System, method and apparatus for enhanced friction reduction in gravel pack operations   

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/059652 entitled “METHODS TO REDUCE FRICTION IN HIGH RATE GRAVEL PACK OPERATIONS,” filed on Jun. 6, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The technical field generally relates to gravel pack operations in subterranean wells, and more particularly but not exclusively relates to gravel pack operations using an alpha-beta wave process. Gravel pack operations are often performed with fluids designed to leave minimal gravel pack damage after the job is completed, and therefore have minimal or zero viscosifiers added. Fluids without viscosifiers do not have significant particle carrying capacity, and the gravel therefore settles very quickly. In response to fast settling, it is desirable to perform gravel pack operations at high pumping rates to minimize negative consequences of particle settling. Further, it is generally desirable to keep the pressure at the formation face during treatment below the fracturing pressure. Gravel pack fluids experience frictional pressure at the crossover ports, between the formation and the screen, between the screen and the washpipe, and within the washpipe. These areas can be significant restrictions, and frictional pressure drops in these areas are experienced as increased pressure at the formation face. Further, a fluid with no viscosifiers such as a brine can experience higher friction generally than fluids with surfactant viscosifiers or linear fluids with low polymer viscosifier loadings. Friction reducers added to a fluid at surface can undergo degradation from shear and other conditions experienced during a treatment. These limitations can limit the maximum interval to be treated in a single treatment, limit the available pump rates, and contribute to unintentional fracturing of the formation. Therefore, further technological developments are desirable in this area.

SUMMARY

One embodiment is a unique method for enhancing friction reduction in gravel pack operations. Other embodiments include unique systems and apparatus to enhance friction reduction in gravel pack operations. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for enhanced friction reduction in gravel pack operations.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a patterned surface.

FIG. 2B is a detail portion of the schematic diagram of the patterned surface.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a downhole shear control device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a downhole friction reducer delivery device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a procedure for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram of an alternate procedure for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram of yet another alternate procedure for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a system for enhanced friction reduction in gravel pack operations.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram of yet another alternate procedure for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow diagram of yet another alternate procedure for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplated herein. In addition, the composition used/disclosed herein can also comprise some components other than those cited. In the summary and this detailed description, each numerical value should be read once as modified by the term “about” (unless already expressly so modified), and then read again as not so modified unless otherwise indicated in context. Also, in the summary and this detailed description, it should be understood that a concentration range listed or described as being useful, suitable, or the like, is intended that any and every concentration within the range, including the end points, is to be considered as having been stated. For example, “a range of from 1 to 10” is to be read as indicating each and every possible number along the continuum between about 1 and about 10. Thus, even if specific data points within the range, or even no data points within the range, are explicitly identified or refer to only a few specific, it is to be understood that inventors appreciate and understand that any and all data points within the range are to be considered to have been specified, and that inventors possessed knowledge of the entire range and all points within the range.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 100 for enhanced friction reduction in gravel pack operations. The system 100 includes a wellbore 102 intersecting a subterranean formation 104, a treatment flowpath disposed in the wellbore 102. The wellbore 102 is illustrated as a vertical wellbore, but the wellbore 102 may be deviated and/or horizontal. The wellbore 102 is shown as an open-hole completion through the subterranean formation 104, but may be a cased completion where a gravel pack is used, for example to keep perforation tunnels open in an unconsolidated formation 104. The overburden 106 is illustrated as a non-utilized formation, but may include any number of formations and may include productive zones, etc. The gravel pack is illustrated at a single productive zone 104 to emphasize the features of the present application.

