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2012 | Buch

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Sand Control in Well Construction and Operation

verfasst von: Davorin Matanovic, Marin Cikes, Bojan Moslavac

Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Buchreihe : Springer Environmental Science and Engineering

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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Über dieses Buch

Produced sand causes a lot of problems. From that reasons sand production must be monitored and kept within acceptable limits. Sand control problems in wells result from improper completion techniques or changes in reservoir properties.

The idea is to provide support to the formation to prevent movement under stresses resulting from fluid flow from reservoir to well bore. That means that sand control often result with reduced well production. Control of sand production is achieved by: reducing drag forces (the cheapest and most effective method), mechanical sand bridging (screens, gravel packs) and increasing of formation strength (chemical consolidation). For open hole completions or with un-cemented slotted liners/screens sand failure will occur and must be predicted. Main problem is plugging. To combat well failures due to plugging and sand breakthrough Water-Packing or Shunt-Packing are used.

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

The origin, nature and consequences of sand production should be thoroughly examined and evaluated. They have great impact on the nature of the production system if they are produced. Surface gathering system, separating system equipment and some kind of surface safe disposal should be considered too, because of cleaning and disposal expenses.

Also the stability of the formation is changed due the lost of bearing solid material. The problem can be solved using a combination of geomechanical evaluation, optimization of well parameters, oriented and selective perforation, and production optimization by controlling drawdown through the wellbore life cycle.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Chapter 2. Formation Sampling and Sand Analysis

Abstract

The starting point for any kind of sand control with respect to geomechanical approach is proper sampling and sand screen analysis. Use of bailed or produced sand samples leads to mistakes and problems and is the poorest kind of data that can be used in designing sand control. The representative samples are obtained by coring the whole length of the interval with adequate coring equipment. Particle size distribution is then determined through sieve and laser particle size (LPS) analysis.

LPS is used to determine the amount of fine particles that exist due the swelling and migration of bonding clays, or due the crushing during production.

Such analysis is the basis for proper design of liner openings, screens or gravel pack sizing.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Chapter 3. Sand Control Methods

Abstract

The main purpose of any sand control method is to hold load bearing solids in the place. It is therefore necessary to determine what is in fact produced. Some fines are always produced, and that can be beneficial because that helps in cleaning pore space. The other (solids between 50 and 75 percentile ranges) that are real load bearing solids can be control through reduction of drag forces, by bridging sand mechanically or by increasing formation strength. That means some kind of production rate control, selective or oriented perforating, fracturing and gravel packing, use of screens and chemical consolidation.

In this chapter aim is to concentrate on sand control tools and procedures designed to prolong well life by eliminating sand production either mechanically trapping it behind various downhole devices or chemically consolidating the unconsolidated formations prone to produce sand. Open and cased hole installations are described, involving slotted liner, standalone screen and gravel packed completions. Through tubing sand control, frac-and-pack method completion and dual zone completions are presented as well. All these completions comprise of many different tools, accessories and devices like screens, packers, seal assemblies, running tools, blank pipes, safety joints and other. They are introduced as an overview of possible tool combinations in certain occasions.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Chapter 4. Chemical Consolidation

Abstract

When reservoir sand grains in near wellbore zone are loose and prone to production, either mechanical or chemical sand control methods are used. Chemical consolidation of sand grains appears to be very demanding, but quite effective method for sand control. To effectively apply chemicals for consolidation (resin systems are most frequently used) a great amount of field experience is required. Two types of resins are described – thermosetting and thermoplastic. Additives in service of system setting acceleration and activation, residual water removal and other, are also introduced.

Chemical consolidation treatment execution is divided in few stages – reservoir cleaning and water removal, treatment pumping and overflushing excess materials. Alternative solution to resin system pumping is resin-coated sand, incorporated in gravel packing operations with aforementioned grains coated with a thin resin layer melting and consolidating on higher temperatures.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Chapter 5. Frac-and-Pack Completion

Abstract

A relatively short, highly conductive fracture created in a reservoir of moderate to high permeability will breach near-wellbore damage, reduce the drawdown and near-wellbore flow velocity and stresses, and increase effective wellbore radius. Fracturing treatments of this type have two stages: fracture created, terminated by tip-screenout, and fracture inflation and packing. Such a two-stage treatment is the basis of a number of well-completion methods, collectively known as frac-and-pack. This technique has been successfully applied, with a range of fracture sizes, to stimulate wells in various reservoirs worldwide.

This chapter discusses the criteria for selecting wells to be frac-and-packed. It is shown how a systematic study of the inflow performance can be used to assess the potential of frac-and-packed wells, to identify the controlling factors, and to optimize design parameters. It is also shown that fracture conductivity is often the key to successful treatment. This conductivity depends largely on proppant size; formation permeability damage around the created fracture has less effect. Appropriate allowance needs to be made for flow restrictions caused by the presence of the perforations, partial penetration, and non-Darcy effects.

The full potential of this completion method can be achieved only if the design is tailored to the individual well. This demands high-quality input data, which can be obtained only from a calibration test.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Chapter 6. Treating Fluid Selection

Abstract

The major types of treating fluids that are in use in sand control are conventional linear gels, borate-crosslinked fluids, organometallic-crosslinked fluids, and aluminum phosphate-ester oil gels. The general behavior of these fluid systems is described. Fluid loss properties, breaking systems, and resulting formation damage are discussed and recommendations for treating fluid selection in sand control are offered.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Chapter 7. Perforating for Sand Control

Abstract

To assure the success of sand control job in cased and cemented wellbore it is essential to proper design and execute the perforating program. The definition of adequate number of perforations with sufficient depth of penetration (length) will allow production with desired production rate.

The stability of perforation is controlled by arches formed on the perforation channel. With control of the drawdown they can be stable all the time. So the critical drawdown or production rate (velocity) should be determined or measured.

Controlled distance between perforations combined with perforation throat diameter will prevent the sand to collapse.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Chapter 8. Downhole and Surface Equipment

Abstract

Completion as such is meant to be a link between drilling the borehole and the production phase. Without completing the well, hydrocarbons are not able to flow up hole under control. As a phrase, completion involves all the wellbore tools, accessories or tool assemblies involved in any wellbore operation. On the other hand, without proper surface equipment, which is one of the key factors for successful sand control operation execution, it is not possible to treat the fluid on the surface and pump it downhole.

This chapter is concentrated on sand control tools designed to prolong well life by eliminating sand production mechanically trapping it behind various downhole devices. All open or cased hole completions comprise of many different tools, accessories and devices like screens, packers, seal assemblies, running tools, blank pipes, safety joints, and other. They are introduced as an overview of possible tool combinations in certain occasions. Surface equipment consisting of mixers, pumps, blenders, filtering units and devices designed for treatment execution monitoring is presented as well.

Davorin Matanović, Marin Čikeš, Bojan Moslavac

Backmatter

Titel: Sand Control in Well Construction and Operation
verfasst von: Davorin Matanovic
Marin Cikes
Bojan Moslavac
Copyright-Jahr: 2012
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-642-25614-1
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-25613-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25614-1