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 for stimulation of gas production from coal seams is described using a permeability modifier, such as a coal swelling agent, injected into the coal seams via a wellbore to reduce the permeability of the coal seams prior to a fracturing treatment.

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 for stimulation of gas production from coal seams is described using a permeability modifier, such as a coal swelling agent, injected into the coal seams via a wellbore to reduce the permeability of the coal seams prior to a fracturing treatment.

Abstract: A technique is provided to selectively control flow along shunt tubes, such as those used in gravel pack operations. The technique utilizes a swellable material valve that comprises a swellable material deployed along the shunt tube flow path. When flow through a specific shunt tube is no longer desired, the swellable material valve can be exposed to a substance that induces swelling of the swellable material. The expanded or swollen material blocks further flow along the shunt tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for gravel packing a open-hole wellbore having a filter cake, comprising pumping a gravel slurry into a first portion of an annulus between the wellbore and a screen, at a sufficient rate and pressure to form at least a first fracture and diverting the gravel slurry to a second portion of said annulus through alternate flowpaths while providing hydraulic isolation between the first and the second portion of said interval, thereby preventing flowback from said second portion to said first portion and resulting extension of the first fracture, and thereby forming a second fracture in said second portion of said interval.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of fracturing a subterranean formation at reduced surface pressure including injecting into a wellbore an energized fracturing fluid based on a liquid medium having a density higher than 1.2 g/cm3.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for gravel packing an open-hole wellbore having a filter cake, comprising pumping a gravel slurry into a first portion of an annular between the wellbore and a screen, at a sufficient rate and pressure to form at least a first fracture and diverting the gravel slurry to a second portion of said annular through alternate flowpaths while providing hydraulic isolation between the first and the second portion of said interval thereby preventing flowback from said second portion to said first portion and resulting extension of the first fracture and forming a second fracture in said second portion of said interval.