CARBOAIR LANDS 100% SUCCESS RATE IN ALPHA/BETA GRAVEL PACKS

In clean, in-gauge wellbores with a good margin between pore and frac pressure, operators could confidently rely on low-density ceramic or natural sand proppant for securing a complete pack applying the Alpha/Beta wave gravel packing technique. However, with more aggressive horizontal drilling programs, the higher pump rates and pressures typically required compromised full coverage of the open hole section, resulting in incomplete gravel packs. The dilemma in properly placing gravel packs under these conditions was to place an Alpha wave at a lower rate, thereby providing more space to complete the critical Beta wave, and do so while maintaining the gravel in suspension at lower rates, avoiding breakdown of the formation. Consequently, operators required a lower-density proppant that could be pumped along with a lowerviscosity carrier fluid, while achieving minimal skin. In addition a lower viscosity, low-polymer fluid would help achieve a minimal skin.