Stimulation and Sand Control

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Imran Sadiq Production Department OGDCL 5/28/12

General Problems associated with sand production

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Initiation of Sand Production

Sand production is initiated when the forces acting to dislodge sand grains from the formation exceed the strength of the rock.

Dislodging Forces
Dislodging forces included mechanical stresses in the rock resulting from burial and the drag forces associated with fluid flow.

Resisting Forces
Resisting forces include rock strength parameters and capillary pressure forces.

Sand Production May Begin Late in the Life of a Well

1. 2.

3.

4.

Pressure pulses caused by non-steady production Increasing mechanical stresses caused by pore pressure reduction Increased drawdown leads to increased drag forces Water breakthrough can severely reduce capillary pressure forces

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Sand production leads to:

1. 2. 3.

Reduced productivity Excessive maintenance of both down hole and surface equipment Premature failure of wellbore and well equipment

Causes of Sand Production

1. 2.

Formation fines Load Bearing solids

The migration of formation fines is beneficial for well productivity and is normally can not be prevented . If the migration of theses fines is not allowed it may plug the formation or the gravel pack as well as the screens.

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The factors that cause the well to produce sand are categorized into:
1.

Rock strength effects Fluid flow effect

1.

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Factors influencing sand production

Rock Properties

Young tertiary formations are generally referred to as poorly consolidated rocks having low compressive strength lesser than 1000 psi.

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