Pre-packed Screen Research Articles

A comprehensive review on sand control in oil and gas wells Part I. Mechanical techniques

Sand production is one of the most important problems in the oil and gas industry worldwide and can lead to erosion of surface and downhole equipment, accumulation of sand in wells and facilities, buckling of casing in cased-hole wells, and reduction of well productivity. The erosion of production equipment increases maintenance costs and potential equipment failure. Due to the costs associated with sand control measures and potential production losses, sand production has an impact on project profitability. Environmental concerns can arise if sand-laden produced fluids are discharged untreated, posing a risk to the environment and marine life. To mitigate sand production problems, a variety of sand management and control techniques have been developed and implemented. Over the past several years, sand management and control techniques have advanced considerably due to advances in materials science, well logging, and computational modeling. A better understanding of sand behavior, improved sand control techniques and more accurate predictive models have resulted from these advances. Current developments and strategies in sand management, control and prevention techniques are reviewed in this paper. This review consists of two parts: 1) mechanical techniques and 2) chemical treatment and sand management. Keywords: sand production; gravel packs; pre-packed screens; expandable sand screens; insert screens; patches; chemical consolidation.

Restoration of the Production in a Dead Well by using Low Cost Recompletion of Sand Control

This paper proposes a cost-effective solution through a recompletion design of sand control to restart the production of a dead well named "X" (for confidential reasons). The data used to achieve the objective of this paper are the production parameters, reservoir properties and the previous completion design. The tool used to draw the new completion schematic is Power Drawn software. It is necessary to use two softwares (PowerDrawn and Pipesim), Ishikawa method and economic evaluation method. The different causes that probably contributed to the production stop in well X are given by using the Ishikawa diagram. The top sediment is obtained by using the sonic log and the clean-up is performed by using coiled tubing with a drill bit incorporated at the end. The mechanical packer is installed to isolate the formation, the pre-packed screen allows the filtration of hydrocarbons. The on-off tool ensures the installation of the mechanical packer and the minimum restriction for the passage of the equipment through the ones in place is 2.313 inches. After the installation of the recompletion, a positive return on investment is obtained and after a production time of one week. The financial aspect after installation of the recompletion shows that a recompletion of the sand control at lower cost is achieved.

Comparative Studies and Analyses of the Different Mechanical Sand Control Systems: A Case Study of a Well Completed in the Niger- Delta of Nigeria

Abstract: Sand production problems are as old as oil drilling itself. It is argued to be the oldest problem plaguing the oil industry. This phenomenon leads to high economic losses in oil and gas production. If the passive methods of sand control of selective and oriental perforations fail, the active methods which involve the chemical and mechanical methods are called into play. This project work compares four mechanical sand control methods; Cased-Hole Gravel Pack, Wire-Wrapped Screens, Pre-Packed Screens and Slotted Liner. It studies the effectiveness of each system, total skin offered and their effects on well productivity. As a control, the data of a well completed without any sand control system in place in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria was obtained. the IPR/VLP plots were made and the flow efficiencies were calculated. The well was later simulated with the four cases mentioned above and the total skin and flow efficiencies calculated. It was discovered that the flow efficiencies showed a reduction due to the installation of the sand control tools and the skin offered by each sand control system. The flow efficiencies dropped from 0.476 025 to 0.475 977 for Wire-wrapped Screen, 0.475 930 for Cased-Hole Gravel Pack, 0.475 914 for Pre-Packed Screen and finally 0.052 890 for the Slotted Liner. The drops in flow efficiencies were validated by the increasing values of total skin factors from 0 for No Sand Control System, 0.000 484 86 for Wire-Wrapped Screen, 0.002 359 for Pre-Packed Screen, 1.76 for Cased-Hole Gravel Pack and 49.82 for The Slotted Liner. Parameters as Absolute Open Flow Potential (AOFP), Productivity Index (P.I.), Total Skin Value and Liquid (Oil) Production Rate showed that the Wire-Wrapped Screen was the best sand control solution for the given well

Passability test and simulation of sand control string with natural gas hydrates completion in large curvature hole

To meet the requirements of marine natural gas hydrate exploitation, it is necessary to improve the penetration of completion sand control string in the large curvature borehole. In this study, large curvature test wells were selected to carry out the running test of sand control string with pre-packed screen. Meanwhile, the running simulation was performed by using the Landmark software. The results show that the sand control packer and screen can be run smoothly in the wellbore with a dogleg angle of more than 20°/30 m and keep the structure stable. Additionally, the comprehensive friction coefficient is 0.4, under which and the simulation shows that the sand control string for hydrate exploitation can be run smoothly. These findings have important guiding significance for running the completion sand control string in natural gas hydrate exploitation.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

Comprehensive experimental study on the sand retention media of pre-filled sand control screens

Sand production is a serious problem in exploring heavy oil wells and can cause sand well abandonment under severe conditions. Various sand control tools (e.g. slotted liner (SL) screens, wire-wrapped screens (WWSs), pre-packed screens, and premium screens) are recently developed. However, each sand control method has its drawbacks and limitations. Pre-packing gravel screens have not been improved compared with other screens to date. This study aims to optimize and improve pre-packing gravel screens. The influences of gravel size and packing densities and thickness on the production capacity and the amount of sand produced are studied. Experimental results show that the maximum packing densities of the gravel layer range from 59 to 68%. Moreover, the increase in the packing densities of the gravel layer increases the sand control effect but reduces productivity. No sand intrusion within the gravel layer and sand production occur when the packing densities of the gravel layer reach 62%. By contrast, if the packing densities of the gravel layer drops to 58%, then sand control failure occurs. The amount of sand produced increases as the thickness of the gravel layer decreases. The amount of sand produced significantly increases when the thickness of the gravel layer reaches 15 mm. The median size of gravel packed in the base pipe and outer protective screen should be 8–10 times the size of formation sand.

