G
Sand Prediction and Sand Control
Giuseppe Ripa
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 1 of 88
Map of Sand Producing Areas
Usually associated with younger Tertiary formations such as the Miocene or Pliocene Age Sands
Approximately 70% of the worlds oil and gas reserves are contained in poorly consolidated reservoirs where solids
production is likely to become a problem during the life of the field.
[JPT October 1998, Page 80 ]
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 2 of 88
Sand Problems in ENI-E&P and Sand Completions
OIL FIELD
GAS FIELD
GAS STORAGE FIELD
West Africa & GOM
On & Off-Shore Italy
On-Shore Italy
Sand
Thin Sand-Shale
Interbeds
Sand-Shale Interbeds
Reservoir Depth
500-4800 m
600-3500 m
1200-1700 m
Formation Sand
Size
30-350 m
20-150 m
50-150 m
200-8000 mD
20-500 mD
200-2000 mD
Lithology
Permeability
Completion per year
Over 50% of the total
production (~1700 BOED) is
coming from reservoir
requiring sand control
Cumulative Completions
120
1800
100
1500
80
1200
60
900
40
600
20
300
0
1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Year
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 3 of 88
Consequences of sand production
Wellbore fill
Equipment problems due to sand fill
Sand erosion of downhole and surface equipments
Sand accumulation on surface and Sand Disposal
Production Loss
Casing / Liner Collapse
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Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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Page 4 of 88
Forces Aiding in Resisting Sand Production
Intergranular frictional forces
and bonding (cementation) help
resist grain movement
Capillary Pressure adds further
grain-to-grain bonding
Water-Wet
Grains
Oil Flow
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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Page 5 of 88
Forces Contributing to Sand Production
Pore pressure relieves frictional forces
Production of wetting phase reduces
capillary pressure forces
Oil and
Water Flow
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What causes sand production?
Totally or weakly unconsolidated formations
Changing stresses in the near wellbore area
Water Production
Overburden
Cementing
Capillary
Drag
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Page 7 of 88
Sand Production Mechanism
Primer:
Rock shear collapse owing to
in situ stress forming shear
band
Sand Production:
Erosion of perforation tunnel
around shear band by the
produced fluids
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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Page 8 of 88
Detecting sand production
Erosion of Equipment
Acoustic Detectors
Sand Traps/Desanders
Fluenta Acoustic Sand Detector
Sand Probe
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Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 9 of 88
Predicting sand production
Experience in the area
Offset well production data
Drilling data
Core sample evaluation
Sand Flow Test
Logs
Computer modeling
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Page 10 of 88
Predicting Sanding Potential
220
PERFS CLEAN-UP
D50=40- 60 m
200
180
FINES REMOVAL
D50=3 - 7 m
CONTINUOUS
SAND
INFLUX
D50=18 m
2/16"
160
3/16"
140
9/16"
6/16"
4/16"
S=
5/16"
-17
10/16" 11/16"
120
12/16"
8/16"
CHOKE SIZE
=0
80
100
S=
BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE (kg/cm2)
SAND FLOW TEST RESULTS
80
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
GAS FLOW RATE (ksm3/d)
FORMATION SAND : D50 = 22 - 44 m
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What can be done about sand production?
Rate Exclusion
Drawdown Control
Selective Perforations
Mechanical Methods Downhole Filter
Slotted Liner and Screens
Gravel Pack
Chemical Methods
Consolidation of the formation
Resin-Coated Sand
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Drawdown control
Reduction in production rate will reduce drag forces and
drawdown to provide reduced risk of sand production
Procedure:
Slowly increase rate until sand
production begins to increase
Sequentially reduce flow rate
until the sand production
declines to an acceptable level
Attempting to establish
maximum flow rate in
conjunction with stable arch
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Page 13 of 88
Selective Perforating Practices
Once formation characteristics are known, perforating strategies
can be evaluated.
If possible, only high strength intervals can
be perforated.
For high rate wells this will require a high
shot density to prevent additional
pressure drop and associated sand
production.
