Technological challenge:
Sand control methods
DESCRIPTION: Sand production is the process of destruction of poorly cemented reservoir rock under the influence of draw-down, leading to the appearance of sand and other mechanical impurities in the well.
Mechanical impurities (sand, clay, cement particles) cause intensive wear of pumping equipment, tubing and X-mas trees and can lead to a complete well failure.
EXPECTED RESULT: New approaches and methods
CURRENT LIMITATIONS: 1. Loose collectors, especially soft sandstones and highly water saturated areas where the bottomhole area disintegrates faster.
2. Ineffective filtration: standard filters and gravel packs do not filter out sand.
3. High cost of mechanical solutions: installation of sand traps, gravel packs and filter strings requires well shutdown and significant costs.
4. Limited applicability of chemical methods: inhibitors and cementing compounds are not always compatible with reservoir fluids and can reduce permeability.
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS: Purchase of new blending and injection equipment for gravel packing. New formula with appropriate diameter of proppant
If sand comes from underlying, non-productive formations – injection of a composition that binds particles, resins, cements (provided that reservoir pressure maintenance has already been confirmed throughout the production, and is maintained through the appropriate draw-down or limited production)
