Optimising Production Through Efficient Sand Risk Management in Deepwater Production Wells

The wells are drilled in deepwater fans of distal turbidite origin at depths ranging from 2950m Subsea to 3750m Subsea to produce light oil/condensate (42 to 53 degree API gravity) with high Gas to Liquid Ratio between 1600 and 7300 scf/bbl. The wells are drilled in three different reservoirs with the unconfined compressive stress varying between 1.5 and 70 bar. As the reservoirs are made up of unconsolidated sand, the wells are equipped with a mix of Stand Alone Screens (SAS), Expandable Sand Screens (ESS) and Frac Pack (FP) completions to mitigate sand production in producers and sand flow-back in injectors due to pressure surges during well closure or cross-flow during shutdowns. 6-5/8" SAS are installed in 8-1/2" horizontal drains of producers, water injectors and gas injectors in homogeneous lobes where high permeability can be maintained with an efficient natural sand pack. FP and ESS techniques have been used in the deviated producers in heterogeneous channels where high permeability is not achievable. ESS technique was preferred over FP in deviated water injectors to mitigate the risk of gravel pack washout.