Alternate Path systems use shunt tubes and nozzles to create an alternate flow path that allows slurry to bypass bridges and fill in voids that can occur when gravel and frac packing. Options are available for both cased hole and openhole wells.

System designs to ensure complete annular packs

Each system is composed of a screen with shunt tubes, fluid systems with specific requirements, and a customized pumping design. The system helps increase completion longevity and reliability by ensuring a complete annular pack, thereby reducing the risks of erosion hot spots, hardware damage, screen and gravel-pack failure, and deterioration in well productivity.

Complete most openhole gravel packs with OptiPac service screens

Screens designed for the OptiPac Alternate Path gravel-pack service are available to suit the characteristics of the reservoir and the wellbore to be gravel packed. Both wire-wrapped and premium sintered mesh versions are available.

The screens are designed with one or two transport tubes that are nonported and move the slurry from joint to joint. Each joint also has two packing tubes equipped with nozzles that divert the slurry to the open hole between the screen and wellbore when bridges form, allowing the empty spaces to be filled.

Maximize coverage in extended-reach openhole wells with UltiPac screens

UltiPac Alternate Path extended-reach gravel-pack screen has unique round shunt tubes to minimize frictional losses and increase the gravel-pack length to more than 6,000 ft [1,829 m]. Each screen is equipped with six transport tubes and three packing tubes, all encased by the screen wire for protection so that the screen can be fully rotated while running in. The screen uses the same wrapped wire as the robust and precisely manufactured direct-wire-wrapped screen.

Expedite multizone gravel packing with the OSMP packer

Zonal isolation with the hydrostatically set OSMP OptiPac service mechanical packer—which is equipped with Alternate Path shunt tubes—enables multizone openhole gravel packing. The packer sets in a matter of seconds, eliminating the long wait times that result when using swell packers for zonal isolation. Rapid setting also precludes the possibility of prematurely pumping gravel before sealing is complete, which can lead to insertion of gravel between the packer element and the borehole wall and consequently, an incomplete seal. Gravel packing nonproductive zones can be avoided, saving time and costs.

Deliver high rates in cased hole wells with AllFRAC screens

AllFRAC Alternate Path cased hole frac-pack screens can handle higher treatment rates and are suitable for frac packing. Wire-wrapped and premium sintered mesh versions are available. These screens can be used with conventional gravel-pack systems as well as single-trip perforating and gravel- and frac-pack systems.