However, high shot density lead to
perforation interaction which also
promotes sand production.
Low Strength
Sand
Higher Strength
Sand
The appropriate compromise is key to success.
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Page 14 of 88
Slotted Liner and Screens
Slotted Liner
(3-6%)
Wire Wrap
Screen (6-12%)
Dual Screen
Prepack (3-6%)
Slim-Pak
Screen (3-6%)
Wire Mesh Screen
(15-30%)
Expandable Screen
(15-30%)
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Gravel Pack
Consists of sized particles
Gravel
Pack Sand
Formation
Sand
placed in the annular space
between an unconsolidated
formation and a centralized
screen.
Open or cased hole.
Screen
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Chemical Methods
Consolidation of the Formation
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Resin-Coated Sand
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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Page 17 of 88
Information for designing a sand control
FORMATION CHARACTERISTICS
Types of Clays, Mineralogy & water-sensitivity
Permeability, Heterogeneity, Height, SBHT & SBHP
FORMATION GRAIN SIZING
Sieve Analysis for gravel size selection
SLOT SIZING
Gravel Pack vs. FracPack
Slotted Liners, Screen only (wire wrapped, prepacked, etc.)
TYPE OF WELL
Producer, Injector
Deviation & Size
Off-shore, On-shore, sub-see
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Sieve Analysis Indicates
Uniform and Non-Uniform Formations
100
Cumulative Weight (%)
90
80
P o o rly S o rte d S a n d
W e ll S o rte d S a n d
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 .1 0 0 0
0 .0 1 0 0
0 .0 0 1 0
0 .0 0 0 1
G r a in D ia m e te r (in c h e s )
Uniformity coefficient:
C= D40/D90
Poorly Sorted Sand:
C> 5
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Gravel Pack Impairment: Sauciers Results
1 .0
Initial Permeabilit (kf / ki)
Ratio of Final Permeability to
1 .2
0 .8
0 .6
0 .4
0 .2
0 .0
0
10
12
14
16
R a tio o f M e d ia n G ra v e l P a c k S a n d D ia m e te r to
M e d ia n F o rm a tio n S a n d D ia m e te r (D 5 0 / d 5 0 )
GRAVEL PACK
Saucier 5-6 x D50
18
20
D50/d50 6, good sand control, no
formation sand invasion of gravel
pack sand
6 < D50/d50 13, good sand
control, but restricted flow due to
formation sand invasion of gravel
pack sand
D50/d50 > 13, no sand control,
formation sand passes through
gravel pack sand
FRACPACK
One size larger than Sauciers Criteria
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Commonly Available Gravel Sizes
U.S. Mesh
Size Range
6-10
8-12*
10-20
12-20*
16-25
16-30*
20-40*
30-40
30-50
40-60*
50-70
* stocked size
Grain
Diameter Range
(inches)
.1320 - .0787
.0937 -.0661
.0787 - .0331
.0661 - .0331
.0469 - .0280
.0469 - .0232
.0331 - .0165
.0232 - .0165
.0232 - .0117
.0165 - .0098
.0117 - .0083
Median
Median
Grain Diameter Grain Diameter
(inches)
(microns)
.1054
2677
.0799
2029
.0559
1420
.0496
1260
.0388
986
.0351
892
.0248
630
.0199
505
.0175
445
.0132
335
.0100
254
Permeability
(darcies)
2703
1969
652
518
391
398
136
138
100
61
32
z1
Mesh refers to the
number of openings
per linear inch
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Page 21 of 88
Screen Selection
Gravel pack and Prepack Screen
The screen opening is typically between 50-70% of the
smallest gravel diameter
z
For 20/40 mesh sand the smallest gravel is the 40 mesh which has a
D50 of 0.0165
0.0165 x 70% = 0.01155 or 0.012 opening (12 gauge)
Screen Only and Slotted Liner
Screen Opening is approximately equal to the D10
Screen Diameter
Fishing (7 csg: IDmax= 4 screen; 9 5/8 csg: IDmax= 6 screen ...)
