Data Science and Engineering Analytics Technical Section

That is very well summarized text of the flow assurance risks due to sand production Oluwatosin Abikoye. 

I Really liked it, thank you for sharing! 

There are also quite a number of sand control methods and technologies to avoid sand production in the first place. Some companies has a dedicated department for Sand control and management. Some technologies are working fine specially in the early phase of filed production. However, as the filed get older and wcut increases, then sand starts to come to the wellbore and eventually to the pipelines and the process. This off course, depends on the reservoir sand quality (consolidated or not). O

On the other hand some process facilitates has a better tolerance to some sand production some are very sensitive to even a small amount. 

Nice list of sand production issues Oluwatosin.  As you list points out the issues is not just a wellbore issues but affects the entire production system.

It is important to study and understand the source and type of sand produced.   Sometimes restricting the sand production can significantly reduce the economics of the development.   Near wellbore issues can be managed with completion techniques.   Sometimes sand production is caused by injected fluid carrying fines long distances across the flood pattern.  It is important to integrate knowledge with Geology, Geophysical, Production, and Mechanical teams to understand the quantity and quality of the sand expected throughout the project life cycle.   The sand grains can be anywhere from flour like material that can muck up a system to rough angular grains that erode hardware.   The velocity the grains move is also extremely important, so higher gas-oil ratios can accelerate erosion impacts.

I once worked on a facility design project for the giant Prudhoe Bay field in Alaska.   We were producing so much solids we had to frequently shut down facilities to clean out and haul off truck loads of sand.   Picture a scene where multiple truck loads of wet hot sand being handled in a facility at 40F below zero.  Quite a steamy mess creating hazard conditions.  Fortunately the sand was mostly flour like and the more angular sand was coated with asphaltenes rendering them less erosive.   We did have to design a continuous sand removal system and well operation procedures to minimize sand buildup in wellbores and flowlines   

That is very well summarized text of the flow assurance risks due to sand production Oluwatosin Abikoye. 

I Really liked it, thank you for sharing! 

There are also quite a number of sand control methods and technologies to avoid sand production in the first place. Some companies has a dedicated department for Sand control and management. Some technologies are working fine specially in the early phase of filed production. However, as the filed get older and wcut increases, then sand starts to come to the wellbore and eventually to the pipelines and the process. This off course, depends on the reservoir sand quality (consolidated or not). O

On the other hand some process facilitates has a better tolerance to some sand production some are very sensitive to even a small amount. 

That is very well summarized text of the flow assurance risks due to sand production Oluwatosin Abikoye. 

I Really liked it, thank you for sharing! 

There are also quite a number of sand control methods and technologies to avoid sand production in the first place. Some companies has a dedicated department for Sand control and management. Some technologies are working fine specially in the early phase of filed production. However, as the filed get older and wcut increases, then sand starts to come to the wellbore and eventually to the pipelines and the process. This off course, depends on the reservoir sand quality (consolidated or not). O

On the other hand some process facilitates has a better tolerance to some sand production some are very sensitive to even a small amount. 

That is very well summarized text of the flow assurance risks due to sand production Oluwatosin Abikoye. 

I Really liked it, thank you for sharing! 

There are also quite a number of sand control methods and technologies to avoid sand production in the first place. Some companies has a dedicated department for Sand control and management. Some technologies are working fine specially in the early phase of filed production. However, as the filed get older and wcut increases, then sand starts to come to the wellbore and eventually to the pipelines and the process. This off course, depends on the reservoir sand quality (consolidated or not). O

On the other hand some process facilitates has a better tolerance to some sand production some are very sensitive to even a small amount. 

I've been dealing with sand production in offshore wells, and given the impact it has on flow assurance, I believe an effective technical solution needs to integrate multiple fronts. Using expandable sand screens combined with ICDs has worked well the screen conforms to the open hole and physically retains the sand, while the inflow control devices help distribute flow more evenly, avoiding high-velocity zones that tend to trigger sand production.

Another key point is controlling drawdown from the very start of production. Aggressive pressure drops are often the trigger for sand issues, so keeping the drawdown under control is essential.

On the surface side, desanding with hydrocyclones has delivered good results, especially during flowback. It protects topside equipment and reduces the need for corrective interventions.

This combination has worked well in the projects I've been involved with. If anyone has experience with other integrated solutions, I'd be glad to exchange ideas.

I've been dealing with sand production in offshore wells, and given the impact it has on flow assurance, I believe an effective technical solution needs to integrate multiple fronts. Using expandable sand screens combined with ICDs has worked well the screen conforms to the open hole and physically retains the sand, while the inflow control devices help distribute flow more evenly, avoiding high-velocity zones that tend to trigger sand production.

Another key point is controlling drawdown from the very start of production. Aggressive pressure drops are often the trigger for sand issues, so keeping the drawdown under control is essential.

On the surface side, desanding with hydrocyclones has delivered good results, especially during flowback. It protects topside equipment and reduces the need for corrective interventions.

This combination has worked well in the projects I've been involved with. If anyone has experience with other integrated solutions, I'd be glad to exchange ideas.

