This paper presents a model for the prediction of sand volumes and rates for any type of clastic oil or gas reservoir. This model captures both the geomechanical aspects (rock deformation and failure) and the transport aspects (e.g. role of drawdown and watercut) of the sand production problem.

An extensive model validation is presented in which the predicted sand volumes and rates are compared with field observations for a variety of oil and gas fields under various stages of depletion. For all these cases, the model predictions and field observations are in reasonable to good agreement.

In addition, a discussion is presented on how the model can be practically used. This discussion clearly demonstrates that sand production behaviour is not only dependent on in-situ stress, rock strength, and drawdown, but also very much on how the field is actually operated / managed at a detailed level.

Keywords:
production rate, flow rate, sand cut, wellbore, breakthrough, depletion, overshoot, strength, transient sand production, pressure transient testing
Subjects:
Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Reservoir Characterization, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Formation Evaluation & Management, Reserves Evaluation, Perforating, Sand/solids control, Pressure transient analysis, Drillstem/well testing, Estimates of resource in place
Copyright 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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