The system 100 includes a treatment fluid 132 created from a base fluid 128, with gravel 126 added during appropriate stages of the treatment, and other additives (not shown) that may be added at a blender 134 or by other known methods. The base fluid 128 includes any fluid known in the art, including a viscous fluid, a brine, and/or a heavy brine. The brine can be a water-based fluid including any of NaCl, NaBr, CaCl2, CaBr2, cesium formate, potassium formate, ZnBr2, CsBr, and/or KCl. The base fluid 128 may include a viscosifying agent, and may be an oil-based fluid. The treatment fluid 132 may be of any viscosity and density, and in certain embodiments has a viscosity lower than 20 cp (0.02 Pa-s) and a downhole density higher than 8.4 pounds per gallon (1.0 kg/L). In a further embodiment, the treatment fluid 132 has a viscosity lower than 0.2 cp (2.0×10−4 Pa-s) and a downhole density lower than 16 pounds per gallon (1.9 kg/L).

The system 100 includes a pump 136 that delivers the treatment fluid 132 to the wellbore 102 at selected pumping rates and pressures. In an exemplary embodiment, the treatment fluid 132, at one stage of a gravel pack treatment, has a fluid flow 110 through a first crossover port 160 from a treatment tubing interior 108 to an annulus between a screen 142 and the formation face. The treatment fluid has a second fluid flow 112 through the screen, depositing any remaining gravel 126, and a third fluid flow 114 into a washpipe 140. The treatment fluid 132 has a fourth fluid flow 116 through a second crossover port 150 to return to the surface location 138 through an annulus 118 between a treatment tubing 109 and the casing 120. Other treatment configurations are understood in the art and are contemplated herein.

The treatment flowpath includes a fluid path from a surface location 138 to the subterranean formation 104 and returning to the surface location 138, where the treatment flowpath includes a delivery flowpath and a pertinent flowpath 122. The delivery flowpath includes the treatment flowpath upstream of the subterranean formation 104, and the pertinent flowpath includes the treatment flowpath at the subterranean formation and downstream of the subterranean formation 104. In certain embodiments, the delivery flowpath includes any portion of the treatment flowpath upstream of the subterranean formation 104, and the pertinent flowpath 122 includes any portion of the treatment flowpath wherein friction pressure produced in the portion of the flowpath increases the pressure at the formation 104 face.

For example, the delivery flowpath includes an interior 108 of the treatment tubing 109 and a first crossover port 160. The treatment tubing 109 may be any treatment tubing understood in the art, including standard jointed treatment tubing and/or coiled tubing. In certain embodiments, the pertinent flowpath 122 includes a first annulus between a screen 142 and the formation face (i.e. the wellbore 102), a second annulus 144 between a washpipe 140 and the screen 142, an interior of the washpipe 140, and/or a second crossover port 150 that allows treatment fluid to flow from the washpipe 140 to a third annulus 118 between casing 120 and a treatment tubing 109. The pertinent flowpath 122 further includes the third annulus 118, in certain embodiments.

The system 100 further includes a gravel pack assembly including a first crossover port 160, a screen 142, a washpipe 140, and a second crossover port 150. The first crossover port 160 fluidly couples the delivery flowpath to the pertinent flowpath and the second crossover port fluidly couples the washpipe 140 to a return portion of the pertinent flowpath (i.e. the third annulus 118).

The system further 100 includes a friction reducing agent that is effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath, where the friction reducing agent is not effective at the surface location 138. In certain further embodiments, the friction reducing agent is not effective in at least a portion of the delivery flowpath, and is effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath 122.

The friction reducing agent is described as being effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath 122 and not effective in at least a portion of the delivery flowpath and/or at the surface location 138. The system 100, in certain embodiments, includes an additional friction reducer or friction reducers that may be effective at any or all locations of the system 100. For example, and without limitation, the treatment fluid includes a friction reducer such as a surfactant added at the blender 134, with an additional friction reducing agent that is effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath 122 and not effective in at least a portion of the delivery flowpath.

Referencing FIG. 2A, in certain embodiments the friction reducing agent includes a surface pattern on at least one surface in the pertinent flowpath. The illustration in FIG. 2A shows a surface pattern on an interior of the washpipe 140. In certain embodiments, the surface pattern includes a micro-pattern and/or a nano-pattern that reduces the flowing friction through the washpipe 140. A micro-pattern includes any pattern having features that would be described as a micro-pattern in the art, further including a pattern with features smaller than 10−3 meters, features sized between about 10−4 and 10−7 meters, and/or features sized at about 10−6 meters. A nano-pattern includes any pattern having features that would be described as a nano-pattern in the art, further including a pattern having features smaller than 10−6 meters, features sized between about 10−7 and 10−10 meters, and/or features sized at about 10−9 meters.

