About the Workshop

Workshop Description

The world is going through a major crisis in our generation with the global COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a slowing global economy leading to lower hydrocarbon prices. Although prices have somewhat recovered, the expectation is that these low hydrocarbon prices will stay for longer. This year, the Sand Control and Management workshop will focus on how we can accelerate the application of new technologies, methodologies and digitalisation, so that the industry can survive.

Much of the world’s hydrocarbons are produced from sand prone reservoirs. If unmitigated, sand production has serious consequences; it curtails production, impacts well and facility integrity and consequently, adversely affects economics. Efforts to maximise production, while effectively controlling and managing sand production are essential for successful production management.  Another area of focus is fines control and management. Fines smaller than 45 microns is much more challenging to tackle compared to larger sand particles. Usually it is intended to be produced rather than controlled but can severely damage tubular and equipment in high rate wells and can accumulate in horizontal wellbore stopping production. Operators attempt various methods to overcome issues with fines.

Sand management spans from exploration stage to the end of field life. Prior to well drilling, geomechanical studies are conducted to minimise drilling and production risks, and offer appropriate development and production planning to help production management throughout field life. Effective and efficient sand management is only possible with the integrated, multidisciplinary-focused collaborations between geology, petrophysics, geomechanics, reservoir engineering, production technology, drilling, completions, process, facilities, integrity, materials and more. Recently, real-time monitoring and control capabilities through integrated operations or digital field has further improved integrated sand management, and maximised uptime and asset efficiencies.

This workshop will look into economical sand control and management, and discuss advancements in geomechanical modelling and prediction, fines management, solids control and management technologies for subsurface and surface, integrated long-term management, monitoring and sampling, including a holistic approach to strategy development and implementation. These strategies and advancements will help maximise business values in new developments as well as existing assets. This workshop will also discuss how we can adapt to the new environment with technologies, methodologies and digitalisation in sand management in order for the industry to remain sustainable.

Workshop Objectives

The workshop aims to gather engineers and managers for a holistic discussion on sand management including, sand production physics and the latest techniques, and best practices in implementation and monitoring while maintaining a keen eye on value. Additional discussions on remedial and retrofit technologies, both in downhole and at the surface will be included. This workshop is an open sharing forum with discussion of experiences, solutions, best practices and lessons learnt to meet the industry’s immediate and long-term needs.

Benefits of Attending

Participants can benefit by learning through experiences shared by international and national oil companies in integrated sand management for potential applications to their own assets.