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Sand Control Methods

This document discusses various sand control methods used in oil and gas wells. It describes mechanical methods like gravel packing that involve using gravel or screens to control sand production. The key factors in gravel packing are selecting appropriately sized gravel, tightly packing it without contamination, and holding it in place. Resin consolidation is also covered, which strengthens formation sand to prevent production by precipitating resin between sand grains. The advantages of resin include applicability through tubing or in small diameter wells. Both methods aim to control sand while maintaining productivity.

Uploaded by

Kamran Haider Tunio
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
972 views

Sand Control Methods

This document discusses various sand control methods used in oil and gas wells. It describes mechanical methods like gravel packing that involve using gravel or screens to control sand production. The key factors in gravel packing are selecting appropriately sized gravel, tightly packing it without contamination, and holding it in place. Resin consolidation is also covered, which strengthens formation sand to prevent production by precipitating resin between sand grains. The advantages of resin include applicability through tubing or in small diameter wells. Both methods aim to control sand while maintaining productivity.

Uploaded by

Kamran Haider Tunio
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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7.

SAND CONTROL METHODS

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

LESSON OUTCOMES

At the end of this section, the students will be able to : Understand sand problems. Identify sand control mechanisms. Apply mechanical and chemical methods.

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

INTRODUCTION

Sand production is one of the oldest problems of the oil field, usually associated with shallow formations, but in some area sand problems may be encountered to depths of 12,000 feet or more.

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

SAND CONTROL MECHANISMS


Causes of sand production are related
Drag forces of flowing fluid Reduction in formation strenght often associated with water production due to dissolving or dispersion of cementing materials

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

SAND CONTROL MECHANISMS


Sand production can be controlled by three mechanisms:
1. Reducing Drag Forces Cheapest and most effective. It often is the natural outcome of proper well completion practices. 2. Bridging Sand Mechanically Wide application Difficult to apply in multiple zones or small diameter casing. 3. Increasing Formation Strength

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

MECHANICAL SAND CONTROL DESIGN CRITERIA


Mechanical methods of sand control involve use of
Gravel to hold formation sand in place (with a screen to retain the gravel) A screen to retain the fromation sand (with no gravel).

Basic problem is how to control formation sand without an excessive reduction in well productivity. Basiic design parameters include:
1. Optimum gravel size in realation to formation sand size. 2. Optimum screen slot width to retain the gravel, or if no gravel, the formation sand 3. An effective placement technizque is, perhaps, most important.
TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

Formation Sand Size Analysis

The first step is getting representative samples. A number of samples are needed. Full-diameter cores are best and side wall cores are good. Samples from perforation, washing or back-surging are acceptable.

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

Formation Sand Size Analysis


US mesh size Approximate diameter
(in.) 40/60 30/50 20/40 16/30 12/20 8/16 0.014 0.018 0.025 0.035 0.050 0.071 ( microns ) 350 450 630 880 1260 1770

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

Screen Slot Size and Gravel Size

Wire wrapped screen used for sand control


TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

Screen Slot Size and Gravel Size


The following rules-of-thumbs are suggested: 1. Use as large a gravel as possible, but formation sand must be stopped at the edge of the gravel pack 2. Gravel size should be six times 3. Pay more attention to the smaller sand sizes, particularly with higher flow velocity. 4. Pack the gravel tightly. 5. Dont mix gravel with formation sand in placement.

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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GRAVEL PACKING

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN GRAVEL PACKING


The key to successful packing are: 1. Selecting gravel of the proper size and quality. 2. Placing the gravel without contamination, at the proper location, as tightly as possible then holding it in place for the life of well.

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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GRAVEL PACK TECHNIQUES


Process of Gravel pack:
Enlarge the gap between the sand face and the screen by the use of a special drill bit known as under reamer. This under reamer enlarges the hole when the drill string is rotated The enlarged borehole gap is then completely filled with gravel

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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GRAVEL PACK TECHNIQUES


Gravel Packing Surface Operations
Potassium chloride , CaCl, NaBr brine base fluid is used to pump gravel into the desired interval. Low concentration of gravel are added continuously while pumping. High gravel concentration are used with viscous fluids which have sufficient viscosity to retain gravel in suspension. Gravel slurry is then pumped into the well using a high pressure pump

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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RESIN CONSOLIDATION METHOD


Basic objective of resin sand consolidation is to increase the strength of the formation sand around the wellbore such that sand grains are not dislodged by the drag forces of the flowing fluids at the desired production rate. Sand consolidation is accomplished by precipitating resin uniformly in the sand near the wellbore. Resin, attached to the sand grain contacts, hardens to form a consolidated mass. Formation strength is increased enough to prevent sand production.

TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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RESIN CONSOLIDATION METHOD


Resin consolidation has inherent advantages:
Suitable for through tubing applicaiton Applicable in small diameter casing Leaves full open wellbore Suitable for multiple reservoir completions Can be applied readily in abnormal pressure wells Work well in fine sands difficult to control with gravel packing

Basic problem is to increase the strength of the formation uniformly through the completion zone without excessive reduction in permeability.
TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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Best of luck for your Exams..


TUNIO, May' 2011,,, Courtesy AP Aung

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