Specialists Share Knowledge of Sand-Control Methods

Abstract

Five leading authorities on sand-control methods discuss specific technology applications and practices. Sand-control solutions create a variety of questions and challenges. In this question-and- answer session, a panel of five experts on the subject of sand control tackle some of the most frequently posed problems, including how to choose a sand-control method, important perforating methods and initial steps, comparing openhole completions with cased and perforated completions, causes of skin damage and how to reduce or eliminate them, challenges of horizontal sand-control completions and specific procedures, and the best way to judge the performance of a sand-control method. Mitch Cornette, SPE, with Sonat Exploration Co. in Houston, has been heavily involved with completions and sand control for 17 years. He has 19 patents in the area of sand control and production operations and is currently chairman of the Completion Engineering Assn. Derrel G. Gurley, SPE, is a petroleum engineer with more than 25 years' experience in completing wells that produce sand. He was a 1990-91 SPE Distinguished Lecturer and spoke on "Sand Control-A State-of-the-Art Review," addressing gravel-pack carrier fluids, slurries, prepacking techniques, downhole equipment, numerical model studies, matched density pack particles, and horizontal and extended-reach gravel-pack techniques. Since joining Amoco Production Research Co. in 1971, George King, SPE, has been involved in research into acidizing, damage removal, water control, sand control, horizontal well completions, all phases of chemical well stimulations, mechanical workovers, and perforating. He has completed basic research on unstable chalk and sandstone formations, foam stimulation fluids, and asphaltene sludges, and provides technical assistance as one of Amoco's specialists in several areas of stimulation and well completion. Jackie McLarty, SPE, is a technical specialist with Halliburton Energy Services. She has a BS degree in chemical engineering from Mississippi State U. and has been involved in sand-control R&D and technical services for 11 years. Jean Weingarten, SPE, is a staff engineer with Arco Alaska Inc. in Anchorage. She previously worked for Arco E&P Technology in Plano, TX, where she conducted laboratory work and analysis to develop and apply methods for predicting sand production.