Comprehensive Transient Modeling of Sand Production in Horizontal Wellbores

Comprehensive Transient Modeling of Sand Production in Horizontal Wellbores Alireza Nouri; Alireza Nouri Dalhousie University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Hans Vaziri; Hans Vaziri BP-America Inc. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Hadi Belhaj; Hadi Belhaj Dalhousie University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Rafiqul Islam Rafiqul Islam Dalhousie University Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, October 2003. Paper Number: SPE-84500-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/84500-MS Published: October 05 2003 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Nouri, Alireza, Vaziri, Hans, Belhaj, Hadi, and Rafiqul Islam. "Comprehensive Transient Modeling of Sand Production in Horizontal Wellbores." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, October 2003. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/84500-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractThe design of the most appropriate completion technique for a horizontal wellbore is still a formidable task. The choices are whether to opt for an openhole or a cased completion and, whether to gravel pack or there will be no need for sand production control under prospective operational conditions. This paper introduces a predictive tool that forecasts not only the initiation of sanding, but also its rate and severity in real time. All possible failure mechanisms including shear, tensile and volumetric have been included in the proposed model. Experimental data on large block tests are used to support the validity of the proposed numerical model.A series of well-documented experiments on a large size horizontal wellbore was numerically simulated utilizing a finite difference package. The model covers the interaction between fluid flow and mechanical deformation of the medium, capturing all possible mechanisms of failure. Providing the means of encompassing the sequential nature of sanding and the direct modeling of progressive character of the cavity, the suggested model is the first to be reported using a fully coupled transient simulation approach. The removal process of the qualified elements is simulated in the model, and the criteria that are used for this process are in accordance with the physics of sand production. This numerical tool can be used to address the main factors related to sand production problem that include the conditions under which sanding takes place and how extensive if indeed it occurs.The model shows excellent agreements with experimental results in terms of borehole deformation and sanding rates. The model predicted initiation of shear failure from the sides of the borehole and its propagation to the top and sides of the sample. Likewise, it became evident that removal of the failed material during production may trigger more sanding through development of shear failure to the formerly intact material that may continue to fail accordingly. More importantly, the agreement between the numerical and experimental well face deformation as well as sanding rate and volume suggests that an accurate prediction of sanding can be made by using the proposed numerical modeling. Therefore, a sound decision in completion selection and sand control strategy can be suggested. Avoiding unnecessary gravel packing, and other sand controlling and prevention techniques can be achieved by utilizing the proposed model, which in turn reduces the cost of well completion dramatically. In addition, the production decline due to gravel void throat block by fine movement can be prevented. A wide use of the proposed model is expected immediately in the oil industry.IntroductionSand Production in the petroleum industry is a phenomenon of solid particles being produced together with reservoir fluid. This phenomenon is costing the industry billions of dollars every year. Corrosion of pipelines and other facilities, sand-oil separation costs, possible wellbore choke, environmental effects, production rate drop and frequent work-over for clean-up operations are some examples of these expenses. On the other hand, a controlled sanding or even sand production invocation has proved to be very effective in increasing production rates, especially in heavy oil recovery, asphalt wells and low PI wells 1,2,3.The extent of the problem in hand is recognized by the fact that estimations indicate that seventy percent of the total world's oil and gas reserves are found in poorly consolidated reservoirs4. Meanwhile, poorly consolidated sandstones, marked with weak existing cohesion among grains, are the most common solid producers.Sand production takes place if the material around the cavity is disaggregated and then there is enough fluid flow rate to produce the grain particles. Disaggregation of the material initiates from cavity faces and propagates inside the medium. Material disaggregation can take place if the material fails under excessive drawdown or depletion or any combination of the three. Depletion and drawdown fail the medium under either of shear or tensile or volumetric failure mechanisms or a combination of them. After failure of the rock disaggregates the material, the resulted grains are produced by the existence of enough pressure gradients in tension. Friction between the grains and capillary tension are the resisting forces against grains movements 5,6. Keywords: drawdown, depletion, reservoir geomechanics, reservoir characterization, modeling, application, sand production, fluid flow, horizontal wellbore, cohesion Subjects: Flow Assurance, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Solids (scale, sand, etc.), Reservoir geomechanics, Flow in porous media This content is only available via PDF. 2003. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.

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