 psi
Well 3 OHGP Operations Summary 0425 hr 19 Jun 01
1040 min.
3000 8
Circulating Rates

7
2500
Pumping at 7.4 bpm with 89-90 % returns
6
BB Open
875 min
Pump Rate (bpm) / PPA

2000
Stablising choke to
5
keep +/- 500 psi on
Pressure (psi)

annulus.
1500 4

End Alpha
2349 hr 18 Jun 01 3
End OHGP
1000 764 min
0416 hr 19 Jun 01
1418 psi
1031 min
2
1686 psi
500
Started adding gravel at 0.17 PPA 1
1042 hr 18 Jun 01

0 0
2:49:55
3:29:35
4:09:15
4:48:55
5:28:35
6:08:15
6:47:55
7:27:35
8:07:15
8:46:55
9:26:35
10:06:15
10:45:55
11:25:35
12:05:15
12:44:55
1:24:35
2:04:15
2:43:55
3:23:35
4:03:15
4:42:55
5:22:35
6:02:15
6:41:55
7:21:35
8:01:15
8:40:55
9:20:35
10:00:15
10:39:55
11:19:35
11:59:15
12:38:55
1:18:35
1:58:15
2:37:55
3:17:35
3:57:15

Time (mins)
Tubing Pressure Annulus Pressure Pump Rate Return Rate PPA
 A FIELD PROVEN ANALYTICAL METHOD TO RESOLVE THE OPEN HOLE VOLUME
SPE 77844 GRAVEL PACKED IN A HIGH ANGLE OR HORIZONTAL WELL, ENABLES ENHANCED PRE-JOB SIMULATION 7

Table 3 and Fig. 5 – Using the GP Simulation software at Observed parameters, compute Deff

Table 3 - Well 3 Alpha Ratio Analysis - Compute Deff

Pump q = 7.4 BPM Btm Screen 10697 ft

Hole Volume Dune Alpha Observed Calculated

Size Ratio Ratio Ratio Hole OD 8.5
Inch Dune/hole % PAQ t Screen OD 6.32 Alpha Ratio 0.74
9.052 1.3 0.69 0.71 Alpha t 764 Hole Size 9.44
9.402 1.5 0.71 0.74 PAQ t 1031 Vol Ratio 1.52
9.638 1.7 0.72 0.79 Dune Ratio 0.71

Fig. 5 - Compute Deff

Well 3 - q = 7.4 BPM
1.8
Volume Ratio
Dune Ratio Dune/hole
1.6
Alpha Ratio % PAQ t

1.4

Observed Alpha t: 764

1.2 Observed PAQ t: 1031
Alpha Ratio: 0.74
Hole Size: 9.44
1 Volume Ratio: 1.52
Dune Ratio: 0.71

0.8

0.6

0.4
8.8 8.9 9 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8
hole size, inch
8 R. NELSON AND S. ONWA SPE 77844

Fig. 6 and 7 – Iterate L Screen at Deff until Match Point to Observed Obtain Leff at the Observed Alpha and Pack Times

Fig. 6 - Post Job Match Point No. 1 Ver 01-04-2000

Well 3 - Horizontal Gravel Packing Design Criteria
3000 0.90
Centralized: FALSE Match Point No. 1
Fluid Return Ratio = 0.9
BETA BREAKER at 9350 ft
Max. Hole Angle, deg. = 90
2500 Hole Dia., in = 9.44 Volume ratio = 1.52 0.85
Screen OD, in = 6.32 Hole = 9.44 inch

Dune Height/Hole Diameter Ratio

Wash Pipe OD, in = 4
Pipe Roughness, in = 0.001
Fluid Vis., cps = 1
Fluid Dens., ppg = 10
2000 0.80
Pump Pressure, psi

Mix Ratio, ppga = 0.16

Gravel Dia., in = 0.027
Well 3 at 7.47 BPM
Recommended Operating Conditions:
for L Screen = 1700 ft
Minimum pump rate during alpha w ave: 5.7 BPM Equates to Leff = 9350 ft
1500 Maximum treating w ellhead pressure: 3,055 psi
0.75
Dune ratio = 0.71

1000 0.70

500 0.65

0 0.60
2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0
Pump Rate, BPM
Ppump-alpha at bottom Ppump-beta at TOS Ppump-Frac Dune/Hole Ratio

Fig. 7 Flow Rate and Pack Time vs.

20.0
Well 3 Dune Height/Hole Diameter Ratio Ver 01-04-2000
5000

Centralized: FALSE
Match Point No. 1 Recommended Operat ing Conditions:
18.0 M inimum pump rat e during alpha wave: 5.7 BPM Fluid Return Ratio = 0.9 4500
Btm Gravel PAQ at 93501 ft M aximum treating wellhead pressure: 3,055 psi Max. Hole Angle, deg. = 90
Dune Ratio = 0.71 Hole Dia., in = 9.44
16.0 Estimated Alpha to PAQ = 0.79 Screen OD, in = 6.32 4000
Actual Alpha to PAQ Ratio = 0.74 Wash Pipe OD, in = 4
Pipe Roughness, in = 0.001
14.0 3500
Fluid Vis., cps = 1
Fluid Dens., ppg = 10
12.0 Mix Ratio, ppga = 0.16 3000
Gravel Dia., in = 0.027
Pump Rate Pack Time 960 min estimated
10.0 Actual = 1031 min. 2500
Return Rate