ID for logging and or selective equipment
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Screen Length - Centralizers
Length normally 5 above and below the perfs
Length needs to be considered for shipments
(rig basket @ 30,
airplane @ 20)
Centralizer spacing to avoid any casing contact
Open hole, Bow-Spring type
Cased hole Weld-on Lug type
Recommended centralizer OD clearance from casing ID to
be 1/8 to 1/4
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Gravel and Screen Summary
Representative formation samples are required for gravel pack sand
size design
Gravel pack sand is typically designed to be six times larger than the
formation sand at the median grain size
Only gravel pack sand meeting API RP58 specifications should be
used
Gravel pack sand substitutes are available for special applications
In a gravel pack the screen serves only to retain the gravel pack sand
Prepack screens offer second line of defense
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Cased Hole Gravel Pack
1
Slurry is injected down the workstring
The slurry crosses over to the annulus
below the packer, depositing sand
adjacent to the screen
The carrier fluid leaks off through the
screen and is carried back to the
surface via the washpipe and crossover
tool, crossing back over to the casingworkstring annulus just above the
packer
MULTI-POSITION SERVICE
TOOL
GRAVEL PACK
PACKER
FLOW SUB OR CLOSING
SLEEVE
BLANK PIPE
SCREENS
O-RING SUB
TELLTALE SCREEN
SUMP PACKER
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Quantum Packer Assembly
Service Tool
Quantum Packer
Circulating Ports
G.P. Extension
Ball Seat
Crossover Ports
Closing Sleeve
Lower Seal Bore
Check Valve
Indicating Collet
Wash Pipe
Indicating Collar
Safety Shear Sub
Blank Pipe
Perforations
Screen
PBR
Sump Packer
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Seal Assembly
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 26 of 88
Setting the Quantum Packer
Service Tool
1. Packer at Set Depth
- Drop Ball
- Apply Pressure, set begins
at 1,000 - 1,200 psi
- Pressure Test Annulus and
pull test to test set.
Quantum Packer
Set Position
2. Release Service Tool
- Apply 2,200 - 2,400 psi
- Slack off 15K down
- Pick up
3. Ball Seat Still in Place
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Ball Seated
on Ball Seat
Fluted Crossover
Sub
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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Service Tool Operations
Blowing the Ball Seat (Opening Crossover Ports)
Pick up to the
reverse-out position
- Pressure Drill Pipe
to 3,750 - 4,000 psi
- Ball seat shifts and
pressure is vented
to the annulus.
Formation is isolated
from pressure spike.
Ball Seat is
Shifted Open
- Fluids are spotted
in this position.
Collet Indicates
at Upper Packer
Seal Bore Shoulder
Collet Drags the
Port Closure Sleeve
Into Closed Position
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Service Tool Operations
Circulating Position
To Reach Circulating Position
- Pick up 18 inches at the
tool or until collet indicator
causes 15K increase in
hook load
Circulating Ports
are Open
- Circulating ports are
now above packer bore.
- All circulating fluids must
flow through the screen,
upwrd through the wash
pipe and exit to the
annulus.
Check Valve
Allows Only
Upward Flow
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Service Tool Operations
Reversing Out
To Reverse Out:
- Apply enough annular
pressure to overcome
hydrostatic in the pipe.
Typically 500 psi.
- Pick up service tool until
pressure falls off. This
occurs when crossover
port clears the top of
the upper packer bore.
- Continue pumping
- Check valve prevents
slurry from entering the
inside of the washpipe.
- If annular fluid density is
greater than the D.P.
fluid density, 500 psi back
pressure must be trapped
on the tubing side to keep
check valve closed.
