Abstract: A method and systems for sand control in wells are described in examples. An example uses a prepack screen assembly comprising an inner screen comprising openings having an inner size and an outer screen comprising openings having an outer size. Packing material is disposed between the inner screen and the outer screen comprising pores with a pore size that is selected based, at least in part, on the outer size, the inner size, or both.

Abstract: A method and systems for sand control in wells are described in examples. An example uses a prepack screen assembly comprising an inner screen comprising openings having an inner size and an outer screen comprising openings having an outer size. Packing material is disposed between the inner screen and the outer screen comprising pores with a pore size that is selected based, at least in part, on the outer size, the inner size, or both.

Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a first base pipe and a second base pipe. Each base pipe comprises a tubular body forming a primary flow path and has transport conduits along an outer diameter for transporting fluids as a secondary flow path. The method also includes connecting the base pipes using a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly has a manifold, and a flow port adjacent the manifold that places the primary flow path in fluid communication with the secondary flow path. The method also includes running the base pipes into the wellbore, and then causing fluid to travel between the primary and secondary flow paths. A wellbore completion apparatus is also provided that allows for control of fluid between the primary and secondary flow paths.

Abstract: A wellbore apparatus and method comprising a first wellbore tool having a primary flow path and at least one secondary flow path and a second wellbore tool having a primary flow path and secondary flow path. A radial center of the primary flow path in the first wellbore tool is offset from a radial center of the primary flow path in the second wellbore tool which comprises a crossover joint connecting the first wellbore tool to the second wellbore tool having a primary flow path fluidly connecting the primary flow path of the first wellbore tool to the primary flow path of the second wellbore tool, and at least one secondary flow path fluidly connecting the at least one secondary flow path of the first wellbore tool to the at least one secondary flow path of the second wellbore tool.

Abstract: A sand control device is used for restricting the flow of particles from a subsurface formation into a tubular body within a wellbore during production operations. The sand control device is divided into compartments along its length that provide redundancy for particle filtration. Each compartment first comprises a base pipe. The base pipe defines an elongated tubular body having a permeable section and an impermeable section within each compartment. Each compartment also comprises a first filtering conduit and a second filtering conduit. The filtering conduits comprise filtering media and generally circumscribe the base pipe. The filtering conduits are arranged so that the first filtering conduit is adjacent to the non-permeable section of the base pipe, while the second filtering conduit is adjacent to the permeable section of the base pipe.

Abstract: A completion joint 100 has two sand control jackets 120A-B connected on each end of an intermediately-mounted inflow control device 130. Both jackets 120A-B communicate with a housing chamber 155 through dedicated open end-rings 140A-B. The basepipe's flow openings 118 are isolated from this housing chamber 155 by a sleeve 160 fitted with flow ports 170. The housing 150 is removable to allow access to the flow ports 170 for pinning to configure the ports 170 open or closed for a given implementation.

Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a sand screen assembly representing one or more joints of sand screen, joint assembly, and packer assembly. The packer assembly has at least one mechanically-set packer with at least one alternate flow channel. The sand screen assembly and joint assembly also each have transport conduits for carrying gravel slurry, and packing conduits for delivering gravel slurry. The method also includes running the sand screen assembly, connected joint assembly and packer assembly into the wellbore, and setting a sealing element of the packer assembly into engagement with the surrounding wellbore. Thereafter, the method includes injecting gravel slurry into the wellbore to form a gravel pack such that a reserve of gravel packing material is placed above the sand screen assembly. A wellbore completion apparatus is also provided that allows for placement of the gravel reserve.

Abstract: A sand control device for restricting flow of particles from a subsurface formation into a tubular body within a wellbore, the device being divided into compartments along its length, each compartment comprises a base pipe. The base pipe defines an elongated tubular body having a permeable section and an impermeable section within each compartment, also comprising a first filtering conduit and a second filtering conduit. The filtering conduits are arranged so that the first filtering conduit is adjacent to the non-permeable section of the base pipe, while the second filtering conduit is adjacent to the permeable section of the base pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for completing a wellbore including providing a packer having an inner mandrel, alternate flow channels along the inner mandrel, and a sealing element external to the inner mandrel, including connecting packer to tubular body, then running the packer and connected tubular body into the wellbore. In one aspect, the packer and connected tubular body may be placed along an open-hole portion of the wellbore. Tubular body may be a sand screen, with the sand screen comprising a base pipe, a surrounding filter medium, and alternate flow channels. The method includes setting a packer and injecting a gravel slurry into an annular region formed between the tubular body and the surrounding wellbore, and then further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow the gravel slurry to at least partially bypass sealing element of the packer.

Abstract: Completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation with packer assembly having first mechanically-set packer as first zonal isolation tool, and second zonal isolation tool comprises internal bore for receiving production fluids, and alternate flow channels. First packer has alternate flow channels around inner mandrel, and sealing element external to inner mandrel and includes operatively connecting packer assembly to a sand screen, and running into wellbore. First packer set by actuating sealing element into engagement with surrounding open-hole portion of the wellbore. Thereafter, injecting a gravel slurry and further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow it to bypass the sealing element, resulting in a gravel packed wellbore within an annular region between sand screen and surrounding formation below packer assembly.