I've been dealing with sand production in offshore wells, and given the impact it has on flow assurance, I believe an effective technical solution needs to integrate multiple fronts. Using expandable sand screens combined with ICDs has worked well the screen conforms to the open hole and physically retains the sand, while the inflow control devices help distribute flow more evenly, avoiding high-velocity zones that tend to trigger sand production.

Another key point is controlling drawdown from the very start of production. Aggressive pressure drops are often the trigger for sand issues, so keeping the drawdown under control is essential.

On the surface side, desanding with hydrocyclones has delivered good results, especially during flowback. It protects topside equipment and reduces the need for corrective interventions.

This combination has worked well in the projects I've been involved with. If anyone has experience with other integrated solutions, I'd be glad to exchange ideas.

------------------------------
[Bruno][Mapurunga][Driller Cyber NOV][brunomapurunga@hotmail.com][+1-770-8338890]
------------------------------

Oluwatosin,

Great summary of sand control as an element of flow assurance in the well.

Bruno,

You are going down the right path towards holistic sand control solutions by looking at how different elements interact and working your way from the formation to surface to chain together components that complement one another. The workflow should develop a flowpath that prevents sand into the well, avoids plugging of the formation and sand control media, maintains a predictable velocity profile, erosion resistant completion elements, and safe surface monitoring and erosion design. Each part of the flowpath needs to be considered in light of all other elements and not be evaluated on its own. My view and workflow is as follows, and often uses data from offset wells and lab tests or SIT to make informed decisions:

1. Keep sand immobile and in the rock matrix if possible - controlled drawdowns vs rock strength, producing from the stronger formations, and identifying if produced fluids over time may disaggregate solids. In water injectors sand is often produced into the well during shut-in due to water hammer and crossflow. This is analogous to engineering out a hazard at surface: knowing rock and fluid properties carefully, planning out production ramp up, avoiding drilling and completion damage that creates skin, controlling shut-ins, and knowing the lifecycle of production to predict issues.

2. Sandface sand control focuses on the balance on what can be produced while avoiding sand and ensuring that areas of high velocity are not created. Conformance with the sandface is ideal to mitigate wellbore influx as it prevents mobilization and resorting, avoiding media plugging that leads to skin and hotspotting. Correctly sizing the media to optimize produced solids mass vs retained permeability will help avoid plugging of the media, which often leads to higher velocities elsewhere and damage. The media resistance to erosion is necessary to review. Lab work that accurately replicates the in-situ conditions at the sandface and through the sand control media is critical I find to optimizing these parameters for production and well longevity. There is much data that is gathered at this point in the process that can be extended to use in other fields.

3. Working up the wellbore there is often not much that can be done after installation but plan the completion itself to be robust to solids and avoid sudden velocity changes, including due to phase changes, particularly at the safety valve, GLM/CIM, and wellhead. However velocity should also be suitable in the wellbore to carry any fines and solids to surface is important to avoid fill in the wellbore, with sized sumps to catch sand at startup especially.

4. Once at surface (or seabed) the use of desanders is one element to good sand management and handling of anything that is produced, particularly at start up and ramp ups where resorting and bursts of sand production can occur. Operation of the well over time should keep in mind what effects are occurring downhole; operators have a well operating envelope to ensure that velocities, erosion potential, and differential limits are not exceeded, just like any other engineering design. Careful analysis and monitoring plans of flowlines lines are process and safety critical as a poorly sized and placed pipe bend can easily erode through in a matter of hours, and placement of sand detectors can identify issues before they cause failure. Plans should be in place to perform choke replacements and other line repairs as necessary, especially subsea.

Original Message:
Sent: 06-23-2025 01:02 AM
From: Bruno Mapurunga
Subject: Sand production as flow assurance issue in a welbore

I've been dealing with sand production in offshore wells, and given the impact it has on flow assurance, I believe an effective technical solution needs to integrate multiple fronts. Using expandable sand screens combined with ICDs has worked well the screen conforms to the open hole and physically retains the sand, while the inflow control devices help distribute flow more evenly, avoiding high-velocity zones that tend to trigger sand production.

Another key point is controlling drawdown from the very start of production. Aggressive pressure drops are often the trigger for sand issues, so keeping the drawdown under control is essential.

On the surface side, desanding with hydrocyclones has delivered good results, especially during flowback. It protects topside equipment and reduces the need for corrective interventions.

This combination has worked well in the projects I've been involved with. If anyone has experience with other integrated solutions, I'd be glad to exchange ideas.

------------------------------
[Bruno][Mapurunga][Driller Cyber NOV][brunomapurunga@hotmail.com][+1-770-8338890]

I've been dealing with sand production in offshore wells, and given the impact it has on flow assurance, I believe an effective technical solution needs to integrate multiple fronts. Using expandable sand screens combined with ICDs has worked well the screen conforms to the open hole and physically retains the sand, while the inflow control devices help distribute flow more evenly, avoiding high-velocity zones that tend to trigger sand production.

Another key point is controlling drawdown from the very start of production. Aggressive pressure drops are often the trigger for sand issues, so keeping the drawdown under control is essential.

On the surface side, desanding with hydrocyclones has delivered good results, especially during flowback. It protects topside equipment and reduces the need for corrective interventions.

This combination has worked well in the projects I've been involved with. If anyone has experience with other integrated solutions, I'd be glad to exchange ideas.