Chapter 3 Sand Control

Abstract

Publisher Summary The ability to predict when a reservoir will fail and produce sand is fundamental to deciding whether to use downhole sand control and what type of sand control to use. Even though approximately 60% of the world's oil and gas production comes from carbonates, 90% of hydrocarbon wells are in sandstone reservoirs. Around 30% of these sandstones may be weak enough to produce sand. Some carbonate reservoirs may also produce solids. Unexpectedly produced sand can lead to erosion, loss of integrity and potential fatalities. Conversely, unnecessarily installing sand control can be expensive and detrimental to productivity and reservoir management. The chapter begins by giving some insight into the techniques that could be deployed to reduce or eliminate sand production without installing downhole sand control (such as screens). Alternatively, some degree of sand production can be accepted and managed. It justifies and explains the role of sand control screens, stand alone screens, open hole gravel packs, cased hole gravel packs and frac packs, and expandable screens. Historically, chemical consolidation has been used as a low-cost method of stopping sand production in short perforated completed intervals. It is generally considered a remedial option. However, for short intervals with a low likelihood of producing sand, low intervention costs and low consequence of producing some sand, the completion strategy can include chemical consolidation as a substitute for screens. Finally, the chapter highlights the steps to decide over, which method is desirable for what kind of work.