Abstract: A sand screen apparatus for use in a downhole operation for hydrocarbon recovery includes a non-metallic material and a mechanical retainer. The non-metallic material has a compressed state and an expanded state, and includes a base polymer, and one or a plurality of smart fillers dispersed with a polymeric matrix of the non-metallic material. The mechanical retainer compresses the non-metallic material in the compressed state. The one or the plurality of smart fillers react with the base polymer in the expanded state after exposure to a wellbore condition.

Abstract: A method of gravel packing an open hole penetrating a subterranean information includes installing at least one sand control screen disposed about a tubular member into the open hole, circulating a slurry including an expandable gravel and a carrier fluid, depositing the slurry in the wellbore annulus surrounding the at least one sand control screen in an alpha wave beginning at a heel of the wellbore annulus, detecting at least one of: arrival of the alpha wave at a toe of the wellbore annulus and start of a beta wave at the toe of the wellbore annulus, stopping circulation of the slurry, and triggering the expandable gravel to expand to pack the wellbore annulus surrounding the at least one sand control screen above the alpha wave.

Abstract: A sand screen apparatus for use in a downhole operation for hydrocarbon recovery includes a non-metallic material and a mechanical retainer. The non-metallic material has a compressed state and an expanded state, and includes a base polymer, and one or a plurality of smart fillers dispersed with a polymeric matrix of the non-metallic material. The mechanical retainer compresses the non-metallic material in the compressed state. The one or the plurality of smart fillers react with the base polymer in the expanded state after exposure to a wellbore condition.

Abstract: A method of gravel packing an open hole penetrating a subterranean information includes installing at least one sand control screen disposed about a tubular member into the open hole, circulating a slurry including an expandable gravel and a carrier fluid, depositing the slurry in the wellbore annulus surrounding the at least one sand control screen in an alpha wave beginning at a heel of the wellbore annulus, detecting at least one of: arrival of the alpha wave at a toe of the wellbore annulus and start of a beta wave at the toe of the wellbore annulus, stopping circulation of the slurry, and triggering the expandable gravel to expand to pack the wellbore annulus surrounding the at least one sand control screen above the alpha wave.

Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation may include installing a sandface completion assembly in the wellbore; pumping a solids free fluid comprising chemical precursors into an annulus formed between the subterranean formation and the sandface completion assembly; triggering and/or controlling chemical reaction between the chemical precursors to form a plurality of solid particles in the annulus.

Abstract: A method for completing a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation may include installing a sandface completion assembly in the wellbore; pumping a solids free fluid comprising chemical precursors into an annulus formed between the subterranean formation and the sandface completion assembly; triggering and/or controlling chemical reaction between the chemical precursors to form a plurality of solid particles in the annulus.

Abstract: A technique provides a system and methodology for detecting and monitoring erosion in various environments, including downhole environments. A tracer element is located in a component such that sufficient erosion of the component due to fluid flow exposes the tracer element. A monitoring system is disposed for cooperation with the tracer element such that exposure of the tracer element is detected by the monitoring system. The monitoring system outputs appropriate data indicative of the erosion to enable adjustments to the fluid flow.

Abstract: A method includes providing a slurry comprising a carrier fluid and a solids mixture, and injecting said slurry in a wellbore wherein the solids mixture comprises at least two volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes, wherein a first PSD mode comprises solids having a volume-average median size at least three times larger than the volume-average median size of a second PSD mode such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) of the solids mixture exceeds 0.75.

Abstract: A method for determining particle size distribution of a subsurface rock formation using measurements of at least one nuclear magnetic resonance property made from within a wellbore penetrating the rock formation includes determining a distribution of nuclear magnetic relaxation times from the measurements of the at least one nuclear magnetic resonance property. A surface relaxivity of the formation is determined from measurements of a formation parameter. The relaxation time distribution and surface relaxivity are used to determine the particle size distribution.

Abstract: A method of gravel packing a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The wellbore has a cased section and an uncased section and contains synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids containing drilled solids. To carry out the method, fresh synthetic or oil-based displacement fluid that is free of drilled solids is introduced into the wellbore to displace the synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. A sand control screen assembly is run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore. A gravel pack slurry containing gravel and a water-based carrier fluid is then introduced into the wellbore.

