Drilling method for maintaining productivity while eliminating perforating and gravel packing

Abstract

A method for well construction and completion is disclosed. First, a productive section of a well is drilled in the presence of a fluid system that controls fluid losses, is substantially non-damaging to the formation and includes particles in a particle size distribution sufficient to form a low permeability filter cake on a formation face and to allow the majority of the filter cake particles to flow back into the borehole after well completion. after drilling, a casing includes at least one and preferably a plurality of extendable permeable elements or member is run in the well so that the elements are positioned and aligned with sites in the producing formation and once extended form production conduits between the formation and an interior of the casing. A completed borehole is also disclosed including a casing having production conduits formed from the extendable members or elements.

1 . A method of well construction and completion comprising: 
 drilling a well with a fluid system into a target formation or reservoir, where the fluid system produces no filter cake or a minimal filter cake on a surface of the target formation;    inserting into the well a casing string including at least one extendable member so that the extendable member is positioned adjacent a site in the target formation or reservoir, where the extendable members have a sand control medium at their distal end, where the sand control medium is adapted to minimize formation damage and maximizing well productivity, while eliminating well perforation and gravel packing;    extending the member until the members contacts the site in target formation or reservoir; and    placing the well on production.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid system is a “Drill-In Fluid.” 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a hydrostatic pressure that is less than or equal to the pressure of the target reservoir.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 circulating a solvent through the well after the placing step, where the solvent is designed to remove portions of the filter cake from the surface of the target formation, where the portions are associated with the extendable members.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 cementing the casing in place.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the step of: 
 circulating a solvent through the well after the placing step, where the solvent is designed to remove portions of the filter cake from the surface of the target formation, where the portions are associated with the extendable members.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the extending step is after the cementing step.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the fluid system is a “Drill-In Fluid.” 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the fluid has a hydrostatic pressure that is less than or equal to the pressure of the target reservoir.  
   
   
       44 . A method of well construction and completion comprising: 
 drilling a well with a first fluid system to a point above a target reservoir;    displacing the first fluid system with a second fluid system, where the second fluid system produces no filter cake or a minimal filter cake on a surface of the target formation;    drilling a remaining portion of the well into the target reservoir;    inserting into the well a casing string including at least one extendable member so that the extendable member is positioned adjacent a site in the target formation or reservoir, where the extendable members have a sand control medium at their distal end, where the sand control medium is adapted to minimize formation damage and maximizing well productivity, while eliminating well perforation and gravel packing;    extending the member until the member contacts the site in target reservoir; and    placing the well on production.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first fluid system is a conventional drilling fluid and the second fluid system is a “Drill-In Fluid.” 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the second fluid system has a hydrostatic pressure that is less than or equal to the pressure of the target reservoir.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising the step of: 
 circulating a solvent through the well after the placing step, where the solvent is designed to remove portions of the filter cake from the surface of the target formation, where the portions are associated with the extendable members.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising the step of: 
 cementing the casing.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising the step of: 
 circulating a solvent through the well after the placing step, where the solvent is designed to remove portions of the filter cake from the surface of the target formation, where the portions are associated with the extendable members.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the extending step occurs after cementing step.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the first fluid system is a convention drilling fluid and the second fluid system is a “Drill-In Fluid.” 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the second fluid system has a hydrostatic pressure that is less than or equal to the pressure of the target reservoir.  
   
   
       53 . A well comprising a borehole and a casing inserted into the borehole, where the casing includes at least one extendable member having a retracted state and an extended state, where the casing is designed to be positioned in the well so that the at least one member is adjacent a site in a productive formation and when extended forms a production conduit between the formation at sites in a target formation having no filter cake or a minimal filter cake on a surface thereof and an interior of the casing, where the extendable members have a sand control medium at their distal end, where the sand control medium is adapted to minimize formation damage and maximizing well productivity, while eliminating well perforation and gravel packing.  
   
   
       54 . The well of  claim 53 , wherein the casing includes a plurality of extendable members, each of the members being positioned adjacent a site in the productive formation and each of the members designed to form a productive conduit between the productive formation and the interior of the casing.  
   
   
       55 . The well of  claim 53 , further comprising a cement layer between a formation face of the productive formation and an exterior surface of the casing.  
   
   
       56 . The well of  claim 54 , further comprising a cement layer between a formation face of the productive formation and an exterior surface of the casing.