Advanced Sand Control Chemistry to Increase Maximum Sand Free Rate with Improved Placement Technique - A Case Study

Abstract

The reliability of the production is essential in offshore operations. Producing a well at its maximum rate is important everywhere. This is often compromised by having sand and fines production which not only plugs the wells and reduce production rate but also erode the equipment and settle in surface vessels. This paper describes a case history where an operator was faced with a well that was rate limited because of fines and sand production. An advanced sand control chemistry system was proposed and a treatment was designed. In April 2013, the treatment was performed by bullheading down the production tubing using rate diversion. Extensive engineering was involved in the candidate selection and planning the operational aspects of the treatment. The execution of the treatment was divided into stages – sand clean out, performing step rate test, pre-job modeling and pumping the treatment as per the design. After the treatment, the well was flowed and tested at almost three times the original maximum sand-free rate (MSFR) at an increased choke without sand production. The well has now been flowing for more than a year, at significantly higher rate than the previous MSFR sand free. This paper describes the chemistry of the sand conglomeration, design consideration, execution and the effect on well performance.

A Review on Chemical Sand Production Control Techniques in Oil Reservoirs

“…That is why zeta potential modifiers reduce permeability by <1% and have a high penetration depth. Zeta potential modifiers are generally cationic and require negatively charged formations such as sandstones, so they are not applicable in positively charged carbonate formations. , This method can be used in formations with a permeability of several millidarcies to several darcies with low risk. For this purpose, modeling can be used to find operational parameters such as type of injection, pressure, and injection rate. , …”