Gravel packing system and method

Abstract

A gravel packing system includes at least two packers with at least one of the two packers being sealable to an open hole, a barrier sealably engaged with the at least two packers defining an annular space between the open hole and the barrier, a cross-over tool operably connectable to at least one of the at least two packers and the barrier, and at least one regulator in operable communication with the barrier configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the annular space while gravel is packed at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, downstream being defined by a direction of travel of gravel being packed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gravel packing system comprising:
 at least two packers with at least one of the two packers being sealable to an open hole;   a barrier sealably engaged with the at least two packers defining an annular space between the open hole and the barrier;   a cross-over tool operably connectable to at least one of the at least two packers and the barrier; and   at least one regulator in operable communication with the barrier configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the annular space while gravel is being packed at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, downstream being defined by a direction of travel of gravel being packed.   
     
     
         2 . The gravel packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one regulator sets the substantially constant pressure as the hydrostatic pressure at a position of the at least one regulator when a first of the at least two packers is set. 
     
     
         3 . The gravel packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one regulator prevents pressure in the annular space from exceeding a set pressure level. 
     
     
         4 . The gravel packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the location downstream of at least one of at least two packers is downstream of both of the at least two packers. 
     
     
         5 . The gravel packing system of  claim 4 , wherein subsequent packing of gravel at the location downstream of both of the at least two packers, the cross-over tool can be shifted to thereby allow gravel packing of another annular space. 
     
     
         6 . The gravel packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two packers is more than two packers and the cross-over tool can be moved to sequentially pack gravel at a plurality of locations. 
     
     
         7 . The gravel packing system of  claim 6 , wherein the sequentially packing of gravel is from a furthest downstream location first to ever less downstream locations. 
     
     
         8 . The gravel packing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-over tool is configured to be moved relative to at least the at least two packers and the barrier to allow actuation of the at least two packers, alteration of valves, transporting of gravel therethrough and allowing reverse flows therethrough to purge excess gravel therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The gravel packing system of  claim 8 , wherein the actuation of the at least two packers, alteration of valves, transporting of gravel therethrough and reversing of flow therethrough can all be accomplished without fully withdrawing the cross-over tool from the at least two packers. 
     
     
         10 . A method of packing gravel comprising:
 running a cross-over tool within an open borehole;   engaging the cross-over tool with at least one of at least two packers wherein at least one of the at least two packers is set in the open borehole and a barrier sealed to the at least two packers defining an annular space between the barrier and the open borehole;   packing gravel at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers; and   maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the annular space.   
     
     
         11 . The method of packing gravel of  claim 10 , further comprising preventing pressure in the annular space from exceeding a set pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of packing gravel of  claim 10 , further comprising setting the substantially constant pressure in the annular space to be substantially equal to hydrostatic pressure in the annular space prior to setting the at least two packers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of packing gravel of  claim 10 , further comprising packing gravel in the annular space. 
     
     
         14 . The method of packing gravel of  claim 10 , further comprising packing gravel at additional locations with each location being located upstream of previously packed locations. 
     
     
         15 . The method of packing gravel of  claim 13 , wherein the packing gravel at the location and at additional locations is completed without withdrawing of the cross-over tool from the at least two packers.