Referencing FIG. 2B, the sizing of the features may include the sizing of a distance between features 204, and/or a size of the features 202 including a characteristic dimension of the feature (width, length, diameter, etc.) or an area of the feature. Additionally, the size of the features 202 may be statistical description of an average feature. In certain embodiments, a micro-pattern and/or nano-pattern includes any surface patterned in a manner that reduces flowing friction at the fluid viscosities and flow rates in the area of the surface patterning. The features 202 are illustrated as protrusions but may alternatively or additionally include divots, dimples, scratched surfaces and/or roughened surfaces. While the interior of the washpipe 140 is illustrated in FIG. 2A, the system 100 may include a patterning of any surface in the pertinent flowpath, including without limitation a surface of the screen 142, an outer surface of the washpipe 140, an outside of the tubing 109, and/or an interior of the casing 120.

In certain embodiments, the friction reducing agent includes a friction reducer incorporated within individual particles of an amount of particles included in a treatment fluid 132. The particles having the friction reducer may be incorporated within gravel 126 added to the treatment fluid, or may be added at a blender 134 during treatment. The incorporated friction reducer may be an encapsulated friction reducer, an adsorbed friction reducer, an absorbed friction reducer, and/or a friction reducer incorporated as a chemical precursor. The incorporated friction reducer is introduced into solution in the treatment fluid 132 in response to conditions experienced by the treatment fluid 132 during a treatment operation. In an exemplary embodiment, the system 100 includes a downhole activation condition including a downhole temperature, a downhole pH value, a treatment fluid shear amount, a treatment fluid residence time, and/or a treatment pressure, where the incorporated friction reducer is incorporated into solution in the treatment fluid 132 in response to the downhole activation condition. For example, an encapsulated friction reducer may be designed to release the friction reducer due to temperature, pressure, shear, abrasion, and/or erosion within the wellbore 102 at a position such that the friction reducer is effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath 122.

In an exemplary embodiment, the friction reducer is incorporated within individual particles as a chemical friction reducer precursor, and the system 100 further includes a downhole activation condition that is sufficient to convert at least a portion of the chemical friction reducer precursor to a friction reducer amount in solution in the treatment fluid. The chemical friction reducer precursor may be converted to the friction reducer by hydrolysis, dissolution, and/or by a redox reaction. The conversion of the chemical friction reducer precursor can be delayed by configuring the precursor to react according to the estimated temperature of the treatment fluid 132, the development of pH in the treatment fluid 132, or by any planned reaction according to other known or estimated conditions during treatment. The use of chemical friction reducer precursor indicates that, when the precursor is reacted, friction reducer is released into the treatment fluid 132. The friction reducer released may be a part of the particle with the precursor, and/or may be the reacted precursor or unreacted portions of the precursor.

