The Application of Light and Ultra-Light Weight Proppant in Horizontal Well Sand Control: Unified Model and Case Histories

Abstract

Unconsolidated sand reservoirs, with the characteristics of high permeability, large porosity, and low fracture gradient, are common and present challenge sand control tasks facing completion engineers. Avoiding fracturing such formation and preventing excessive fluid leakoff are the primary concerns to achieve successful gravel placement during job execution. Gravel packing these wells needs innovative technologies and practices. The light and ultra-light weight proppants, with their unique properties and advantages over conventional gravel, are important options to ensure wellbore be successfully packed under low pump rate. Light and ultra-light weight particles transport phenomena and their Alpha and Beta wave packing behaviors were studied. An unified particle transport model is developed to accurately model Alpha and Beta wave behaviors. The paper presents the validation of unified model by wide ranges of field case histories under different pump rates and particle over fluid density ratios. Particle density and geometry, fluid properties, and wellbore configuration are the dominant factors to affect wave building up process. The paper presents the guidelines to design proper pumping schedule and optimal Alpha wave dune height under given well condition. Carrying fluid leakoff and excessive Alpha wave dune height are the causes of many early time screenout and job failures. Underachieved gravel packing will reduce the effectiveness of sand control and result in screen damage during early production. Job histories are presented in the paper to demonstrate the practical considerations of job design and execution, and the use of light and ultra-light weight proppant over conventional gravel to ultimately increase the effectiveness of sand control.

Simulation and application analysis of gravel packing in deepwater HT/HP wells

“…Although, openhole gravel packing is now viewed as a means of enhancing the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of horizontal sand control completions, [1][2][3][4][5][6] there are still considerable risks in horizontal well gravel packing, especially in extreme cases such as long horizontal well and unconsolidated sandstone reservoir. [7][8][9] It is mainly manifested as premature bridging in the openhole/screen annulus before the gravel packing reaches the toe of the horizontal well, resulting in the failure of the operation. This is mainly due to the long horizontal section requiring higher pump rates to transport gravel to the end of the wellbore, resulting in higher pump pressure.…”

Friction calculation and packing effect analysis for gravel packing in deepwater horizontal wells

“…[6][7][8] The mechanisms and possible influencing parameters have been reported step by step. Some modified technologies have been deployed in the field to improve gravel-packing efficiency, such as shunted screen technology, 9,10 lightweight gravel, 11,12 and friction pressure reducer. 13 However, precise calculation of frictional pressure losses during long horizontal well gravel packing and their controlling factors have rarely been reported.…”