Geomechanics Pinpoint Cause

of Sand Production
Case Study: DCS integrated techniques help AGOCO
better understand thin-bed reservoirs

Challenge Sand management challenge

Sanding in Arabian Gulf Oil
Company’s (AGOCO) Sarir field in
Libya has become progressively
worse in an increasing number
of wells. Geomechanics studies
have been conducted, but each
on its own was unable to detect
the definitive cause of sand
production.
Solution
Petrophysical log enhancement
was used in the evaluation of thin-
bed formations. Schlumberger
Data & Consulting Services (DCS)
findings led to a better under-
standing of performance issues
and what to expect in the future.
Results
The DCS approach proved that
Since 1984, sanding in Arabian Gulf Oil Company’s (AGOCO) Sarir field in Libya has
become progressively worse in an increasing number of wells. Geomechanics studies
have been conducted, but each on its own was unable to detect the definitive cause
of sand production.
Generating mechanical earth models (MEMs) to analyze reservoirs can become
a challenge in beds with thin-bed sequences, especially those made up of weak and
strong sand layers less than 1 ft thick. The bed’s heterogeneity and variation between
adjacent layers often go undetected by logging tools because the bed is thinner than
the tools’ resolution. The tools can provide only an averaged report on the reservoir’s
mechanical properties without acknowledging the existence of strong and weak
sequences. The result is an incomplete picture of the reservoir’s sanding potential.
AGOCO called on the interpretive skills of Schlumberger Data & Consulting Services
(DCS), which initiated a geomechanics and sanding study in 2004. It was thought that
skilled interpretation of the results would provide the information needed to select the
right sand management solution, guide development decisions, allow appropriate com-
pletions planning, and optimize future reservoir management.
Azimuth
0 UCS_Lab psi 10,000
0
Resistive
120 240 360
FMI Image Conductive
0 UCS_Log psi 10,000 0 UCS_Log psi 10,000
MD, ft MD, ft
8,790 8,790

integrated geomechanics and

8,795 8,795
petrophysics studies could help
leverage log data, allowing for 8,800
8,800
planning and intervention before
a crisis occurs. 8,805 8,805

8,810 8,810

8,815 8,815

8,820 8,820

8,825 8,825
Sand free

Initial log-derived rock strengths FMI images and laboratory test data reveal thin
indicate no sanding problems. weak beds.

Data & Consulting Services

Case Study: DCS integrated techniques help AGOCO
better understand thin-bed reservoirs

Geomechanics analysis The sanding predictions based on the new 0 UCS_Lab psi 10,000

high-resolution UCS log closely matched the 0 UCS_Log psi 10,000

The DCS team first conducted a data audit MD,ft

of existing geomechanics information to observations of sanding in the field, unlike the

characterize previous sanding problems and results from other analyses that had used only 8,790

help diagnose the causes. One study, based the DSI* Dipole Shear Sonic Imager log. The
8,795
on wireline sonic data, indicated no tendency UCS data from this process, which showed
for sanding across a thick reservoir interval the same strength heterogeneities as the core 8,800

at the drawdown pressures required for eco- data, improved the description of rock
nomic oil production. These sonic logs were strength in the MEM that was needed for 8,805

unable to detect thin weak zones in the Sarir
field with thicknesses below the vertical
resolution—about 42 in— of the wireline
sonic tool. The log-derived unconfined com-
pressive strength (UCS) curve indicated that
subsequent sanding analyses of the thin-bed
8,810
sequences. Petrophysical log enhancement,
which provided a high-resolution rock
8,815
strength profile of the Sarir wells, is believed
to be a “first” in generating downscaled 8,820

the entire reservoir was above the critical mechanical properties for geomechanics and
sanding evaluation of thin-bed formations. 8,825
sand-free UCS, contradicting the field’s history
Original UCS Refined UCS
of solids production with depletion.
Conclusions Log enhancement allows
DCS had also commissioned a laboratory
Schlumberger DCS delivered to AGOCO better description of rock
testing program on core samples to obtain
a detailed evaluation of the field. The findings strengths.
measurements of the rock mechanics parame-
ters relevant to stress modeling and sanding led to a better understanding of performance 0 UCS_Lab psi 10,000

issues and what to expect in the future, 0 UCS_Log psi 10,000

prediction. The laboratory data showed a big MD,ft

spread in UCS, including rock strengths that allowing for planning and intervention before
would present a significant sanding risk. a crisis occurs. The DCS approach proved that 8,790

Integrating the laboratory results with other integrated geomechanics and petrophysics
8,795
geomechanics information available from log, studies could help leverage log data. Combining
field, and drilling measurements provided the different log data and adding interpretive 8,800

initial MEM, which contained most of the infor- expertise contribute value to the evaluation
mation necessary for subsequent evaluations. process, confirming that the whole is more 8,805

But the DCS team took it a step further by
introducing FMI* Fullbore Formation MicroImager
data from the same thin-bed intervals. Alpha
than just the sum of the parts.
8,810
E-mail dcs@slb.com or contact your local
Schlumberger representative to learn more. 8,815

processing and other petrophysical log

8,820
enhancement techniques generated a 0.2-in References
Qiu K., Marsden R., Solovyov Y., Safdar M., Chardac O., and Shatwan M.:
high resolution porosity log. The downscaling
“Downscaling Geomechanics Data for Thin-Beds
8,825
techniques were combined with empirical Using Petrophysical Techniques,” paper SPE 93605,
presented at the 14th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference, Sanding line Sanding line
UCS-porosity relationship data from the labora- at initial at depleted
Bahrain, 12–15 March 2005.
tory. The downscaled UCS log results exhibited pressures pressures

the wide range of strength values known to Geomechanics analyses with

exist across the thin-bed sequence. enhanced logs explain sanding.

www.slb.com/dcs

06-DC-078 August 2006

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