Sand Management Methodologies for Sustained Facilities Operations

Abstract

Facilities sand management is tasked with the goal of ensuring sustained hydrocarbon production when particulate solids (i.e. sand or proppant) are present in well fluids, while minimizing the impact of these produced solids on surface equipment. Particle size and total concentration of formation sand or proppant determines their net effect on production and the resulting operability of surface facilities. Conventional sand management control focuses on sand exclusion from the wellbore, either by production limits or completion design. Completions may adversely affect inflow due to skin buildup and both controls impede maximum hydrocarbon production. Alternatively, co-production of fluids and solids, with subsequent sand handling at surface facilities, is an inclusion paradigm that allows sustained hydrocarbon production. Produced solids are removed at the wellhead upstream of the choke using fit-for-purpose equipment. This methodology allows for increased or recovered hydrocarbon production, while their removal upstream of the choke protects facilities operations. A description of the design, performance, operation, and effect on production rate is provided for sand inclusive production through application examples in the Caspian Sea, Indonesia, and South China Sea. Specific reference is given towards wellhead desanding, which forms the greater part of this approach, and has expanded from the first field installation in 1995 in the UK to every major oilfield producing region. Implementation of dedicated facilities sand management technology has resulted in increased hydrocarbon production from sand producing wells, extension of well life on marginal fields, and re-start of shut in wells.

Colloid chemistry and experimental techniques for understanding fundamental behaviour of produced water in oil and gas production

“…The water phase can contain up to 1000 ppm of oil-in-water (OiW) and up to 350 ppm of TSS [46]. Most oil droplets will be (significantly) smaller than 100-150 µm in size [47], whereas solid particles will typically not be larger than 50 µm [48]. Some of the most commonly applied produced water treatment methods used by the operators are described in the following.…”

Design of a Cyclonic-Jetting and Slurry-Transport System for Separators

“…In addition, an operating model of sand coproduction is becoming more relevant as a method of improved oil recovery (Geilikman et al 1994;Ahmad et al 2004;Andrews et al 2005). Facilities sand management is tasked with ensuring sustained hydrocarbon production when particulate solids are present in well fluids, while minimizing the impact of these produced solids on surface equipment (Rawlins 2013).…”

“…Solids settle in production vessels and piping when the transport velocity drops below the limiting deposition velocity. The preferred location for facilities sand removal is before the choke with a wellhead desander (Rawlins 2013); however, in cases where this technology is not currently used, the produced solids will collect in the primary separating vessel. Accumulated solids in gravity-settling vessels result in loss of residence time, corrosion-enhancement zones, increased sediment in oil, increased oil content in produced water, and degraded injectivity of produced water (Andrews et al 2005).…”

Particle-Transfer Between the Cyclone and Accumulator Sections of a Desander

“…Sand and/or solids are often present in the produced-water streams of oil and gas production systems (Hodson et al 1994;Lohne 1994;Rawlins 2013a). Sand reports to the processing facilities from oil and gas production wells.…”

“…Commonly, sand that fills these vessels is removed by jetting or manual-cleaning operations. Intermediate-sized sand, typically 25 to 200 mm in diameter, flows with the water phase to exit the production separators (Rawlins 2013b). Small solids, typically < 25 mm, stay in the oil phase or collect at the oil/water interface.…”