In an unconsolidated sandstone reservoir of a deepwater gas field, due to the reduction of the rock compaction by deepwater, sand production is more likely to occur in the reservoir during production under certain production pressure differences. Therefore, it is important to accurately control the production pressure difference. A theoretical analysis model of sand production was established. On the basis of the model, the critical production pressure difference and the critical flow rate of the sand production were tested through indoor simulated experiments of sand production of three-dimensional full-diameter core. In addition, the critical production pressure difference for the sand production with an open hole completion was verified by means of numerical analysis. The analysis procedures and results are as follows: (1) based on the production test, the gas flow rate and the sand production rate under various production pressure differences were measured. It was found that the critical production pressure difference of core of target block was about 2 MPa, which is lower than the critical sand production pressure difference of core in shallow water or land. (2) A finite element analysis model was established by means of a theoretical analysis on the basis of core mechanics testing, and the analytical model was validated by comparing the experimental model and the theoretical model. A plastic deformation criterion for sand production was proposed. (3) The sand production model of the deepwater reservoir was established based on field parameters. The primary parameters that affect the rock strength were analyzed using the sand production criterion, which was verified by the experimental and numerical simulation results. Analysis results show that the effect of cohesive compared with elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and angle of internal friction on sand production is greater. At the same time, it should also pay attention to the influence of the drilling and production process on sand production.

Issue Section:
Petroleum Engineering
Keywords:
deepwater gas field, critical sand production, flow rate, sand production rate, plastic deformation, simulation
Topics:
Sands, Reservoirs, Rocks, Computer simulation, Natural gas fields, Stress, Deformation, Pressure

References

1.
Papamichos
,
E.
, and
Vardoulakis
,
I.
,
2005
, “
Sand Erosion With a Porosity Diffusion Law
,”
Comput. Geotech.
,
32
, pp.
47
–
58
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
Yi
,
Y.
,
Li
,
J.
, and
Ji
,
L.
,
2017
, “
Numerical Determination of Critical Condensate Saturation in Gas Condensate Reservoirs
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
139
(
6
), p.
062801
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
Alquwizani
,
S. A.
,
Aramco
,
S.
, and
Sharma
,
M. M.
,
2014
, “
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Wellbore and Perforation Stability in Weak Sands
,” SPE168131.
4.
Mahmoud
,
M.
,
Bageri
,
B. S.
,
Elkatatny
,
S.
, and
Al-Mutairi
,
S. H.
,
2016
, “
Modeling of Filter Cake Composition in Maximum Reservoir Contact and Extended Reach Horizontal Wells in Sandstone Reservoirs
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
139
(
3
), p.
032904
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Ba geri
,
B. S.
,
Mahmoud
,
M.
,
Al-Mutairi
,
S. H.
, and
Abdulraheem
,
A.
,
2015
, “
Effect of Sand Content on the Filter Cake Properties and Removal During Drilling Maximum Reservoir Contact Wells in Sandstone Reservoir
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
138
(
3
), p.
032901
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Rui
,
Z.
,
Lu
,
J.
,
Zhang
,
Z.
,
Guo
,
R.
,
Ling
,
K.
,
Zhang
,
R.
, and
Patil
,
S.
,
2017
, “
A Quantitative Oil and Gas Reservoir Evaluation System for Development
,”
J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng.
,
42
, pp.
31
–
39
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
Rhandy
,
R.
,
Andreas
,
S.
, and
Norhisham
,
B. S.
,
2011
, “
Optimized Stand-Alone Screen Design for the ‘J’ Field, Malaysia
,” SPE Paper 141461.
8.
Tian
,
H.
,
Deng
,
J.
,
Wang
,
Z.
, and
Zhou
,
J.
,
2005
, “
Application of Oriented Perforation Technology on Sand Management
,”
Drilling Prod. Technol.
28
(
5
), pp.
35
–
37
.
9.
