A New Method of Sand Control: The Process and its First Field Implementation

Abstract

Abstract A new method of sand control 1,2, which was earlier developed and tested in the laboratory, has been implemented and evaluated in the field. The method is based on a low-temperature oxidation process where a hydrocarbon fluid wetting the sand grains is oxidized resulting in a coke-like solid substance that cements and consolidates the sand grains. Laboratory development work involved first a series of experiments on small loose-sand packs with the purpose of investigating the effects of control parameters on the quality of sand consolidation and determining the optimum process conditions. Employing the optimum conditions, the process was then tested on a full-scale wellbore model resembling specific actual field conditions. The results of this development work proved that the new method is viable and is potentially superior to existing sand control methods. The new process was then designed for field-scale applications and was implemented on a well with potential sand production problem. The well was flowing initially at low rates between 200 to 400 bpd and was cutting little sand. Other wells in the field producing at higher rates were experiencing major sand production problems. Following treatment of the well with the new process, the well was produced with ESP at a rate of 4000 bpd without sand production. Close monitoring of the well for more than three months showed no significant rise in sand production.