External filter cakes are used to minimze fluid loss and solids invasion to a formation from drilling and completion fluids. Subsequently, the cake must be removed in order to increase the flow area and minimize skins, especially for openhole and gravel pakced completions in horizontal and deviated wells. Experimental data is presented to show that the pressure required to initiate flow into the wellbore after building up a filter cake is affected by rock permeability, mud properties such as particle size and cake yield strength, flow back velocity, and overbalance pressure.
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