ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: The qualitative and quantitative understanding of volumetric sand production in perforations or open hole completions in hydrocarbon reservoirs is addressed. A sand production experiment on a weak compactive sandstone was designed and performed to obtain accurate and reliable volumetric sand production data. In the test, a hollow cylinder specimen was loaded externally and fluid flow was flown radially towards the inner hole. The amount of produced sand over time at various stresses and fluid flow rates was accurately measured. The test provided answers to the parameters influencing sand production in weak sandstones and showed how the external stress and the fluid flow rate affect the sand production rate. The test results are compared with sand predictions from a recently developed volumetric sand prediction finite element code, which is based on a model coupling the poro-mechanics of the solid-fluid system with the erosion of the solid matrix due to fluid flow.

Keywords:
production monitoring, sand production, production control, Reservoir Surveillance, flow assurance, Upstream Oil & Gas, external stress, Simulation, hollow cylinder radius, Reservoir Characterization
Subjects:
Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Flow Assurance, Reservoir Characterization, Solids (scale, sand, etc.), Sand Control
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2000. A.A. Balkema - Permission to Distribute - American Rock Mechanics Association
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