Importance

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Abstract

A granular medium such as gravel is emplaced in the bottom of a well. A well liner is attached to the end of a drill pipe and lowered to the bed of gravel. The drill pipe is then driven at a sonic frequency which may be a resonant frequency of vibration of the vibrating system including the pipe and the liner. A packing seal is provided between the outer wall of the drill pipe and the inner wall of the well casing to prevent the gravel from rising up the casing. The liner is sonically driven so that it penetrates into the gravel medium, the gravel being trapped beneath the seal. The gravel is fluidized by the sonic energy and packed uniformly around the liner to provide a filter for the well effluent. Further, the fluidized granular medium may be highly pressurized by the sonic energy plus the system weight so that it operates to fracture the surrounding formation to engender greater flow from the well.

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First Claim