9. Introduction
to Sand
Quartz School
for Well
SiteControl
Supervisors
Module – 13
Work Over Operations
Section – 9
Introduction to Sand Control
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Introduction to Sand Control
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Factors Affecting Sand Production
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Factors Affecting Sand Production
•Overburden
•Cementing
•Capillary
•Drag
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Factors Affecting Sand Production
z Overburden, Friction, Differential Stresses
z Cementing Material, Degree of Consolidation
z Fluid Viscosity, Production Velocity, Drag Forces
z Capillary Forces, Water Production
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Cause of Sand Production
z Once the destabilizing forces overcome the formation
strength, the rock will fail.
z Sand production will follow if sand can be transported.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Reasons for Sand Control
z Sand Disposal
z Casing / Liner Failure
z Sand Erosion
z Sand Bridges
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Sand Disposal
z Even wells with successful sand control measures will
produce small quantities of sand. In offshore
installations, where several wells produce into a
common platform, this may be critical.
z Sand must be first separated from the produced fluids
and all oil removed prior to disposal.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Casing / Liner Collapse
z Failure may occur
due to :
– Non uniform lateral
loading as rock is
produced.
– High axial compressive
load due to slumping of
the overlying casingbearing formation.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Sand Erosion
z Sand production can cause erosion in both surface and
downhole equipment such as :
C. Alvarez
Downhole
Surface
Blast Joints
Gas lift Equipment
Standing Valves
Pumps
Safety Valves
Circulating sleeves
Nipples
Tubular
Chokes
Elbows / Tees
Swages
Valves
Metering Devices
Flanges
Wellhead
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Sand Bridges
z Bridges may form in
casing or tubing and
obstruct well flow.
z They must be removed by
bailing or washing with
concentric strings.
z If bridging is severe sand
control will be required.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Sand Production Prediction
z Experience
z Analogy
z Special Well Test
z Core Inspection and Testing
– X-Ray, SEM
– Flow Tests
– Uniaxial and Triaxial Compressive Strength
Measurements
– BHN
z Log Interpretation
– IMPACT
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Rock Classification
Term
BHN
Remarks
z Unconsolidated
<2
No cementing material
z Partially
2-5
Crushed with fingers
z Friable
5 - 10
Crushed when rubbed
z Consolidate
10 - 30
Crushed with forceps
z Hard
> 30
Can not be broken with
– Medium Hard
30 - 50
forceps
– Hard
50 - 125
– Very Hard
> 125
(BHN - Brinell Hardness Number)
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Sand Control
Although some fines are probably always produced in
any well, in sand control we mean control of the
LOAD BEARING SOLIDS
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Sand Control Methods
z Restrictive Production Rate
z In Situ Consolidation
z Resin Coated Gravel
z Gravel Pack
z Screens - Natural Sand Packing (OH)
z Fracture
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Restrictive Production Rate
z Some weak formations have enough strength to
produce sand-free at low rates.
z Selective perforations placed in the strongest
formation (based on logs)
z Rock properties may change during the production
(i.e..., water production).
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
In Situ Consolidation
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
In Situ Consolidation
z Injection of resins systems into the formation.
Consolidation “in situ”.
z Sand grains are bound together but leaving pore
spaces open.
z The resin also improves the compressive strength
of the grains.
z Diversion to be considered.
z Main Dowell System : FRS - 300
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Resin Coated Gravel
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Resin Coated Gravel
z Resin coated particles are placed in the
perforations and wellbore.
z When cured a strong permeable synthetic
sandstone network is formed.
z Drillable.
z Diversion to be considered.
z Main Dowell System : SANDLOCK V*
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Gravel Pack
z Consists of sized
Screen
particles placed in
the annular space
between an
unconsolidated
formation and a
centralised screen.
Gravel
z Open or cased hole.
Formation
Sand
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Natural Sand Packing (NSP)
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Natural Sand Packing (Screens)
z Installation of a screen system (no particles) in
cased or open hole.
z Main horizontal completion option.
z Screen system can be :
slotted liner
pre-pack screen
wire wrapped
Porous media
z Annular is eventually filled with formation sand.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Screens
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Fracturing for Sand Control
Formation
Damage radius
Fracture
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Fracturing for Sand Control
Why fracture high permeability formations?
z By-pass formation damage
z Restore formation stress
z Reduce matrix flow velocity
z Connect reservoir layers
z Stimulate the well
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
References
z Dowell Sand Control Engineering Manual I
z Dowell Sand Control Materials Manual
z SPE Series on Special Topics Volume I, Penberthy -
Shaughnessy
z InTouchSupport.com
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Screen Selection
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Screen Selection
z Types of Screens Available
z Completion Type
z Metallurgy
z Mechanical Properties
z Screen Dimension
z Erosion
z Plugging
z Selection Guidelines
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Types of Screens Available
z Slotted Liners
z Wire-Wrapped Screens
z Double Wire-Wrapped Screens
z Pre-Pack Screens
z Premium Screens
– Johnson’s SUPERFLO & Excel
– Halliburton’s (Purolator) PoroPlus
– Pall’s Stratapack
– Baker’s Excluder
– Petroline’s Expandable Sand Screen
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Slotted Liners
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Wire Wrapped Screens
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Wire Type: House Shaped vs Keystone
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Double Wire Wrapped Screens
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Pre-Pack Screens
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Johnson’s SUPERFLO
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Johnson’s Excel
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Halliburton’s (Purolator) PoroPlus
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Pall’s Stratapac
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Pall’s PMF II Medium (Porous Metal Fiber)
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Pall’s PMM Medium(Porous Metal Membrane)
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Baker’s Excluder
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Petroline’s Expandable Sand Screen
Filtration
Media
Expandable
Base Pipe
Expandable
Base Pipe
Attach filters
onto base pipe
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Quartz School. Module 13: Work Over Operations / Section 9: Introduction to Sand Control
Expandable
Shroud
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Completion Type
z Natural Sand Pack (NSP)
z Gravel Pack
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Completion Type
z Natural Sand Pack
– Screen is designed to contain formation sand.