Wang
,
Z.
,
Deng
,
J.
,
Tian
,
H.
, and
Yu
,
B.
,
2005
, “
Sand Production Prediction Technology Review of Weakly Consolidated Sand Reservoir
,”
Oil Drilling Prod. Technol.
(
6
), pp.
70
–
75
.
10.
Fang
,
M.
,
Zeng
,
X.
,
Liang
,
D.
, and
Sun
,
F.
,
2010
, “
Study on the Sanding Law and Sanding Production Simulation Experiment of Heavy Oil
,”
J. Southwest Pet. Univ. (Sci. Technol. Ed.)
,
32
(
6
), pp.
135
–
138
.
11.
Zhou
,
S.
,
Sun
,
F.
,
Zeng
,
X.
, and
Fang
,
M.
,
2008
, “
Application of Multilateral Wells With Limited Sand Production to Heavy Oil Reservoirs
,”
Pet. Explor. Dev.
35
(
5
), pp.
630
–
635
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
12.
Van den Hoek
,
P. J.
,
Kooijman
,
A. P.
,
Bree
,
P. D.
,
Kenter
,
C. J.
, and
Zheng
,
Z.
,
2000
, “
Horizontal-Wellbore Stability and Sand Production in Weakly Consolidated Sandstones
,”
SPE Drilling Completion
,
15
,
274
–
283
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
13.
Fang
,
M.
,
Zeng
,
X.
, and
Liang
,
D.
,
2012
, “
Microscopic Visual Experimental Study on the Sanding Mechanism of Unconsolidated Sandstone Reservoirs
,”
Spec. Oil Gas Reservoir
,
19
(
1
), pp.
98
–
100
.
14.
Dong
,
C.
, and
Wang
,
A.
,
2012
, “
Distribution of Plastic Stress Near Wellbore and Prediction of Sanding Radius for Sanding Horizontal Wells
,”
J. China Univ. Min. Technol.
41
(
4
), pp.
663
–
668
.
15.
Wei
,
Y.
,
Wang
,
A.
,
Dong
,
C.
, and
Liu
,
C.-m.
,
2011
, “
Prediction Model for Critical Sanding Pressure Draw Down in Horizontal Wells Based on Characteristic Break Radius
,”
J. China Univ. Pet.
,
35
(
2
), pp.
85
–
90
.
16.
Alquwizani
,
S. A.
,
Aramco
,
S.
, and
Sharma
,
M. M.
,
2014
, “
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Wellbore and Perforation Stability in Weak Sands
,” SPE168131.
17.
Li
,
P.
,
Li
,
X.
, and
Lu
,
T.
,
2010
, “
A Modified Form for the Uniaxial Consolidation Theory in Saturated Soils—An Application of Mathematical Models for Flow-Deformation Coupling in Saturated Porous Media
,”
J. Univ. Sci. Technol. China
,
40
(
12
), pp.
1273
–
1278
.
18.
Morita
,
N.
,
Fuh
,
G. F.
, and
Burton
,
R. C.
,
2013
, “
Field and Laboratory Observations of Post-Failure Stabilizations During Sand Production
,” SPE 102802.
19.
Dan
,
H.
,
Li
,
L.
,
Zhao
,
L.
, and
Liu
,
X.
,
2009
, “
Fluid-Solid-Coupling Model and Analytical Solution for Nonlinear Flow in Deformable Porous Media
,”
J. Yangtze River Sci. Res. Inst.
26
(
6
), pp.
32
–
36
.
20.
Dong
,
P.
,
2005
, “
Numerical Model of Fully Coupled Fluid-Solid Seepage in a Deformable Porous Medium and Its Application
,”
J. Geomech.
11
(
3
), pp.
273
–
277
.
21.
Liu
,
J.
,
Pei
,
G.
, and
Xiu
,
Q.