8.0 Alpha 760 min estimated 2000

Pack Tim e
Actual = 764 min. Alpha T ime
6.0 1500

4.0 1000

2.0 500

0.0 0
0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90

D une H e ight/ H ole D ia me te r R a tio

 A FIELD PROVEN ANALYTICAL METHOD TO RESOLVE THE OPEN HOLE VOLUME
SPE 77844 GRAVEL PACKED IN A HIGH ANGLE OR HORIZONTAL WELL, ENABLES ENHANCED PRE-JOB SIMULATION 9

Table 4 and 5 – Assuming 100% of the OH at Deff remained stable, compute the % OHGP based on the Sand Logger Results

Table 4 - Well 3 - Sand Balance at L Wt (lbs)

Sand Sacks Cut 60174
Sand Left in Infuser(s) 2000
Sand Left in Drillpipe 120
Gravel in well below packer 58054

Calculated sand for Blank in 9 5/8" Liner 12267

Calculated sand for screen in 9 5/8" Liner 413
Calculated sand for Screen /Open hole Annulus 59403

Table 5 - Well 3 - Compute % Open Hole Gravel Packed at L

Casing ID: 8.535 inches

Blank Pipe OD: 5.500 inches
Screen OD: 6.320 inches
Open Hole Size (Deff): 9.440 inches (set to 0 for cased hole gravel pack)

Blank Length in Cased Hole: 1553.0 feet (length of blank that will be packed)
Blank Length in Open Hole: 0.0 feet (length of blank that will be packed)
Screen Length in Cased Hole: 23.0 feet
ACTUAL Screen Length in Open Hole: 2215.0 feet
Blank Dune height ratio correction in 9 5/8" 0.340 (ref. XOTPAQ) Ratio = 0.55 OHGP = 81%

Table 6 and 7 – Assuming the OH did NOT remain stable, iterate to the screen length required for a 100% OHGP - compute the Leff at Deff
based on the Sand Logger Results

Table 6 - Well 3 - Sand Balance at Leff Wt (lbs)

Sand Sacks Cut 60174
Sand Left in Infuser(s) 2000
Sand Left in Drillpipe 120
Gravel in well below packer 58054

Calculated sand for Blank in 9 5/8" Liner 12267

Calculated sand for screen in 9 5/8" Liner 413
Calculated sand for Screen /Open hole Annulus 45592

Table 7 - Well 3 - Compute % Open Hole Gravel Packed at Leff - Match Point 2

Casing ID: 8.535 inches

Blank Pipe OD: 5.500 inches
Screen OD: 6.320 inches
Open Hole Size (Deff): 9.440 inches (set to 0 for cased hole gravel pack)

Blank Length in Cased Hole: 1553.0 feet (length of blank that will be packed)
Blank Length in Open Hole: 0.0 feet (length of blank that will be packed)
Screen Length in Cased Hole: 23.0 feet
ITERATE to Screen Length in Open Hole: 1700.0 feet
Blank Dune height ratio correction in 9 5/8" 0.340 (ref. XOTPAQ) Ratio = 0.55 100%
10 R. NELSON AND S. ONWA SPE 77844

Table 8 – Summarize Computed Results and Draw Conclusions

Table 8 - Study Results - Deff and Effective OH Gravel Packed

Measure of Success Well 1 Well 2 Well 3 Well 4 Well 5
- Observed pump rate at end of Alpha wave, BPM 6.55 6.04 7.4 5.76 7.1
- Minimum Alpha rate to avoid dunning in WS at Deff, BPM 7.2 5.4 5.7 4.6 5
- Transport velocity in OH, ft/min at Deff 230 244 257 229 259
- Observed Alpha Ratio, Alpha min/PAQ min 0.86 0.67 0.74 0.80 0.59
- Effective Hole Size, Deff, inch 9.53 8.99 9.44 9.85 9.31
- Hole Volume Ratio at Deff 1.63 1.27 1.52 1.77 1.45
- Match Point #1 GP Design Dune ratio at Deff 0.88 0.77 0.71 0.81 0.6
- Match Point #1 GP Design BTM PAQ from Csg Shoe, ft 705 1778 868 474 1006
- Match Point #2 Volume Calc. L of OH 100% Gravel PAQ, ft 705 1560 1700 550 1175
- Match Point #2 Volume Calc.% Drilled OH 100% Gravel PAQ 29 35 81 15 28
- Temp Log; ft open hole gravel packed from shoe none none none none 1206
- GRIT Lof; ft open hole gravel packed from casing shoe none 1778 none 474 none

Table 9 – ALPHA RATIO METHOD RESULTS

Well No. Conventional Method – Assumed Hole Alpha Ratio Method Alpha Ratio Method
Volume Ratio = 1.1 % of L Gravel Packed Length Open Hole 100%
Gravel Packed, Leff, ft
1 41 29 705
2 39 35 1560
3 104 81 1700
4 22 15 550
5 36 28 1175