Optimum selection of sand control method using a combination of MCDM and DOE techniques

The design of an optimal sand control method and production management is a complex problem due to the simultaneous influence of various factors. Typical effective variables for choosing an optimum sand control method include geological, technical, economical, and expert's experience on similar projects. Some technical factors, which affect the optimum method, are the type of exclusion, gravel size of gravel pack and pre-packed screen, slot width and liner slot length, and productivity index reduction. The situation could be more complicated due to the uncertainty associated with various contributing factors. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a novel approach in order to select the best sand control method with a maximum level of confidence.In this study, to select an optimal sand control method, Multi Criteria Decision Matrix (MCDM) techniques including Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and, ELimination and Choice Expressing REality (ELECTRE) are used. To simulate fluid flow, an integrated model of reservoir, well, and surface facility is used based on actual oil field data collected from the south of Iran. Then, Design of Experiment (DOE) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) are applied to optimize the controllable variables of the best selected sand control method by MCDM. Finally, Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is applied to perform sensitivity and uncertainty analysis in order to determine the crucial factors that control net present value (NPV).The results show that the best sand control method based on AHP, TOPSIS, and ELECTRE is the slotted liner. After that, three different methods of pre-packed, gravel pack, and wire wrapped are respectively the most efficient sand control methods based on an average score of all the MCDM techniques. The results also indicate that although the pre-packed screen has the highest NPV, it is not the best sand control method due to the influence of other efficient criteria. The result of sensitivity analysis using MCS in terms of contribution to total variance shows that slot width, slot density, and slot height controls 60.5%, 38.8%, and 0.7% of the NPV variation within the range of factors, respectively.

The influence of fine particles composition on optimal design of sand control in offshore oilfield

The fine particles have significant influence for sand control mode selection. According to investigation and analysis, we learn that the gravel packing has been used widespread in sand control when the contents of fine particles are high. Based on designing the pre-packed screen, different fine particles sand control research is completed combining with test method. (1) We find that the sequence of fine particles flowing into the well has an enormous impact on the screen jam rate, and the smaller the fine particle diameter, the more obvious the screen plugging. The jam rate for the pure clay is five times with pure fine-silty sand, and four times with mixture of the fine-silty sand and the clay. When the experimental achieve octet stability, the Fluid Productivity Index Per-Meter (FPIPM) of the pure clay is pretty much equivalent with the mixture of the fine-silty sand and the clay. It is 70 % of the pure fine-silty sand FPIPM but has limited influence to effectiveness of the blockage. (2) Sand control selection in the offshore oilfield suggests the gravel packing will be applied when the fine particles content is over 5 %. Compared to this select range, it is conservative and experiments show that the fine particles content achieves 100 %, the pre-packed screen also can cope with sand control effectively. When comparing with experimental result about the gravel packing sand control under the same condition, the both FPIPM in steady is same. So, it is more suitable to be widely used combined with the production cost.

The appraisal analysis of pre-packed screen to the adaptability to the reasonable sanding of the Bohai Bay formation

The appraisal analysis of pre-packed screen to the adaptability to the reasonable sanding of the Bohai Bay formation

The appraisal analysis of pre-packed screen to the adaptability to the reasonable sanding of the Bohai Bay formation

The appraisal analysis of pre-packed screen to the adaptability to the reasonable sanding of the Bohai Bay formation

Gravel pre-packed screen development and filled parameters optimization research

Gravel pre-packed screen development and filled parameters optimization research

Evaluation and Selection of Drill-ln-Fluid Candidates To Minimize Formation Damage

Summary Conoco drilled and completed a horizontal well in a depleted, high-permeability oil reservoir. The formation is an unconsolidated, clean sandstone with absolute permeability over 3,300 md. The unconsolidated nature of the formation combined with its low pressure and high permeability caused concerns regarding hole stability, fracturing, excessive fluid loss, and differential sticking. To identify the best drill-in fluid (DIF) for the horizontal section, the evaluation of fluid candidates focused on both drilling properties and formation/completion-damage potential. The testing compared fluid performance in standard drilling-fluid tests, low-shear rheology at elevated temperature, dynamic fluid-loss behavior at elevated temperature, and core-flow tests. The flow testing was performed with cores from an offset well to simulate damage caused by DIF exposure and to evaluate remedial treatment options. Also, a new laboratory-scale procedure was developed to observe the tendency of prepacked screens to be plugged by DIF filter cake and unconsoli-dated formation sand. In addition to the laboratory testing, a review of the drilling and completion operations is presented, including performance of the drilling fluid at high overbalance pressure ( ≈ 2,600 psi) and the design and execution of subsequent remedial treatments. The production history is discussed and related to laboratory observations regarding cleanup and remedial-treatment effectiveness.

Gravel Placement in Horizontal Wells

Summary Long, horizontal gravel packs are viable completions that have been placed successfully in more than 80 wells. Extensive field-scale testing has significantly aided the development of field procedures and operating guidelines. Software has also been developed to assist with horizontal gravel-pack design. To be performed properly, these completions require a systems approach for their implementation because drilling and displacing the completion interval, maintaining hole stability, selecting and running equipment, and maintaining returns during the gravel-packing operation must be integrated into the completion strategy. Field experience suggests that, in some cases, gravel packs maintain productivity better than prepacked screens or slotted liners.