A numerical assessment of the effect of particle size distribution and operation parameters on sand retention over sand screens

Abstract

Sand screens are often installed in sanding prone wellbores to control sand production. A selection of optimal sand screen apertures is required to minimise sand production and maximise fluid production. This has been accomplished historically on empirical correlations, rules of thumb and laboratory sand retention experiments. These methodologies have a number of limitations that can lead to different screen types and sub-optimal screen apertures to be selected. Using discrete element models (DEMs), many design/operating parameters similar to a specific wellbore condition can be simulated and tested in parallel. Most importantly, the detailed particle scale information helps to give a detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms controlling the sand retention process. This extended abstract presents an investigation of the sand production problem from wire wrapped screens and slotted liners through the use of a DEM for the solid flow with fluid flow coupling using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Information about particle sizes and distributions incorporated in the DEM model are based on measurement data from reservoir sands. The focus is on the effect of particle size distributions, particle concentration, and the slot width on sand retention across a slotted sand screen.