Expandable screen utilizing near neutrally-buoyant particles outside of the screen

Abstract

In one embodiment, a wellbore completion method includes disposing an expandable screen into a well bore and disposing a fluid into an annular space between a wall of the wellbore and the expandable screen. The fluid contains a plurality of near neutrally-buoyant particles. The method further includes radially expanding the screen, whereby the near neutrally-buoyant particles exert a force against the wall of the wellbore.

1 . A wellbore completion method, comprising: 
 disposing an expandable screen into a wellbore;    disposing a fluid into an annular space between a wall of the wellbore and the expandable screen, the fluid containing a plurality of near neutrally-buoyant particles; and    radially expanding the screen, whereby the near neutrally-buoyant particles exert a force against the wall of the wellbore.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density equal to the fluid such that the near neutrally-buoyant particles substantially remain in place around the screen prior to radial expansion with no tendency to rise or fall.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein some of the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density slightly greater than the fluid density such that they will tend to fall within the fluid prior to expansion and some of the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density slightly less than the fluid density such that they will tend to rise within the fluid prior to expansion.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the near neutrally-buoyant particles comprise generally spherical particles having diameters larger than the diameters of the pores existing within a formation associated with the wall of the wellbore.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises a completion fluid.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing a barrier in the annular space near a top of the screen.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing a barrier in the annular space near a bottom of the screen.  
   
   
       8 . A wellbore completion system, comprising: 
 an expandable screen configured to be disposed into a wellbore;    a fluid containing a plurality of near neutrally-buoyant particles;    a pump operable to dispose the fluid into an annular space between a wall of the wellbore and the expandable screen; and    an expander operable to radially expand the screen when disposed within the wellbore, whereby the near neutrally-buoyant particles exert a force against the wall of the wellbore.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density equal to the fluid such that the near neutrally-buoyant particles substantially remain in place around the screen prior to radial expansion with no tendency to rise or fall.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein some of the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density slightly greater than the fluid density such that they will tend to fall within the fluid prior to expansion and some of the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density slightly less than the fluid density such that they will tend to rise within the fluid prior to expansion.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the near neutrally-buoyant particles comprise generally spherical particles having diameters larger than the diameters of the pores existing within a formation associated with the wall of the wellbore.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid comprises a completion fluid.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a barrier coupled near a top of the screen.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a barrier coupled near a bottom of the screen.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the expander comprises a cone expander.  
   
   
       16 . A method for expanding an expandable screen within a wellbore, comprising: 
 disposing a fluid containing a plurality of near neutrally-buoyant particles into an annular space between the expandable screen and a wall of the wellbore; and    expanding the screen in such a manner that the near neutrally-buoyant particles exert a force against the wall of the wellbore.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density equal to the fluid such that the near neutrally-buoyant particles substantially remain in place around the screen prior to expansion with no tendency to rise or fall.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein some of the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density slightly greater than the fluid density such that they will tend to fall within the fluid prior to expansion and some of the near neutrally-buoyant particles have a density slightly less than the fluid density such that they will tend to rise within the fluid prior to expansion.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the near neutrally-buoyant particles comprise generally spherical particles having diameters larger than the diameters of the pores existing within a formation associated with the wall of the wellbore.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising defining a cylindrical volume for the near neutrally-buoyant particles by placing a first barrier in the annular space near a top of the screen and a second barrier in the annular space near a bottom of the screen.