Feasibility Study of Bayuda’s Sand for Possible Use as Proppant in Oil Field

Abstract

Natural white and brown sand have widely been used for hydraulic fracturing and gravel packing operations; the main supplier country for these types of sand is United States, other efforts were presented to produce the sand from other countries. The wide area of deserts and the large amount of sandstone formation in Sudan offer abundant amount of natural silica sand; which is devoted mainly to construction industry. Recently, no studies were conducted to evaluate the use of the Sudanese as Frac sand; this study however evaluates Bayuda desert’s sand to be used as proppant agents in hydraulic fracturing operations based on standarad practice. Three different samples were obtained from Bayuda desert near Al-Dabbah Province in the north of the Republic of Sudan. Chemical and physical characteristics of the sand samples were studied including Sieve Analysis, Bulk Density, Sphericity and Roundness, Acid Solubility, Turbidity and Crush Resistance; the evaluation tests and procedures were conducted following American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 19C (API RP 19C). The results presented that the three samples has a bulk density of 1.62~1.68 g/cm³; with Sphericity and Roundness of 0.6 to 0.7. The Acid Solubility was found in the range of 0.14 to 0.68%; while the Turbidity ranging between 21 to 80 Formazin Turbidity Unit (FTU). Finally, the strength of the three samples was found in the range of 2000-3000 Psi. Comparison of these results with the reference value presented by API RP 19C indicates that the three samples are compatible with the requirements for sand proppant regard to Bulk Density, Sphericity and Roundness, Acid Solubility and Turbidity. However, limitations were faced regard to sand strength; for formation stresses of greater than 2000 Psi, resin may need to modify sand strength.