Summary
An offshore gas field has been producing sand for a few years. Sand
production has been closely monitored through acoustic flowline devices and a
sand-collection system installed on the platforms. Observation of sand
production has triggered evaluation of whether to install surface desanders or
to complete future wells with downhole sand control. This evaluation requires a
prediction of sanding rate over the reservoir life. The possibility of
providing downhole sand control on existing wells was also evaluated in
separate studies.
Predicting sanding rate, particularly for gas fields, has been historically
challenging, mainly because of the sporadic nature of sand production,
inadequate quantification of fundamental physics, and lack of representative
laboratory tests and reliable field calibration. To tackle these challenges,
four studies have been designed and executed: (1) the development of a reliable
log-based rock-strength estimate, (2) the prediction of sanding rate over the
reservoir life for a conservative well condition, (3) the evaluation of
sand-particle transport from the reservoir to the surface facilities, and (4)
the estimate of potential erosion of platform facilities.
The sanding-rate prediction is based on extensive laboratory tests of four
carefully selected whole cores with gas and water flow. It then has been
validated by field-monitoring data from an acoustic flowline device on each
producer and a sand-collection system on the platforms. The studies have
provided a prediction of (1) future sand production, (2) how much of the
produced sand will be seen at the surface (and, therefore, how much of it will
fall into the rathole), (3) how fast various components of the surface facility
will erode over the field life, and (4) what will be the optimal completion
strategy for sand control should it become necessary. They have provided input
to an integrated evaluation of completion design, reservoir management,
platform configuration, and field economics.
© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
31 July 2009
- Meeting paper published:
4 October 2009
- Revised manuscript received:
16 June 2010
- Manuscript approved:
17 June 2010
- Published online:
13 January 2011
- Version of record:
17 June 2011
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