Abstract: A method for modeling deformation in subsurface strata, including defining physical boundaries for a geomechanical system. The method also includes acquiring one or more mechanical properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries, and acquiring one or more thermal properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries. The method also includes creating a computer-implemented finite element analysis program representing the geomechanical system and defining a plurality of nodes representing points in space, with each node being populated with at least one of each of the mechanical properties and the thermal properties. The program solves for in situ stress at selected nodes within the mesh.

Abstract: A communications module and methods for downhole operations having utility with production of hydrocarbon fluids from a wellbore, including at least one alternate flow channel and an electrical circuit. Generally, the electrical circuit is pre-programmed to (i) receive a signal and, in response to the received signal, deliver an actuating command signal. The communications module further has a transmitter-receiver. The communications module allows a downhole tool to be actuated within a completion interval of a wellbore without providing an electric line or a working string from the surface. The tool may be actuated in response to a reading from a sensing tool, or in response to a signal emitted in the wellbore by a downhole carrier, or information tag.

Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a sand screen assembly representing one or more joints of sand screen, joint assembly, and packer assembly. The packer assembly has at least one mechanically-set packer with at least one alternate flow channel. The sand screen assembly and joint assembly also each have transport conduits for carrying gravel slurry, and packing conduits for delivering gravel slurry. The method also includes running the sand screen assembly, connected joint assembly and packer assembly into the wellbore, and setting a sealing element of the packer assembly into engagement with the surrounding wellbore. Thereafter, the method includes injecting gravel slurry into the wellbore to form a gravel pack such that a reserve of gravel packing material is placed above the sand screen assembly. A wellbore completion apparatus is also provided that allows for placement of the gravel reserve.

Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a first base pipe and a second base pipe. Each base pipe comprises a tubular body forming a primary flow path and has transport conduits along an outer diameter for transporting fluids as a secondary flow path. The method also includes connecting the base pipes using a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly has a manifold, and a flow port adjacent the manifold that places the primary flow path in fluid communication with the secondary flow path. The method also includes running the base pipes into the wellbore, and then causing fluid to travel between the primary and secondary flow paths. A wellbore completion apparatus is also provided that allows for control of fluid between the primary and secondary flow paths.

Abstract: A completion joint 100 has two sand control jackets 120A-B connected on each end of an intermediately-mounted inflow control device 130. Both jackets 120A-B communicate with a housing chamber 155 through dedicated open end-rings 140A-B. The basepipe's flow openings 118 are isolated from this housing chamber 155 by a sleeve 160 fitted with flow ports 170. The housing 150 is removable to allow access to the flow ports 170 for pinning to configure the ports 170 open or closed for a given implementation.

Abstract: A sand control device is used for restricting the flow of particles from a subsurface formation into a tubular body within a wellbore during production operations. The sand control device is divided into compartments along its length that provide redundancy for particle filtration. Each compartment first comprises a base pipe. The base pipe defines an elongated tubular body having a permeable section and an impermeable section within each compartment. Each compartment also comprises a first filtering conduit and a second filtering conduit. The filtering conduits comprise filtering media and generally circumscribe the base pipe. The filtering conduits are arranged so that the first filtering conduit is adjacent to the non-permeable section of the base pipe, while the second filtering conduit is adjacent to the permeable section of the base pipe.

Abstract: A sand control device for restricting flow of particles from a subsurface formation into a tubular body within a wellbore, the device being divided into compartments along its length, each compartment comprises a base pipe. The base pipe defines an elongated tubular body having a permeable section and an impermeable section within each compartment, also comprising a first filtering conduit and a second filtering conduit. The filtering conduits are arranged so that the first filtering conduit is adjacent to the non-permeable section of the base pipe, while the second filtering conduit is adjacent to the permeable section of the base pipe.

Abstract: Completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation with packer assembly having first mechanically-set packer as first zonal isolation tool, and second zonal isolation tool comprises internal bore for receiving production fluids, and alternate flow channels. First packer has alternate flow channels around inner mandrel, and sealing element external to inner mandrel and includes operatively connecting packer assembly to a sand screen, and running into wellbore. First packer set by actuating sealing element into engagement with surrounding open-hole portion of the wellbore. Thereafter, injecting a gravel slurry and further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow it to bypass the sealing element, resulting in a gravel packed wellbore within an annular region between sand screen and surrounding formation below packer assembly.

Abstract: A method for modeling deformation in subsurface strata, including defining physical boundaries for a geomechanical system. The method also includes acquiring one or more mechanical properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries, and acquiring one or more thermal properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries. The method also includes creating a computer-implemented finite element analysis program representing the geomechanical system and defining a plurality of nodes representing points in space, with each node being populated with at least one of each of the mechanical properties and the thermal properties. The program solves for in situ stress at selected nodes within the mesh.

Abstract: A method for modeling deformation in subsurface strata, including defining physical boundaries for a geomechanical system. The method also includes acquiring one or more mechanical properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries, and acquiring one or more thermal properties of the subsurface strata within the physical boundaries. The method also includes creating a computer-implemented finite element analysis program representing the geomechanical system and defining a plurality of nodes representing points in space, with each node being populated with at least one of each of the mechanical properties and the thermal properties. The program solves for in situ stress at selected nodes within the mesh.