SPE Drilling & Completion
Volume 26, Number 1, March 2011, pp. 68-83

SPE-124350-PA

Modeling Horizontal-Completion Deformations in a Deepwater Unconsolidated-Sand Reservoir

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DOI  More information 10.2118/124350-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/124350-PA

Citation

  • Hilbert, L.B. Jr., Saraf, V.K., Birbiglia, D.K.J., Shumilak, E.E., Schutjens, P.M.T.M., Hindriks, C.O.H., and Klever, F.J. 2011. Modeling Horizontal-Completion Deformations in a Deepwater Unconsolidated-Sand Reservoir. SPE Drill & Compl 26 (1): 68-83. SPE-124350-PA. doi: 10.2118/124350-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 1.3.1 Wellbore Integrity/Geomechanics
  • 1.3.2 Horizontal/Multilateral Wells
  • 1.5.3 Sand Control
  • 1.5.4 Completion Equipment
  • 5.1.2 Downhole Tools and Equipment

Keywords

  • Geomechanics, Sand screen, finite element method, horizontal well, compaction

Summary

We present the development and results of geomechanical models and analyses used to assess the risks of compaction-induced deformation and potential failure of horizontal gravel-pack completions in a field located in deep water but at shallow depth below the seafloor. The target reservoir consisted of high-porosity, underconsolidated stacked turbidite sandstones, which are comparable to some of the more well-known, problematic compactive reservoir sands. The formations indicated a high level of risk of depletion-induced compaction, which could produce large deformations and potential failure of completion equipment in horizontal wells. Coupled poroelastoplastic geomechanical finite-element models were constructed to assess the risks of completion-equipment damage because of depletion-induced reservoir compaction. Both openhole and cased-hole gravel-packed completion configurations were analyzed. Details of the prepacked-screen assembly components were included in the models, such as the ribs between the base pipe and inner screen and the deformable epoxied sand between inner and outer screens. Model results presented in this paper include deformations of the completion equipment and stresses in the screen components, as a function of reservoir-depletion pressure. The results of the geomechanical modeling indicated that the overall compaction loading should not cause significant deformation of the specified completion equipment.

© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 1 September 2009
  • Meeting paper published: 4 October 2009
  • Revised manuscript received: 16 May 2010
  • Manuscript approved: 19 May 2010
  • Published online: 17 January 2011
  • Version of record: 11 March 2011