The release mechanism of the friction reducer may be any mechanism understood in the art, including without limitation the chemical friction reducer precursor as a coating on a particle including the friction reducer, wherein the degrading coating releases the friction reducer, and the chemical friction reducer precursor as a binder for the particle, wherein the degrading binder breaks the particle including the friction reducer into smaller particles, thereby releasing the friction reducer and/or greatly increasing the friction reducer surface area exposure to the treatment fluid 132. Described mechanisms are illustrative and not limiting.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system 100 includes the friction reducer as a coating on any surface of the pertinent flowpath 122. The friction reducer as a coating includes coatings that create a low friction surface, and/or coatings that dissolve into the treatment fluid 132 creating a treatment fluid 132 exhibiting lower friction as a fluid. For example, a polytetrafluoroethylene coating (or other similarly functioning material) may be included at one or more surfaces of the pertinent flowpath 122. In certain embodiments, a surfactant or other friction reducing material may be included at one or more surfaces of the pertinent flowpath 122 such that the friction reducing material dissolves over time into the treatment fluid 132.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a downhole shear control device. The device includes a coil 302 that has a portion of the delivery flowpath disposed within the coil 302. In an exemplary embodiment, the treatment fluid 132 includes an amount of magnetic particles, and during the gravel pack operation a varying electrical current in the coil 302 exposes a portion of the delivery flowpath to a magnetic field, inducing the treatment fluid 132 to exhibit a temporary viscosity increase. The viscosity increase may be utilized, for example, to enhance shear in the tubing 109 and/or through the first crossover port 160, thereby triggering or assisting a release of an encapsulated friction reducer. In alternate embodiments, the system 100 includes a device for exposing at least a portion of the delivery flowpath to an electric, magnetic, and/or electromagnetic field, and the treatment fluid 132 includes an amount of magnetic particles. The coil 302 may be controllable from the surface location 138, allowing control of downhole treatment fluid 132 viscosity from the surface location 138 and/or from a remote location in communication with the surface location 138.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a downhole friction reducer delivery device. The friction reducer is included in a downhole container 402, and introduced into the treatment fluid 132 during the performance of the gravel pack treatment. The downhole container 402 is structured to release the friction reducer during the treatment, and may release the friction reducer by any method, including without limitation dissolving the friction reducer into the treatment fluid, opening at a downhole condition experienced during the treatment such as a downhole pressure, and/or controllably opening in response to a control signal. The control signal is any signal understood in the art, including a direct electronic signal, a predetermined pressure wave signal, and a mechanical signal conveyed via the tubing 109 or other device.

The friction reducer included in the downhole container 402 includes any friction reducer known in the art, including a surfactant, a polymer, an amount of assembled low molecular weight organic molecules, and an amount of fibers. The downhole container 402 is illustrated at a position just before the first crossover port 160, but the downhole container 402 may be at any location such that the released friction reducer is effective in the treatment fluid 132 through at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath 122.

Referencing FIG. 8, a schematic block diagram of a system 800 for enhanced friction reduction in gravel pack operations is shown. The system 800 includes a surface location 138 and a delivery flowpath 804 comprising a flowpath from the surface location 138 to a gravel pack assembly 806. The gravel pack assembly 806 includes a first crossover port 160 comprising a fluid connection between the delivery flowpath 804 and a pertinent flowpath 122. The gravel pack assembly 806 further includes a second crossover port 150 which provides a fluid connection between the gravel pack assembly 806 and a return portion 118 of the pertinent flowpath 122. The gravel pack assembly 806 further includes a screen 142 and washpipe 140, not shown in FIG. 8.

The system 800 further includes not effective friction reducing agent 802 at the surface location 138. The not effective friction reducing agent 802 may be not effective at the surface because the friction reducer is present in the treatment fluid 132 but is not in solution (e.g. incorporated within particles) or not effective because the friction reducer is not yet present in the treatment fluid 132 at the surface location 138. The system 800 further includes an effective friction reducing agent 808 in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath 122. The effective friction reducing agent 808 may be effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath 122 because the friction reducer is present only in the pertinent flowpath 122, because the friction reducer is released into the treatment fluid 132 at some downhole location, and/or because the friction reducer is released from the amount of particles into solution in the treatment fluid 132 during the course of the gravel pack treatment.

The schematic flow diagrams in FIGS. 5-7 and 9-10, and related descriptions which follow, provide illustrative embodiments of performing procedures for enhanced friction reduction in gravel pack operations. Operations illustrated are understood to be exemplary only, and operations may be combined or divided, and added or removed, as well as re-ordered in whole or part, unless stated explicitly to the contrary herein.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a procedure 500 for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation. The procedure 500 includes an operation 502 to provide a treatment fluid including an amount of particulates, an operation 504 to provide providing a pertinent flowpath, and an operation 506 to provide a delivery flowpath. The procedure 500 further includes an operation 508 to select a friction reducing method. In alternate embodiments, two or more friction reducing methods may be selected. A first friction reducing method includes an operation 510 to encapsulate a friction reducer in the amount of particles, and an operation 512 to release the encapsulated friction reducer in response to a treatment condition experienced by the treatment fluid during an operation 520 to perform a gravel pack treatment utilizing the treatment fluid.