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
Check Valve Closed
Lower Set of Seals
Still in Packer Bore
Port Closure Sleeve
Is Closed
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ICGP General Procedure
Well site preparation
Casing clean-up
Fluid filtration
Casing perforation
Killing and fluid loss control
Buttomhole clean-up
Running and setting GP assembly
Gravel placement
Running and setting completion string
Well clean-up
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Casing Cleaning
Prior to gravel packing the casing
should be thoroughly cleaned
with a bit and a scraper to
remove any dirt or scale
Circulation of completion fluid,
mud solvents, scouring material,
acid, and caustic solutions may
be required to fully remove these
material
The casing should also be
pressure tested for leaks on older
wells
Brine
Fresh or
Seawater
Gel pill
Chemical
Fresh or
Seawater
Caustic
Fresh or
Seawater
Gel pill
Drilling Mud
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Casing Cleaning when to stop?
NTU
well returns
irreducible minimum
Injection fluid
Time (hrs)
The irreducible minimum of solids is taken as the cleanliness
value such that the level of cleanliness can only be increased
marginally over lengthy circulating times
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Fluid Filtration
Clean completion, workover, injection, and treatment fluids are
imperative to avoid formation damage and gravels permeability
reduction.
Ideally, all solids larger than 1/6 of the average pore size of the
productive formation should be removed from fluids.
Methods of determination
= k
From Kozeny:
Dpore
From Coberly:
Dpore
= D50/6.5
SEM measurements of pore throat diameters from closely spaced core samples
Particle size and damage potential
instant bridging of core
Dpart > 0.33 Dpore
0.1 Dpore < Dpart < 0.33 Dpore
invasion of core and deposition
Dpart < 0.1 Dpore
unrestricted passage
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Filtration Systems
Maintaining the clarity of the completion
fluid can be very expensive and time
consuming. Diatomaceous earth filter in
series with a downstream absolute rated
filter have proved to be an effective and
economical fluid cleaning system.
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System Layout
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Perforating
Each shaped charge exerts up to 4 million psi on the reservoir.
This force crushes and compacts the reservoir rock and perforating
debris can plug perforating tunnels.
Result:
Limited leakoff and
poor injectivity
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Clean Perforations
Limit damage both within and surrounding perforations
Low debris/carrot free charge
Underbalanced perforating
Crushed zone removal
Limit use of fluid-loss control material in
empty perforations
Damage Prevention is Also Critical
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Perforation Cleaning
Underbalanced Pressure
selected on formation permeability and
Oil Wells
Gas Wells
Backflow
When perforating is performed overbalanced a
period of backflow is sometimes used to clean
up the perforations with a dedicated string
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Perforating for Gravel Packs & Frac-Packs
Number of perforations should be sufficient to allow unimpaired (flow maximize inflow
area)
Large diameter charges recommended when gravel placed in tunnels
Enhance gravel placement in tunnels
Enhance flow of produced fluids
y Depth of penetration not critical
Various studies (SPE 71458, SPE 38633, SPE 68932) indicate that
cavity is often not formed when perforating in unconsolidated
formations.
Disturbed zone is filled with dilated formation
material.
Need to concentrate on tunnel through casing and cement
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Perforating for Gravel Packing
Entry holes less than 0.6 inches result in high pressure drops.
Benefits associated with maximized inflow area leads to need for high shot density.
Perforations must be fully packed to prevent excessive pressure drop, and screen
plugging and/or erosion.
2
Perfs diameter (in.)
1.6
Perfs Diameter
Linear
Flow
20
Effective shots per foot
16
1.2
12
0.8
0.4
0
0
Radial
Flow
Effective spf
10 11 12 13 14 15
SKIN
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Cement
Casing
Gravel Pack Sand
Screen
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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Page 41 of 88
High productivity requires:
complete packing, large entry holes
Pressure Drop (psi)
Pack
Permeability
Flow Rate
3/8 Diameter
1/2 Diameter
3/4 Diameter
Material
(mD)
(bpd/perf)
Perforation
Perforation
Perforation
Formation
1,000
450
190
64
10
27,760
9,280
2,091
0.4
10
55
21
Sand
20/40 Mesh
Gravel
P =
119,000
0.888 L Q
Q
+ 9.1 10 13 L
KA
A
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
A= Perforation Cross-Sectional Area (ft2)
= Inertia Coefficient (ft-1)
P= Differential Pressure (psi)
K= Permeability (Darcies)
L= Length Of Perforation (ft)
= Viscosity (cp)
Q= Flow Rate (bpd)
= Density Of Fluid (lb/ft3)
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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Use of Fluid Loss Control Material
in Empty Perforations
This should be avoided whenever
possible.
