A New Theory and Methodology for Modeling Sand During Oil Production

This article considers the problem of depletion-induced sand production during oil production. The whole process of sand production is considered and different mechanisms of sanding are addressed. The problem of sand production costs the oil and gas industry hundreds of millions of dollars per year. An accurate method for predicting sand production can help engineers design well completions that maximize petroleum production while minimizing sand-related problems.

In this article, sanding mechanisms during depletion are reviewed with a view to developing guidelines for new tests. These triaxial tests capture the essence of physics that prevails in field scale. A material model is presented for simulating the behavior of the formation against the applied loads, particularly in aged reservoirs. Finally, a model for numerical simulations of these experiments is presented. This model can be used for scaling-up laboratory results.

The numerical model is used to evaluate field performance under a series of conditions. The numerical analyses confirm the proposed model and scenario as is explained. We also evaluate the effect of cohesion and friction angle and initial cap pressure on the depletion at the time of failure. The phenomenon of the pore collapse is modelled by using Mohr-Coulomb and considering the strain softening/hardening cap model.