Well Stimulation

Sand Control

Chapter Eight
 Introduction

 Sand Production is one of the oldest problem of oil

fields.
 It is usually associated with shallow formation
 Sand Production can be expected when the
bonding cementing between sand grain is weak or
not present (loose or unconsolidated sand).
 Sand production can be formed if reservoir
condition is changing (depleted reservoir).
 In weaker reservoirs the more continuous sand
production may lead to sand up of the well, fill-up
of flow lines and production station facilities.
 The sand content may be expressed in parts per
million (ppm).
 Sand Control Definition

During sand control, it is necessary to

differentiate between load bearing solids
and fine solids associated with formation
fluid which are not part of mechanical
structure of the formation.
Causes of sand production

 Drag forces of flowing fluid, which increase with

higher flow rate and higher fluid viscosity.
 Reduction of formation strength often associated
with water production due dissolving of cementing
material
 Reduced relative permeability to oil due to increase
saturation, which increase pressure draw-down
 Decline reservoir pressure which increase
compaction forces and may disturb cementation
between grains
 Formation Strength

Sand grain are stabilized by compressive

forces due to:-
 weight of the overburden.
 Capillary forces
 Cementation between the grains
 Sand Control Mechanism

Basically sand production can be controlled

by three mechanism and they are as following
 Reducing Drag Forces
 Bridging Sand Mechanically
 Increasing Formation Strength
 Chemical Technique
 Bridging Sand Mechanically
This technique has wide application, but it is more
difficult to be apply in multiple zone or small diameter
casing.

Type of mechanical sand control

 Using Slotted Linear
 Wire Rapped Screens
 Pre-packed Screens
 Design Criteria of Sand Control
The main criteria are as following:

 Formation size analysis

 Slot screen size to retain the gravel, or if no
gravel, the formation sand
 Gravel size to control formation sand size
 Thickness of the gravel pack
 Changing of flow rate
 Placement technique
 Gravel Packing Fluid
The design of completion fluid for gravel packing is
extremely important because of:

 Needs to stabilize the borehole wall

 Prevent caving
 Minimize permeability damage by
 Particle plugging
 Fluid loss control (CaCO3)
 Clay swelling or wettability problem
 Cased Hole Gravel Packing

 This technique is applied in wells that are cased

off and perforated using 4-8 spf
 High permeability gravel is placed in the
annulus between the screen and the casing and
inside the perforation tunnel
 It is essential to use solid free fluid
 The perforation should be open & clean before
injection of gravel
 Perforation washing
 Swabbing (back surging)
 Open Hole Gravel Packing

 The radial inflow performance into the well

should be improved and result in higher PI
 The open hole section should be underreamed
4-6 inch on diameter (11” for 7” csg) to:
 Provided required thickness of gravel.
 Remove drilled solid & mud cake from open
hole face.
 A caliper survey may be need to be run to aid in
estimating the amount of gravel required.
 Use of Screen & Slotted Linear
Without Gravel

 Used for low production well due to low cost.

 Wire raped screen is permit use & more
corrosion resistance.
 Screens set inside casing usually reduce
productivity (fine sand movement).
 Screen can not be cleaned, where slotted linear
can be cleaned.
 In open hole, screen should be sized as large as
possible to prevent caving of shale.
 Gravel Size & Quality Requirments
1. Gravel Size
Restrain of sand movement is provided
properly sizing gravel pore openings relative to
sand particle diameter inorder to:-
 To prevent plugging of pore space in the
pack by particle invasion from the formation
 A specific size is needed to describe the
distribution curve
 It is convenient to describe the grain size
distribution curve by the size at specific
percentile point
 A Uniformity coefficient is determined by
comparing the 40% size with 90% size
 Gravel Size & Quality Requirments
2. Gravel Shape

 A minimum of 95% of the grain should have

a spherical factor of at least 0.6
 A minimum of 95% of the grain should have
a roundness factor of 0.6
 At least 95% of the grain should be clean
and consist of quartz with no visible
fractures
 The solubility of the grain should be 0.5% by
weight in 15% wt HCl
 SAND CONTROL

END OF CHAPTER EIGHT

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