Casing
Increased viscosity will decrease
leakoff rate without halting it.
If leakoff completely stopped,
perforations will not be able to be
packed and it will be difficult to remove
FLCM prior to prepacking.
Filtercake
Spearheading acid in front of prepack
treatment may help re-establish initial
leakoff rates.
Formation
Cement
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ICGP critical issue
Ideal Wellbore
Cased-Hole Gravel Packs still
exhibit high skins
Improved Cased-Hole Gravel
Packing methods have helped
but have not solved problem
Damaged Zone
Implication is that
perforations may not be
completely filled with gravel
and may not bypass the
damaged zone
Actual Wellbore
Pumping Pressure < Fracture Pressure
With Leakoff
Without Leakoff
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Open Hole Gravel Pack
Slurry is injected down the workstring
The slurry crosses over to the annulus below
the packer, depositing sand adjacent to the
screen
The carrier fluid leaks off through the screen
and is carried back to the surface via the
washpipe and crossover tool, crossing back over
to the casing-workstring annulus just above the
packer
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OHGP General Procedure
Underreaming of the borehole
Well site preparation
Fluid filtration
Killing and fluid loss control
Bottomhole clean-up
Running and setting GP assembly
Gravel placement
Running and setting completion string
Well clean-up
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Mechanism of Bore Hole Collapse
Clay
Fluid Loss
Filter
Cake
Pov
Sand
Uncontrolled Fluid Loss
if BRINE or HEC (linear
polymer) are used
Collapse due to
aqueous fluid - clay
interactions
Controlled Fluid Loss
improves
Bore Hole stability
Modifications of Rock Mechanical Properties and Stress in-situ Equilibrium are
responsible for Bore Hole Collapse.
Swelling alone does not explain the behavior of this kind of rock.
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OHGP vs. ICGP
Due to its large flow area the OHGP has a better inflow performance than ICGP
The difference between the OHGP and the ICGP deliverability can be negligible
at low rates but it becomes more marked at high rates
The difference between OHGP and ICGP deliverability increases as kh
increases
The high deliverability of the OHGP can be wasted due to completion
constraints (small tbg ID, high FTHP): in this case ICGP can be more
convenient
Pressure losses due to incomplete filling of perfs are negligible for high
permeability formations whereas they are extremely high in low permeability
formations
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Important Factors for Gravel Placement
Washpipe size
Must keep area outside the screen larger than area inside the screen;
especially in deviated wells where is much easier to create sand bridge
Return Flow Rate
Sufficient to keep an annular velocity of at least 1 ft/sec at end of screen
(turbulence helps to suspend sand particles, annular velocity must kept less
than 2.77 ft/sec to minimize turbulent effects)
Low-viscosity carrier fluids result in high-quality gravel
pack in nearly all situations
For cased-hole completions, high fluid loss rates and
prepacking both have positive effect
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Gravel Pack Techniques (I)
Slurry Pack
Cased or open hole completions
Typically used in very high permeability formations
The carrier fluid is viscosifed
Sand concentrations can range from 3 to 15 ppg
Water Pack
Cased or open hole completions, horizontal wells
Typically used in low permeability formations
Brine or slightly viscosifed brine
2 bpm of Returns required
Lower sand concentrations required
Very good annular packing technique
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Gravel Pack Techniques (II)
High Rate Water Pack
Water or slightly viscosifed water
Higher rates required to fill perforations and
create numerous mini-fracs into the formation in
high permeability wells
Typically 5-10 bpm or 1 bpm per 10 ft of
perforations
Sand concentrations 0.5-4 ppg
Additional Surface Equipment is required
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Gravel Pack Techniques (III)
Frac-Packing is a general term applied to the process of
combining a hydraulic fracture with a gravel pack.