– Annular may be filled up with low permeability sand pack,
reducing production.
– Sand may cause screen erosion.
z Gravel Pack
– Screen is designed to contain gravel.
– Gravel is selected to contain formation sand.
– Gravel placement technique to be considered.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Metallurgy - Material Corrosion
– SSCC, Sulfide Stress Corrosion Cracking
– CO2 Corrosion
– SCC, Stress Corrosion Cracking
– Pitting Corrosion
– Crevice Corrosion
– Hydrogen Embrittlement
– Galvanic Corrosion
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Environment for Corrosion
z Temperature
z H2S content
z CO2 content
z Cl- content
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Mechanical Properties
z Limits are set regarding sand retention capability and deformation.
– Crush
– Burst
– Torque
– Bend
– Tensile
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Crush Test
Courtesy of Pall
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Crush Test
Courtesy of Pall
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Pall’s Stratapac Suggested Limits
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Screen Dimension
z OD
– Inflow Area
– Circulating Pressure
– Collapsed Formation /GP Ring Diameter
– Installation
z ID
– Pipe / Wash Pipe Size (treatment pump rate)
– Logging
– Production
– Selective Tools
– Remedial Work (back up screen)
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Natural Sand Pack Erosion
z Formation particle flow velocity through the screen will cause
erosion.
z Consequences are more severe in gas wells.
z Increased formation particle flow velocity will occur due partial
screen plugging.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Natural Sand Pack Screen Plugging
z If not eroded, in a sand producing environment in which particles are
allowed to flow, the screen openings tend to plug.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Selection Guidelines
z Gravel pack (GP) vs No gravel pack
– Uniformity of sand : The more non uniform the sand, the more GP
is to be considered.
– Hole stability: If an instantaneous hole collapse is not likely to
occur, consider GP.
– Drawdown: Higher the drawndown (or higher the Q/L), the more
GP is to be considered.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Natural Sand Pack Considerations
z Uniformity of the sand
– For uniform sand (C<3), consider WWS (“Wired Wrapped
Screens”) / SL (“Slotted Liner”), (Economic decision).
– For non uniform sand (C>3), consider PP or Premium.
z Hole collapse
– If instantaneous and uniform hole collapse is expected, consider
WWS / SL (Economic decision).
– If initially stable hole, the decision will be dictated by production
rate. In high rate environment PP or Premium are recommended.
z Even in low rate environment consider tolerance to fines
production D10/D95 >20 (SPE 39437).
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Cumulative Log Diagram (S-Plot)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
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8 12 16 20 30 40 50 70 100 140 200 270 325 400 pan
o
D 90
o
o
D 50
D 40
o
o
o
o
Grain Size (in)
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
NSP WWS / SL Sizing
z Coberly (1937): Slot size = 2 * D10
z Rogers (1971): Slot size = D10
z Rogaland Research (1996): SPE 31087
– Fractal approach, experiments defining the largest slot size where
sand production did not occurred and smallest slot size where no
plugging was observed.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Comparative Sand Retention Tests
TABLE 1 - SUMMARY OF SCREEN TEST RESULTS (Hole collapsed)
SAND D50 - 28 MICRON, UC = 5.2
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
#1-Mesh TechBare
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#2-Mesh Tech
50/70 Gravel
Pack
#3-40/60
Prepack
#4-50/70
Prepack
#5-Wire Wrap,
100M
#6-Wire Wrap,
50M
#7-Superflo
SW, 43M
Retained Perm Kf/Ki
0.8
0.9
0.84
0.75
0.36
0.21
0.92
Solids Produced (g)
0.792
0.0085
0.019
0.024
0.165
0.1
0.007
Solids Conc (kg/m3 water)
1.36
0.03
0.03
0.18
1.01
0.2
0.024
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Gravel Pack Consideration
z Gravel pack will stabilize formation
– Screen will be protected from formation sand plugging and
erosion.
– Annular will be packed with very high permeability particles.
z Placement
z Size Screen to stop gravel or formation sand ?
– Particles that flow through gravel (using Saucier method) will flow
through screen sized to stop formation sand.
– Considerations as NSP
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
Centralizers
z Solid Straight Blade Stand-Off Centralizers are recommended.
z Centralizers available in Zinc and Bronze Alloy.
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9. Introduction to Sand Control
References
z Dowell Sand Control Engineering Manual
z Sand Control Handbook, World Oil’s, by Suman
z Sand Control, SPE Series, Penberthy & Shaughnessy
z SPE 39437
z SPE 31087
z Hart’s Petroleum Engineer International, Nov 1997
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