Search citation statements
Paper Sections
Citation Types
Year Published
Publication Types
Relationship
Authors
Journals
Among others factors, the triggers for sanding include: drilling, cementing, and completion operations; stress and pressure conditions; formation strength and weakening; and cyclic processes. Any single factor may suffice to initiate sand production. Hence, comprehending sanding entails examining various physical mechanisms concerning the interaction between fluids and rocks under reservoir conditions. This article presents an innovative study focused on evaluating and understanding the effect on sanding for the following components: vertical to hotizontal stress anisotropy, stresses around the hole, and formation strength and weakening. It combines three points in the analysis: (1) The 3D printing technology, which allows obtaining similar samples with high repeatability, giving reliability to the results; (2) A comprehensive program for the mechanical characterization of printed samples; and, (3) The study of the mechanical behavior of the samples under sanding conditions. The testing program includes uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), triaxial stress test, thick-walled cylinder and big hollow cylinder test with Sanding (BHCT) tests, which aims to show the relationship between the mechanical behavior, the test conditions, and the sand production level. The sample’s characterization reveals a high porosity, the presence of bedding planes, and similar Young’s modulus and UCS strength. For the BHCT tests, a novel equipment is introduced. This equipment uses large samples and enables: an independent control of axial stress, radial stress, pore pressure, and flow rate; and measurement of produced sand. The results show higher levels of sanding when the axial stress is low compared to the radial external stress.
Among others factors, the triggers for sanding include: drilling, cementing, and completion operations; stress and pressure conditions; formation strength and weakening; and cyclic processes. Any single factor may suffice to initiate sand production. Hence, comprehending sanding entails examining various physical mechanisms concerning the interaction between fluids and rocks under reservoir conditions. This article presents an innovative study focused on evaluating and understanding the effect on sanding for the following components: vertical to hotizontal stress anisotropy, stresses around the hole, and formation strength and weakening. It combines three points in the analysis: (1) The 3D printing technology, which allows obtaining similar samples with high repeatability, giving reliability to the results; (2) A comprehensive program for the mechanical characterization of printed samples; and, (3) The study of the mechanical behavior of the samples under sanding conditions. The testing program includes uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), triaxial stress test, thick-walled cylinder and big hollow cylinder test with Sanding (BHCT) tests, which aims to show the relationship between the mechanical behavior, the test conditions, and the sand production level. The sample’s characterization reveals a high porosity, the presence of bedding planes, and similar Young’s modulus and UCS strength. For the BHCT tests, a novel equipment is introduced. This equipment uses large samples and enables: an independent control of axial stress, radial stress, pore pressure, and flow rate; and measurement of produced sand. The results show higher levels of sanding when the axial stress is low compared to the radial external stress.
The geological features of the reservoir structure are of great importance in the development of oil and gas fields in the West Siberian. A productive formation is usually considered as an integral system that includes two interrelated components: rocks and fluid. In this system, the appearance of water is usually associated with negative consequences - a decrease in the elastic-strength properties of geological substrate and the loss of reservoir rocks stability. How critical is the emergence of water from a well construction and / or operation point of view? The search for an answer to this question has become the main goal of the multidisciplinary investigations presented in this paper. In the framework of these studies, an assessment of the in-time stability of an open borehole in case of presence or penetrating different reservoir fluids was carried out. The calculations were based on the high-resolution 4D modeling, which took into consideration the main dynamic and geomechanical effects stipulated by different production scenarios. The concepts of the interrelations in the "rock - fluid" system were based on the results of special core studies. The main idea of these experiments was to reproduce the saturation conditions of reservoirs, initially related to transition zones and characterized by the presence of different types of fluids (formation water / oil). Testing was carried out on duplicate samples, which were characterized by very similar petrophysical properties, and were saturated with various models of formation fluid. The research program included both standard geomechanical tests and experiments on a thick-walled cylinder, as well as experiments with brine of different chemical composition, salinity, temperature and affected by different methods of saturation. Obtained results confirmed the substantial influence of the formation fluid on the elastic-strength properties of the rocks. At the same time, a fundamental role is played not only by the type of saturating fluid, but also by the saturation technique. Several such techniques of core material saturation were analyzed. It provides critical knowledge for calculating the stability of the wellbore in conditions of incompatibility of fluids and rocks, modeling water breakthroughs and sand production, and also for calculating temporal effects. Further modeling made it possible to predict the change in open hole stability under different production scenarios. Finally, it was demonstrated that even with a significant water cut (up to 50%), it is possible to keep the wellbore open and to continue the well operation. The results obtained become critical for evaluating the performance of the field at a later stage of development, especially when there are risks of water breakthrough into the reservoir. The main paradigm in which the industry is currently operating is the idea that the appearance (breakthrough) of formation water leads to a decrease in the strength of the rocks, sand production and, finally, to the destruction of the wellbore. The results of presented study change this paradigm. Integrated geomechanical modeling and core studies applying different saturation techniques make it possible to analyze various mechanisms of water penetration into the reservoir, which is not necessarily associated with both subsequent sand production and wellbore destruction.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.