Abstract: Gravel packing of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is carried out in a wellbore having a cased section and an uncased section that contains water-based drilling fluids. A first water-based displacement fluid that contains a shale inhibitor is introduced into the wellbore to displace the water-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A second water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. A sand control screen assembly is run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore to facilitate a gravel packing operation. A gravel pack slurry containing gravel and a viscosified carrier fluid is introduced into the wellbore to facilitate gravel packing of the uncased section.

Abstract: A method of installing a sand control screen assembly in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is carried out in a wellbore having a cased section and an uncased section. The wellbore contains synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids containing drilled solids. A first water-based displacement fluid that contains a shale inhibitor is introduced into the wellbore to displace the synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A second water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. The sand control screen assembly is then run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore to facilitate a gravel packing operation.

Abstract: A technique provides a system and methodology for detecting and monitoring erosion in various environments, including downhole environments. A tracer element is located in a component such that sufficient erosion of the component due to fluid flow exposes the tracer element. A monitoring system is disposed for cooperation with the tracer element such that exposure of the tracer element is detected by the monitoring system. The monitoring system outputs appropriate data indicative of the erosion to enable adjustments to the fluid flow.

Abstract: A treatment fluid and system are disclosed for cleaning borehole filtercake using the treatment fluid, wherein the filtercake contains reservoir drilling fluid (RDF) solids. The treatment fluid comprises a fluoride source providing a 1.2 to 5 molar fluoride concentration, and another acid or combination of acids to provide a pH between 1.8 and 5. The treatment fluid is balanced for a dissolving power high enough to have significant dissolution of the filtercake, but low enough for even propagation to avoid premature leak-off.

Abstract: A method includes providing a slurry comprising a carrier fluid and a solids mixture, and injecting said slurry in a wellbore wherein the solids mixture comprises at least two volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes, wherein a first PSD mode comprises solids having a volume-average median size at least three times larger than the volume-average median size of a second PSD mode such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) of the solids mixture exceeds 0.75.

Abstract: A method of treating a formation with a well treatment fluid comprising a clay stabilizer comprising a polyamine ether before or during a well treatment such as cleanup, gravel packing, fracturing, or the like. The stabilizer can continue to inhibit fines migration in the treatment zone even after an aqueous fluid without the stabilizer, e.g. a production fluid or injection fluid, displaces the original treatment fluid. When the stabilizer is used in a viscoelastic system (VES) with an acid blend component, the viscosity of the VES is essentially unchanged relative to the VES alone without the stabilizer.

Abstract: A method for removing preexisting filtercake from a portion of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is carried out by providing water-degradable particles formed from a solid polymeric acid precursor material that is capable of a degrading to acid for reacting with materials of the filtercake. A slurry is formed from the particles with a carrier fluid. The slurry of particles is introduced into the formation through the wellbore and allowed to degrade to form acid, whereby the formed acid facilitates decomposition of preexisting filtercake material. In certain applications, the water-degradable particles may also be used in combination with non-water-degradable particles, which may be used for forming a gravel pack. The water-degradable particles may also be used to reduce fluid loss temporarily to areas of the formation immediately surrounding the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for removing drilling damage from a formation in a wellbore that has not been produced includes injecting a chemical-acting cleanup fluid and contacting it with a filtercake on a face of a formation of interest for a period of time sufficient to loosen some of the solids embedded in the filtercake. The method further includes circulating a solids removal fluid at a high rate through the wellbore across the face of the formation of interest, the solids removal fluid including a viscosifier, and positioning a second treatment fluid having a fluid loss control pill in the wellbore at the formation of interest. The method further includes degrading particles of the fluid loss control pill and degrading remaining bridging agent from the drilling fluid.

Abstract: A method for determining particle size distribution of a subsurface rock formation using measurements of at least one nuclear magnetic resonance property made from within a wellbore penetrating the rock formation includes determining a distribution of nuclear magnetic relaxation times from the measurements of the at least one nuclear magnetic resonance property. A surface relaxivity of the formation is determined from measurements of a formation parameter. The relaxation time distribution and surface relaxivity are used to determine the particle size distribution.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for gravel packing an open-hole wellbore are disclosed. The apparatus includes a sandscreen disposed in the wellbore thereby creating an annulus between the wellbore and the sandscreen for receiving a gravel slurry. The apparatus further comprises a tubular member or wash pipe which is concentrically disposed in the sandscreen for receiving carrier fluid which passes through the sandscreen and for returning the carrier fluid to the earth's surface. At least one diverter valve is installed in the tubular member for permitting flow of the carrier fluid into the tubular member.