A second friction reducing method includes an operation 514 to coat at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath with a friction reducing material. A third friction reducing method includes an operation 516 to coat at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath with a dissolving friction reducer that goes into solution in the treatment fluid over a period of time during the operation 520 to perform the gravel pack treatment utilizing the treatment fluid. A fourth friction reducing method includes an operation 518 to provide at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath with a surface pattern that reduces fluid flow friction past the surface. The procedure 500 concludes with the operation 520 to perform the gravel pack treatment utilizing the treatment fluid.

Delivery flowpath portions include a treatment tubing, a coiled tubing, and/or a first cross-over port fluidly coupling an upstream portion of the delivery flowpath to the pertinent flowpath. Pertinent flowpath portions includes a first annulus between a screen and the formation face, a second annulus between the screen and a washpipe external surface, a washpipe interior surface, and a second cross-over port fluidly coupling the washpipe to a return portion of the pertinent flowpath. A pertinent flowpath portion may further include a third annulus between the treatment tubing and a casing.

Providing the friction reducing agent includes one or more operations selected from releasing a friction reducer included in the amount of particulates into solution in the treatment fluid, providing a surface pattern and/or a friction reducing coating on a surface of the pertinent flowpath including a screen surface, a washpipe outer surface, a washpipe inner surface, a casing inner surface, a treatment tubing outer surface, and/or a coiled tubing outer surface. The method further includes providing a dissolving friction reducer as a coating on the screen and/or the washpipe.

Providing a friction reducing feature includes providing an encapsulated friction reducer in the treatment fluid, where the encapsulated friction reducer releases the encapsulated friction reducer in response to a downhole temperature during the gravel pack treatment, an amount of shear experienced by the treatment fluid during the gravel pack treatment, a downhole pressure during the gravel pack treatment, and/or a pH of the treatment fluid during the gravel pack treatment.

In certain embodiments, the method includes providing the friction reducing agent by providing a friction reducer contained within individual particles of the amount of particles and releasing the friction reducer from the individual particles when the treatment fluid is downhole. The method further includes releasing the friction reducer by a releasing operation selected from eroding the individual particles, activating a chemical reaction of the individual particles by temperature, and/or by performing a dissolution, hydrolysis, and/or redox reaction of at least a portion of the individual particles.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram of an alternate procedure 600 for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation. The procedure 600 includes an operation 502 to provide a treatment fluid including an amount of particulates, and an operation 602 to include an amount of magnetic particles as at least a portion of the amount of particles. The procedure 600 further includes an operation 504 to provide providing a pertinent flowpath, and an operation 506 to provide a delivery flowpath. The procedure 600 further includes an operation 604 to expose at least a portion of the delivery flowpath to an electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic field. The procedure 500 concludes with the operation 520 to perform the gravel pack treatment utilizing the treatment fluid.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram of yet another alternate procedure 700 for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation. The procedure 700 includes an operation 502 to provide a treatment fluid including an amount of particulates, an operation 504 to provide providing a pertinent flowpath, and an operation 506 to provide a delivery flowpath. The procedure 700 further includes an operation 702 to provide a downhole container having a friction reducer therein, and an operation 704 to release the friction reducer included in the downhole container into the treatment fluid during the a gravel pack treatment performed utilizing the treatment fluid.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram of yet another alternate procedure 900 for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation. The procedure 900 includes an operation 902 to provide a gravel pack assembly and an operation 904 to prepare a low friction surface of the gravel pack assembly. The operation 904 to prepare the low friction surface includes providing a surface pattern on the surface of the gravel pack assembly, and/or providing a low friction coating on the surface of the gravel pack assembly. The procedure 900 further includes an operation 906 to position the gravel pack assembly at a position in a wellbore intersecting a subterranean formation of interest, and an operation 908 to perform an alpha-beta wave gravel pack treatment in the wellbore across at least a portion of the subterranean formation of interest. In certain embodiments, the low friction surface of the gravel pack assembly includes a surface of the screen, an inner surface of the washpipe, and/or an outer surface of the washpipe.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow diagram of yet another alternate procedure 1000 for enhancing friction reduction in a gravel pack operation. The procedure 1000 includes an operation 1002 to interpret a treatment schedule including a pump schedule for an alpha-beta wave gravel pack treatment and an operation 1004 to determine a treatment condition in response to the treatment schedule, for example a downhole temperature and/or pressure. The procedure 1000 further includes an operation 1006 to provide a treatment flowpath including a delivery flowpath and a pertinent flowpath, and an operation 1008 to position a gravel pack assembly in a wellbore at a subterranean formation of interest. The procedure 1000 further includes an operation 1010 to determine a friction reducing agent that is effective in the pertinent flowpath but not at a surface location, where the determining is according to the treatment condition. The procedure 1000 further includes an operation 1012 to provide a treatment fluid including an amount of particles and the friction reducing agent, and an operation 1014 to perform a gravel pack treatment utilizing the treatment fluid in response to the treatment schedule.

