Permeability modification

1. A downhole apparatus for location and installation in a bore which intersects a fluid-producing formation, the apparatus comprising:

a base pipe;

an expandable sand screen; and

a bore wall-supporting member mounted on the base pipe and having a plurality of non-concentric fluid pressure deformable chambers mounted between the base pipe and the sand screen and extending axially along the base pipe, the chambers being inflatable to expand the sand screen such that the apparatus is configurable to provide and maintain a bore wall supporting force for a fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa,

whereby fluid may flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe.

2. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe,

wherein the bore wall-supporting force is selected to optimize fluid production.

3. A method of conditioning a well bore extending through a rock formation having a first permeability adjacent to a bore wall, the method comprising applying a radial force to the bore wall by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe to at least one of:

modify the permeability of the rock adjacent the bore wall;

change the permeability of the rock adjacent the bore wall to a predetermined higher second permeability; and

maintain the permeability of the rock adjacent the bore wall as the pore pressure within the rock decreases

wherein the force is selected to control dilatency of the rock as the pore pressure of the rock decreases.

4. A subterranean fluid production apparatus configurable to support a wall of a bore, the apparatus comprising a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe and the chambers being adapted to deform in a controlled manner in response to a selected load applied by the bore wall and to maintain a predetermined radial load on the bore wall,

wherein the apparatus includes an expandable sand screen mounted externally of the plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers.

5. A downhole apparatus for location and installation in a bore which intersects a fluid-producing formation, the apparatus comprising:

a base pipe; and

a bore wall-supporting member mounted externally on the base pipe and having a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure deformable chambers mounted externally on the base pipe, the chambers being inflatable such that the apparatus is configurable to provide and maintain a bore wall supporting force for a fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa,

whereby fluid may flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe, and

wherein the bore wall-supporting member comprises an expandable sand screen mounted externally on the chambers.

6. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe,

wherein the bore wall-supporting force is selected to increase permeability of rock adjacent the bore wall.

7. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe,

wherein the bore wall-supporting force is selected to increase a confined rock strength by at least 2%.

8. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe,

wherein the bore wall-supporting force is selected to increase a confined rock strength by at least one of 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%.

9. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe, and

utilizing a back pressure-regulating device to control a rate of fluid flow from the formation into a base pipe.

10. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe;

wherein the bore wall supporting force is varied over time.

11. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe;

wherein the bore wall supporting force varies depending upon bore location.

12. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe; and

determining a formation supporting force from the surveys before the apparatus is located in the bore.

13. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe; and

determining a formation supporting force in response to formation production parameters.

14. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe; and

increasing the bore wall-supporting force.

15. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe; and

decreasing the bore wall-supporting force.

16. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe; and

exerting a radial stress onto the wellbore wall substantially equal to that exerted onto a wellbore face by a wellbore fluid hydrostatic head or mud overbalance.

17. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe; and

exerting a radial stress onto a wellbore face less than that exerted onto the wellbore face by a wellbore fluid hydrostatic head or mud overbalance.

18. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe;

wherein the bore wall-supporting force is predetermined, and

wherein the predetermined bore wall-supporting force is selected to maintain a predetermined permeability of rock adjacent to the bore wall.

19. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe;

wherein the bore wall-supporting force is predetermined, and

wherein the predetermined bore wall-supporting force is selected to maintain the initial formation permeability of rock adjacent to the bore wall.

20. A method of supporting the wall of a bore intersecting a fluid-producing formation, the method comprising:

providing and maintaining a bore wall-supporting force for the fluid-producing formation of at least 2 MPa by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe, and permitting fluid to flow from the formation into the bore and along a flow path extending through or around the chambers and into or along the base pipe;

wherein the bore wall-supporting force is predetermined, and

wherein the predetermined bore wall-supporting force is selected to maintain a permeability greater than an initial permeability of rock adjacent to the bore wall.

21. A method of conditioning a well bore extending through a rock formation having a first permeability adjacent to a bore wall, the method comprising applying a radial force to the bore wall by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted externally of a rigid base pipe to at least one of:

modify the permeability of the rock adjacent the bore wall;

change the permeability of the rock adjacent the bore wall to a predetermined higher second permeability; and

maintain the permeability of the rock adjacent the bore wall as the pore pressure within the rock decreases,

wherein the force is selected to increase a confining pressure on the rock around the wellbore and increase a confined rock strength thereof.

22. A method of conditioning a well bore, the method comprising:

deploying a sand screen in a wellbore extending through a rock formation; and

configuring the sand screen by inflating a plurality of non-concentric axially extending fluid pressure-deformable chambers mounted between a rigid base pipe and the sand screen to provide a radial force against the bore wall, the

force being selected to modify a permeability of the rock adjacent to the bore wall,

wherein the sand screen is an expandable sand screen.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the sand screen is capable of providing a degree of expansion beyond that required to obtain contact with the bore wall of the predetermined diameter, such that the bore wall contact may be maintained in the larger diameter portions of the bore.