Abstract
Vibration of the liner in shop tests and field gravel completions illustrates the substantial difference achieved in compaction of the gravel. The standard gravel pack results in cubic packing' of the gravel whereas the liner vibration technique results in hexagonal packing. This achieves a denser more stable pack with an average 15% to 25% more gravel in the same volume. Vibration eliminates the fluid placement to the formation to achieve compaction with viscous aqueous polymer completion fluids. Also, this method of vibration has eliminated liner washing which stops the comingling of the formation with the gravel. Liner vibration is now being used extensively in development wells and also for completions in injection, steam and gas storage wells.