As is evident from the figures and text presented above, a variety of embodiments according to the present invention are contemplated.

One exemplary embodiment is a method including providing a treatment fluid comprising an amount of particulates, providing a pertinent flowpath, providing a delivery flowpath comprising a fluid conduit connecting a surface location to the pertinent flowpath, wherein the delivery flowpath is disposed in a wellbore, providing a friction reducing agent effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath, and performing a gravel pack treatment utilizing the treatment fluid. Fluid friction pressure in the pertinent flowpath is at least partially transferred to a formation face in a wellbore. The friction reducing agent is not effective in at least a portion of the delivery flowpath, for example at a surface location.

Delivery flowpath portions include a treatment tubing, a coiled tubing, and/or a first cross-over port fluidly coupling an upstream portion of the delivery flowpath to the pertinent flowpath. Pertinent flowpath portions includes a first annulus between a screen and the formation face, a second annulus between the screen and a washpipe external surface, a washpipe interior surface, and a second cross-over port fluidly coupling the washpipe to a return portion of the pertinent flowpath. A pertinent flowpath portion may further include a third annulus between the treatment tubing and a casing.

Providing the friction reducing agent includes one or more operations selected from releasing a friction reducer included in the amount of particulates into solution in the treatment fluid, providing a surface pattern and/or a friction reducing coating on a surface of the pertinent flowpath including a screen surface, a washpipe outer surface, a washpipe inner surface, a casing inner surface, a treatment tubing outer surface, and/or a coiled tubing outer surface. The method further includes providing a dissolving friction reducer as a coating on the screen and/or the washpipe.

Providing a friction reducing feature includes providing an encapsulated friction reducer in the treatment fluid, where the encapsulated friction reducer releases the encapsulated friction reducer in response to a downhole temperature during the gravel pack treatment, an amount of shear experienced by the treatment fluid during the gravel pack treatment, a downhole pressure during the gravel pack treatment, and/or a pH of the treatment fluid during the gravel pack treatment. In a further embodiment, the method includes providing an amount of magnetic particles as at least a portion of the amount of particles, and exposing at least a portion of the delivery flowpath to a electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic field. In certain embodiments, the method includes releasing a friction reducer included in a downhole container into the treatment fluid during the performing a gravel pack treatment.

In certain embodiments, the method includes providing the friction reducing agent by providing a friction reducer contained within individual particles of the amount of particles and releasing the friction reducer from the individual particles when the treatment fluid is downhole. The method further includes releasing the friction reducer by a releasing operation selected from eroding the individual particles, activating a chemical reaction of the individual particles by temperature, and/or by performing a dissolution, hydrolysis, and/or redox reaction of at least a portion of the individual particles.

