Wellbore Apparatus and Method for Sand Control Using Gravel Reserve

摘要

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.