,
2006
, “
Mechanism of Sand-Production in Unconsolidated Reservoir and Its Numerical Simulation
,”
J. Liaoning Tech. Univ.
25
(
3
), pp.
361
–
363
.
22.
Sun
,
F.
,
Ge
,
H.
,
Xue
,
S.
, and
Song
,
L.
,
2009
, “
A Research Into Drawdown Pressure Impacts on Sand Production From Unconsolidated Sand Reservoirs
,”
China Offshore Oil Gas
,
21
(
1
), pp.
39
–
42
.
23.
Alquwizani
,
S. A.
,
Aramco
,
S.
, and
Sharma
,
M. M.
,
2014
, “
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Wellbore and Perforation Stability in Weak Sands
,” SPE168131.
24.
Deng
,
J.
,
Wang
,
L.
,
Li
,
P.
,
Cao
,
Y.
, and
Feng
,
Y.
,
2011
, “
The Sand Production Critical Flow Test Technology of Gas Well in Moderate Cemented Formation
,”
J. Southwest Pet. Univ. (Sci. Technol. Ed.)
,
33
(
3
), pp.
178
–
182
.
25.
Mahmoud
,
M.
,
2017
, “
New Formulation for Sandstone Acidizing That Eliminates Sand Production Problems in Oil and Gas Sandstone Reservoirs
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
139
(
4
), p.
042902
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
26.
Cao
,
C.
,
Pu
,
X.
,
Zhao
,
Z.
,
Wang
,
G.
, and
Du
,
H.
,
2017
, “
Experimental Investigation on Wellbore Strengthening Based on a Hydraulic Fracturing Apparatus
,”
ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
,
140
(
5
), p.
052902
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
27.
Deng
,
J.
,
Li
,
P.
,
Zhou
,
J.
,
He
,
B.
,
Cheng
,
S.
, and
Wang
,
L.
,
2012
, “
Sand Control Optimization Applied to Moderately Sanding Wells in Offshore Loose Sandstone Reservoirs
,”
Acta Pet. Sin.
33
(
4
), pp.
676
–
680
.
28.
Liang
,
D.
,
Zeng
,
X.
, and
Fang
,
M.
,
2011
, “
Logging Data Application in Sanding Prediction in Nanpu 35-2 Oilfield
,”
J. Southwest Pet. Univ. (Sci. Technol. Ed.)
,
33
(
4
), pp.
59
–
63
.
29.
Li
,
P.
,
Deng
,
J.
,
Wang
,
L.
,
He
,
B.
,
Cao
,
Y.
,
Mao
,
J.
,
Chen
,
Y.
,
Yan
,
X.
, and
Zhao
,
J.
,
2010
, “
Experimental Study on Sand Production Critical Flow Rate for Unconsolidated Sandstone
,”
Fault-block Oil Gas Field
,
17
(
6
), pp.
748
–
750
.
30.
Rao
,
P.
,
Tang
,
G.
,
Dong
,
C.
,
She
,
C.
, and
Pu
,
Y.
,
2005
, “
Sebei Gas Field Sanding Prediction by Critical Producing Pressure Drop
,”
Nat. Gas Explor. Dev.
28
(
2
), pp.
32
–
34
.
31.
Zhong
,
B.
,
Ma
,
L.
,
Yang
,
Y.
,
Xia
,
C.
, and
Li
,
J.
,
2004
, “
Study on Sand Producing Mechanism of Gas Wells and Counter-Measures for Gas Reservoirs With Multilayer Sand
,”
Nat. Gas Ind.
24
(
10
), pp.
89
–
92
.
32.
Rutqvist
,
J.
,
Wu
,
Y. S.
,
Tsang
,
C. F.
, and
Bodvarsson
,
G.
,
2002
, “
A Modeling Approach for Analysis of Coupled Multiphase Fluid Flow, Heat Transfer, and Deformation in Fractured Porous Rock
,”
Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci.
,
39
, pp.
429
–
442
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
Copyright © 2019 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.