STANDARD
FRAC-PACK
GRAVEL PLACEMENT
P<Pfrac
Kd
GRAVEL PLACEMENT
P>Pfrac
The main purpose is to provide
the optimum combination of
productivity improvement
through damage bypass,
and well life improvement
through effective sand
control
Kf
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FracPack Technique
Used to bypass damage in
the near wellbore area
Mini-Frac used to gather
data about the formation to
fine-tune the Frac design
Short (10 < L < 100 ft),
Wide Fracs
Tip Screen-out designed to
widen the frac and allow a
high sand concentration at
the wellbore
The process of injecting a
slurry of gravel (proppant)
and a fluid into the
formation, faster than the
formation can accept it.
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FracPack: Step Rate Test
Preliminary Test:
Step Rate Test (generally with brine)
Fracturing pressure
Propagation pressure
Closure pressure
SRT
BHP
Frac
Extended
Frac
Matrix
Injection Rate
Break
Down
P
Ppropag
Frictions
PNET
ISIP
PBreakDown = 2 (/(1-))(o-p) + p
PBreakDown = 2 (o-p) + p
PClosure
= (/(1-))(o-p) + p
Pclosure
[mud]
[brine]
values: 0.28 (average)
theoretical:
from the lab:
Adriatic Sea:
Time
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
0-0.5
0.22-0.33
0.25-0.35
o = sigma overburden
p = sigma pore
= Poissons coefficient
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
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FracPack: PClosure e Leak Off
Preliminary Test:
Injection Test (with carrier fluid)
leak off coefficient (from fall-off)
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Tip Screen Out Hydraulic Fracturing
An advanced hydraulic fracturing
process designed to intentionally deplete
the pad and have the slurry bridge on
the perimeter of the fracture, locking
the fracture length and height.
Slurry injection is continued to
balloon the fracture creating a very
wide, (1) highly conductive fracture
to by-pass near wellbore damage in
high permeability formations.
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FracPack
Final Design and Execution
Frac model calibration by measured data from Step Rate Test
and Injection Test (Pfrac, Pc, Ct)
Main Treatment:
Pumping of designed treatment
Changing of the pumping parameters if TSO is not
achieved (pump rate reduction, open return flow)
Fall off to close the fracture
POOH workstring and RIH completion tubing string
Clean up
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Barbara C 24 Livello Q
HRWP
Pressione (psi)
Tbg Pressure
Annulus Pressure
Mix Ratio
Flow in
Return
2200
11
2000
10
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
14.52.48
0
15.07.12
15.21.36
15.36.00
15.50.24
16.04.48
16.19.12
Time (hh:mm:ss)
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16.33.36
Tbg pressure
Annulus pressure
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
Rate
Time (hh:mm:ss)
Mix ratio
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 59 of 88
08:29:09
08:27:41
08:26:13
08:24:45
08:23:17
08:21:49
08:20:21
08:18:53
08:17:25
08:15:57
08:14:29
08:13:01
08:11:33
08:10:05
08:08:37
08:07:09
08:05:41
08:04:13
08:02:45
08:01:17
07:59:49
07:58:21
07:56:53
07:55:25
07:53:57
07:52:29
07:51:01
07:49:33
07:48:05
07:46:37
07:45:09
07:43:41
07:42:13
07:40:45
07:39:17
07:37:49
07:36:21
07:34:53
07:33:25
07:31:57
07:30:29
07:29:01
07:27:33
07:26:05
07:24:37
07:23:09
07:21:41
Pressione (psi)
1200
12
1000
10
800
8
600
6
400
4
200
2
0
0
Rate (bpm); Mix Ratio (ppa)
ENI - DIVISIONE AGIP, Adriatic sea,
Barbara C - W ell 24 - level O-O1
Frac Pack
Points to Consider When Designing a Fracture
Treatment
The purpose of a hydraulic fracture is different in hard, low-permeability
