Unit No.

5167
Baker Oil Tools

Index: 444.10
Date: May 1997
Page:1 of 2

FLUID PUMPING SERVICES

TECHNICAL UNIT

Baker Low Fine Gravel

Product No. 492-04
Description

Chemical And Physical Properties

Baker Low Fine Gravel is a high-quality, nonfractured silica sand designed specifically for sand
control applications.

Size Distribution

Features and Benefits

The low fines content of Baker Low Fine Gravel

contributes to high pack permeability.

The low oversized content ensures that the
effective size of the gravel is small enough to
control the formation sand for which it is
recommended.
Excellent roundness and sphericity and low
incidence of fractured grains minimize fines
generation during pumping and handling.
The high quartz content helps ensure that
subsequent acidizing will not result in
damaging precipitates or threaten pack
integrity.
Baker Low Fine Gravel is available in three
stock sizes to meet the requirement of most
wells and can be obtained in other size ranges
by special order.

Application
Baker Low Fine Gravel may be used as a gravel packing media in most wells to prevent the production of formation sand (see the "Limitations"
section).

Availability
Baker Low Fine Gravel is available from stock
in 12/20, 20/40, and 40/60 U.S. mesh sizes. Other
sizes which may be obtained by special order include 16/30, 20/30, 30/40, 40/50, 50/60, and 50/70
U.S. mesh. Characteristically, the quality of extremely large gravel is not high enough to meet
Baker Low Fine standards. Therefore, Baker Low
Fine is not currently available in 4/8 or 8/12 U.S.
mesh size ranges.

All sizes of Baker Low Fine Gravel are guaranteed to contain less than 2% by weight smaller or
larger than the designated size range. For example, no more than 2% of the grains in a 20/40 U.S.
mesh gravel should pass through a 40 mesh
screen, and no more than 2% should be retained
on a 20 mesh screen (see the "Quality Control"
section).

Permeability
The average laboratory measured permeabilities of Baker Low Fine stock sizes are listed below.
Contact your Regional Technical Services Laboratory for permeability data on alternate gravel sizes.
Gravel Size
(US Mesh)
12/20
20/40
40/60

Permeability
(Darcys)
652
171
69

Acid Solubility
The solubility of a gravel in 12% HCl/3% HF is
an indication of the amount of undesirable contaminants present. Following room temperature exposure to 12% HCl/3% HF for 60 minutes, a
maximum of 1.0% weight loss is expected for all
sizes of Baker Low Fine Gravel. The American Petroleum Institute does not recommend testing for
the solubility of gravel in 15% HCl, but such testing
is considered useful to detect high calcium carbonate levels. Under the above stated test conditions,
less than 1% of any Baker Low Fine Gravel should
be soluble in 15% HCl.

This document contains Confidential Information of Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker) and is furnished to the customer for information purposes only. It is
requested that this document not be reproduced in any way whatsoever, in part or in whole, or distributed outside the customer organization without first obtaining
the express written authorization of Baker. This document is the property of Baker and returnable on request of Baker. March, 1999, Baker Hughes

Unit No. 5167

Index: 444.10

Baker Low Fine Gravel

5-97
Page 2 of 2

WARNING
Use of Baker equipment contrary to
manufacturers specification may result in
property damage, serious injury or fatality.

Quality Control

Quartz Content
Non-quartz minerals in gravel will weaken the
strength of the individual grains and will often form
damaging precipitates upon acidizing. Baker Low
Fine Gravel typically contains a minimum of 98%
quartz.

Roundness and Sphericity

Round, spherical gravel contribute to high
downhole pack porosity and permeability. The average Krumbein roundness and sphericity of Baker
Low Fine Gravel is 0.85 and 0.83, respectively.

Crush Resistance
The maximum amount of fines generated by
2,000 psi loading is 2% weight.

Additional Technical Data

Typical Composition
SiO2
99.77%
Al2O3
0.10%
0.028%
Fe2O3
TiO2
0.015%
Ca
0.012%
MgO
0.003%
MOH Hardness
Specific Gravity
Bulk Density Range
(Compacted)

If temperatures are high, Sintered Bauxite should

be considered as an alternate packing medium.
Contact your Regional Technical Services Laboratory for further information.

= 7.0
= 2.65
= 98-100 lbs/ft3

Limitations
The injection of high temperature steam may
dissolve packs that utilize quartz gravel as media.
The extent and rate of dissolution depends on the
initial steam temperature, steam quality, injection
rate, steam pH, and length of time that steam will
continuously be injected. Under some circumstances, downhole steam temperatures as low as
3500F will result in significant dissolution of gravel.

Manufacturer
The manufacturer is responsible for providing
Baker Hughes, Baker Oil Tools with gravel which
meets the guaranteed maximum fines and oversized content. The gravel should be spot checked
according to the manufacturers quality control program, and each sack should be marked with a
traceable serial number. The manufacturer agrees
that shipments not meeting the grain size specifications may be refused by the receiving district.

Receiving District
Upon receipt of a new shipment of Baker Low
Fine, three sacks should be randomly selected and
transferred to the nearest Regional Technical Services Laboratory for evaluation. Further distribution should be dependent on the test results and
the recommendation of the Regional Technical
Services Lab Manager.

Regional Technical Services Laboratory

Three sacks of the new Baker Low Fine shipment should be mechanically split with a full sack
sample splitter and immediately tested for fines
and oversized content. The receiving district
should be informed if the fines and/or oversized
content is out of specification so that the shipment
may be refused. Representative sample should
then be tested for acid solubility, quartz content,
roundness, and sphericity. A report containing the
test results and recommendations concerning the
disposition of the shipment should be submitted to
the appropriate district personnel.

Handling
Baker Low Fine Gravel contains free silica,
which may cause delayed lung injury (silicosis).
Avoid breathing the dust.