During the gravel packing and fracturing processes in deviated wells the flows can follow complicated three-dimensional paths in the treating string. In this paper we present the formulation of a three-dimensional numerical model of fluid and solids transport for evaluation and design of these completion events. The simulator tracks the slurry flow from the surface, throughout the wellbore, and into the perforations. It treats fluid return and loss into the formation. The model simulates fluid displacement, gravel settling, dune formation, bridging, fluid flow through packed solids and flow into and out of screens.
We present validation results against laboratory and field data for various fluids, deviations, pumping rates, and solids loading.