formations than in soft high-permeability formations
Low-perm formations require long fractures for stimulation
High-perm formations require short fractures for damage bypass
The goal of the fracture treatment must be considered early in
the design
Fluid selection should match application
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FLOW EFFICIENCY
100
Total
26
Total
25
Range
Range
Average FE %
80
60
70-114
40
Total
22
80-97
Range
20-90
20
0
FRAC-PACK
ICGP
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
OHGP
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Clean Times & Performances
1.2
CF100%
ICGP FracPack
Pseudo-PI /net pay
1.0
TCP
OHGP
0.8
CF=85-100%
0.6
ICGP
0.4
CF=30-50%
0.2
0.0
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
Flow period (dd)
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GRAVEL PACKING: Possible Alternatives
ICGP (Sauciers Criteria for gravel size, better if even smaller)
suitable for high perm, homogenous sands
no damage inside tunnels and into formation sand
OHGP
(Sauciers Criteria)
recommended for:
high productivity wells
laminated reservoir
requires DIF for drilling and underreaming (no damage)
requires stable boreholes
ICGP-F&P (TSO, gravel selection with bigger sizes)
recommended for laminated reservoirs
suitable for deep damage by-pass
TSO recommended for maximum productivity, and LONGEVITY
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Gravel Pack Techniques (IV)
Horizontal Gravel Packing
Pump Rate and Fluid Velocity (2-4 bpm, 1-3 ft/sec)
Alpha and Beta Wave Progression Through Pack
Sand Concentration (0.5 - 2 ppg)
Placement Procedure and Tool Configurations
Liner / Tailpipe Ratio (> 0.80 ratio)
Screen / Casing Clearance
Screen / Open Hole Clearance
Perforation Phasing
Shunt tube technique
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Horizontal Gravel Packing
Typically open hole
) Must maintain adequate filter cake
) Must have ability to remove filter cake
after gravel placement
)
Dune Height /Hole ID = .65 - .85
Washpipe OD / Screen ID = .8
Superficial Velocity 1 ft/sec - Return Rate
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Typical Well GP Configuration
S.
V.
S.
V.
S.
V.
CSG size 7
CSG size 9"5/8
NO SAND CONTROL
SHORT SELECTIVE STRING
ICGP
ICGP
ICGP
F
V.C
SHORT STRING
ICGP
CASING
SHOE
OHGP
LONG SELECTIVE STRING
LONG STRING
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
ICGP
OHGP
CASING
SHOE
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Gravel Pack Stacked Completions
RIH GUNS
PERFORATING
LAYER "A"
SCRAPER /
TAPER MILL
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
RIH AND SET "D" PKR
WITH TUBING / E-LINE
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 67 of 88
Gravel Pack Stacked Completions (cont)
RIH GP ASSEMBLY
PERFORM HRWP
LEVEL "A"
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RIH PKR PLUG
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 68 of 88
Gravel Pack Stacked Completions (cont)
SET PKR PLUG &
PERFORM SAND PLUG
RIH GUNS
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
PERFORATE
LEVEL B"
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 69 of 88
Gravel Pack Stacked Completions (cont)
RIH RET.PKR PLUG and
RETRIEVE IT
RIH GP ASSY
w PROD TBG FOR LEVEL A
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
SET PKR PLUG &
PERFORM HRWP
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Unconsolidated Sands Completion Criteria
NEW WELLS
SAND CONTROL
DECISION TREE
YES
MULTI-ZONE
COMPLETION
NO
NO
LOWEST ZONE
COMPLETION
YES
YES
D50 FORMATION
SIZE < 55 m
NO
YES
YES
RES. FLUID
CONTACTS
DEFINED
NO FINES MIGRATION?
