First Installation of Alternate Path Openhole Packer Providing True Zonal Isolation in Openhole Gravel Packs

Abstract

Abstract Openhole completions are often selected as the preferred completion technique to provide high capacity, low skin completions. With the advances of Alternate Path® Technology (APT), a full gravel pack can be realized under challenging well conditions to provide increased long-term reliability. One draw back to openhole gravel packs (OHGP) has always been the inability to isolate undesirable water or gas, whether it be during the initial completion or during the production lifecycle of the well. Numerous improvements have been made in recent years with openhole packers to provide zonal isolation in standalone screen applications. Unfortunately, not all formations can be successfully completed with standalone screens due to non-uniform sand grain sizes, high concentration of mobile fines, or low hole angle through the pay interval. To achieve the benefits of zonal isolation, operators have opted to either complete the well as a cased hole completion, extend the limits of standalone screens beyond generally accepted best practice guidelines, use expandable screens with isolation, or attempt to seal the openhole annulus with swellable materials after gravel packing. These options may not be optimal and can compromise the ultimate recovery potential of the well. A new openhole packer with APT, Shunt Zonal Isolation (SZI) packer, has been developed and successfully deployed. When run in conjunction with Internal Shunt Alternate Path Technology (ISAPT) screens, true zonal isolation in openhole gravel pack completions can be achieved. This packer can be run through 9⅝-in. casing, is set before gravel packing begins and forms a seal against the borehole to provide true annular isolation in either round or oval hole sizes up to 10 ¾-in. The openhole annulus above the packer is gravel packed conventionally, then slurry is diverted through the shunt system to gravel pack below the isolation packer. Alternate Path Technology ensures the annular space, both above and below the isolation packer, is completely packed.