Another exemplary embodiment is a system including a wellbore intersecting a subterranean formation, a treatment flowpath disposed in the wellbore including a fluid path from a surface location to the subterranean formation and returning to the surface location, where the treatment flowpath includes a delivery flowpath and a pertinent flowpath. The delivery flowpath includes the treatment flowpath upstream of the subterranean formation, and the pertinent flowpath includes the treatment flowpath at the subterranean formation and downstream of the subterranean formation. The system further includes a gravel pack assembly including a first crossover port, a screen, a washpipe, and a second crossover port. The first crossover port fluidly couples the delivery flowpath to the pertinent flowpath and the second crossover port fluidly couples the washpipe to a return portion of the pertinent flowpath. The system further includes a friction reducing agent that is effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath, where the friction reducing agent is not effective at the surface location.

In a further embodiment, the friction reducing agent includes a surface pattern on at least one surface in the pertinent flowpath, including without limitation a surface of the screen, an outer surface of the washpipe, and/or an inner surface of the washpipe. The exemplary system includes a treatment fluid having an amount of particulates, where the friction reducing agent includes a friction reducer incorporated within individual particles of the amount of particulates. The friction reducer is incorporated in the individual particles as an encapsulated friction reducer, an absorbed friction reducer, an adsorbed friction reducer, and/or a chemical friction reducer precursor. In a still further embodiment, the friction reducer is incorporated within individual particles as a chemical friction reducer precursor, and the system further includes a downhole activation condition including a downhole temperature and/or a downhole pH value, where the downhole activation condition is sufficient to convert at least a portion of the chemical friction reducer precursor to a friction reducer amount in solution in the treatment fluid. In certain embodiments, the system further includes the downhole activation condition as a treatment fluid shear amount, a treatment fluid residence time, and/or a treatment pressure; where the downhole activation condition is sufficient to convert the friction reducer incorporated into individual particles into a friction reducer amount in solution in the treatment fluid.

Yet another exemplary embodiment is a method including providing a gravel pack assembly including a screen and a washpipe, preparing a low friction surface of the gravel pack, positioning the gravel pack assembly at a position in a wellbore intersecting a subterranean formation of interest, and performing an alpha-beta wave gravel pack treatment in the wellbore across at least a portion of the subterranean formation of interest. The low friction surface of the gravel pack assembly includes a surface of the screen, an inner surface of the washpipe, and/or an outer surface of the washpipe. The preparing includes providing a surface pattern on the surface of the gravel pack assembly, and/or providing a low friction coating on the surface of the gravel pack assembly. The surface pattern includes micro-patterning and/or nano-patterning. In a further embodiment, the surface pattern includes features sized at about 10−6 meters, and in an alternate embodiment, the surface pattern includes features sized at about 10−9 meters.

Another exemplary embodiment is a method for gravel pack treatment of a subterranean formation of interest intersected by a wellbore, the method including interpreting a treatment schedule including a pump schedule for an alpha-beta wave gravel pack treatment, determining a treatment condition in response to the treatment schedule, providing a treatment flowpath disposed in the wellbore including a fluid path from a surface location to the subterranean formation and returning to the surface location, positioning the gravel pack assembly at a position in a wellbore intersecting a subterranean formation of interest, determining a friction reducing agent that is effective in at least a portion of the pertinent flowpath and that is not effective at the surface location in response to the treatment condition, providing a treatment fluid including an amount of particulates and the friction reducing agent, and performing a gravel pack treatment utilizing the treatment fluid in response to the treatment schedule. The treatment flowpath includes a delivery flowpath and a pertinent flowpath, where the delivery flowpath includes the treatment flowpath upstream of the subterranean formation, and the pertinent flowpath includes the treatment flowpath at the subterranean formation and downstream of the subterranean formation. In a further embodiment, the treatment condition includes a downhole temperature and a downhole pressure, and the friction reducing agent includes an encapsulated friction reducer that releases friction reducer into solution in the treatment fluid in response to exposure of the treatment fluid to the treatment condition.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions are desired to be protected. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.