YES
GEO-SECT. DEFINED
NO
NO
YES
MULTYLAYERED
NO
NO
YES
ACTIVE
SHALES
SHALES CAN BE
ISOLATED OR STABILIZED
NO
YES
NO
PAY-ZONE > 25
ft vert
YES
OPEN HOLE
COMPLETION
Eni Corporate University Eni E&P Division
CASED HOLE
COMPLETION
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Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 71 of 88
Open Hole Sand Control Completion
YES
YES
GAUGED HOLE
FORMATION GRAIN
SIZE - D10 > 150 microns
NO
NO
MAXIMISE
NO
COMPLETION ID
YES
ZONAL ISOLATION
REQUIRED
NO
YES
YES
NO
OPERATING WINDOW
BETWEEN PORE PRESSURE
AND Pfrac > 600 psi
CASING SHOE
APPROPRIATELY SET
Available:
No damaging DIF
Effective matrix stimulation (back-up)
NO
YES
REMEDIAL JOB
EXPANDABLE
SYSTEM
OPEN HOLE
GRAVEL PACK
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Cased Hole Sand Control Completion
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Through Tubing Gravel Packs or Fracs
Sanded up completion
Sand wash
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Run Screen on Coil
Junior Production Engineering/Sand Control
Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
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Through Tubing Gravel Packs or Fracs (cont.)
Release Screen from Coil
Fracture or GP Treatment
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Sand wash
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Rev. 00 - Jan. 05/EP
Page 75 of 88
Through Tubing Gravel Packs or Fracs (cont.)
Produce Well
>50
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Typical Screen Dimensions
For 2 7/8
Tubing
For 2 3/8
Tubing
0.957 I.D. x 1.63 O.D.
1.38 I.D. x 2.16 O.D.
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Flow Profiles
Q
Rate (Q)
BOPD
144
P Through
Blank
PSI
0.84
Velocity Through
Pack
Ft/Min
0.0016
288
2.83
0.0055
432
5.80
0.0111
576
9.68
0.0185
720
14.4
0.0277
1440
49.8
0.0924
2160
103.4
0.196
For sand production, upward annular
velocity must overcome sand settling
velocity. Maximum upward velocity
never exceeds 5% of this value in this
case.
Q
Fluid = 1 cp
40/60
100
Settling Velocity
Ft / Min
20/40
12.6
40/60
4.0
7 5/8
Csg.
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Page 78 of 88
Definition of Sand Consolidation
Plastic Consolidation - is a method of stopping
sand production by artificially bonding the
formation sand grains into a consolidated mass.
A liquid resin is pumped through the perforations
and into the pore spaces of the formation sand.
Excess resin is removed either by overflushing
the resin or by phase separation. The resin coats
the sand grains and then hardens to hold the
sand in place.
Typically utilized in wells that have not previously
produced sand.
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Conditions favoring consolidation
Short Interval
Lack of previous sand production
Upper zone of multiple completion
Limited sand production tendency
High reservoir pressure
Good sand quality with vertical permeability
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Unconsolidated zone to be treated
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Preflush Stage
Preflush fluid is applied to condition the formation to accept resin.
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Resin Stage
Low viscosity resin with an affinity for silica surfaces coats each individual grain of
sand.
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Spacer / Overflush Stage
A spacer fluid is pumped down to remove excess resin from sand, dilute the
resin, and carry it into the formation.
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Catalyst Stage
The hardening catalyst is pumped through the matrix of resin-wet sand,
instantly beginning the hardening process.
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Resin Coated Sand
Single stage mechanical filter technique
Thermoset resin
Uses API specification gravel pack sand consolidated with resins
Filters out the formation sand in the perforation tunnels and behind
casing
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Application of Resin-Coated Sand Slurry
Cement Sheath
Formation
Liquid Resin-Coated
Proppant Entering Perforation
and Filling Casing
Casing
Liquid Resin-Coated
Proppant During Placement
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Sand Grains Locked Together Sand in Casing Then Drilled Out
Drillstring
Cement
Clean Wellbore, Excess
Resin-Coated Proppant Removed
Hardened Resin-Coated
Proppant
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Page 88 of 88
