Techbits: Workshop Examines Best Practices in Sand Control

Abstract

A total of 92 participants from 31 organizations in 15 countries attended the SPE Applied Technology Workshop (ATW) "Sand Control—Lessons Learned and Best Practices" held 13–16 May in Phuket, Thailand. After an opening overview of workshop objectives by Cochairpersons Ralf Napalowski, BHP Billiton, and R.J. Wetzel, Chevron, keynoter Bacho Pilong, general manager, Sarawak Operations, Petronas Carigali, spoke on "Coping With Emerging Challenges in Sand Control." His talk noted the importance of sand control in his company's operations, highlighted the need to develop and apply new technology, and encouraged participants to learn from each other and take away new ideas to apply in their own projects. On a general level, the ATW focused on the following broad subjects: sanding predictions and geomechanical modeling, evaluating production options without sand control, the effects of sand production on surface facilities, and sand-control methods, emphasizing what the industry has learned in performing and working with these types of completions. The first technical session, on geomechanics, included presentations related to acid treatments and their effects on sand production, sand control in compacted reservoirs, and sand prediction validation. Each presentation emphasized the considerable initial work needed to understand the rock mechanics before choosing a sand-control method. The following session on "Sand-Related Issues for Surface Equipment" looked at key sand-production concerns related to erosion and corrosion, including the need for a reliable method to monitor the effects and damage caused by produced sand and fines on equipment. A reliable sand-production measurement, it was emphasized, is fundamental to closing the feedback loop with the sand-control design to confirm that the completion decisions made were correct. Specialty sand-control systems were then discussed, including multizone completion systems, selective perforating, and sand consolidation. All of these presentations stressed the importance of resource selection and planning to treatment success. A total of 14 poster sessions then took place, consisting of a large variety of topics discussed by all. Following those was a session on "people and processes," focusing on the team-building that is critical to effective project execution. Performance measurement and the establishment and evaluation, throughout the project, of meaningful key performance indicators were major topics. Intervention in sand-producing wells was also covered. Discussion included wells where sand control was not initially deployed and wells where it was but is no longer effective. Through-tubing methods of sand control were discussed as well as the use of sand consolidation. Presentations on reaming focused on various open- and cased-hole methods of sand control, lessons learned in their application, and best practices developed. For the final technical session, all delegates were separated into groups to evaluate and rank the various lessons learned and best practices that were submitted to the ATW. Each team then presented its findings to all the workshop participants. In closing remarks, Napalowski and Wetzel reviewed the workshop's activities, and delegates were asked to share their ideas and identify highlights of the ATW. In general, comments rated the discussion and exchange of information exceptional throughout the workshop, praising the topic selection and noting the broad experience of the delegates. In addition to Cochairpersons Napalowski and Wetzel, the ATW program committee consisted of Michael Byrne, Corex UK; Chip Claiborne, Chevron; Barry Goodin, Newfield Peninsula Malaysia; Travis Hailey, Halliburton; Colin Jones, Weatherford Completion Systems; Zainab Kayat, Petronas; Murat Kece, Eclipse Petroleum Technology; Tom Lane, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia; Lewis Ledlow, ConocoPhillips; Ray Macias, BJ Services Arabia; Colin McPhee, Senergy; Adrian Slayter, Helix RDS; Ray Tibbles, Schlumberger; and Paul Vorkinn and Johan Murison Abdullah, Reslink.