SIEP Report October 1997

SIEP 97-5250

Sand Management Guide

Sand Control Management

by
EPT/DW Completion and ML Team

Sponsor: Multiple OU's

Reviewed by: EPT/IDW

Approved by: EPT/DW
Period of work: January-August 1997
Accountcode: 03164-000

This document is confidential. Neither the whole nor any part of this document may be disclosed to any third party without the
prior written consent of Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., The Hague, The Netherlands.
The copyright of this document is vested in Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., The Hague,
The Netherlands. All rights reserved. Neither the whole nor any part of this document may be reproduced, stored in any
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, reprographic, recording or otherwise)
without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

SHELL INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION B.V.,

RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL SERVICES, RIJSWIJK

Further copies can be obtained from SIEP RTS Library

mk2/20/597
SIEP 97-5250

PREFACE
Sand production is one of the major problems facing the oil and gas industry and is common to clastic
sedimentary basins throughout the world, affecting hundreds of oil and gas fields of the Group. Sand control
technology is a continually developing technology supported by Operating Units and Research and
Technology Services to enhance safe and economic depletion of the reservoirs during the "Produce Phase" of
the field.

This document is intended to serve as a primary source of detailed design options and information for
technical staff involved in evaluating sand control strategy options and designing mechanical sand control
methods. It is an update of, and replaces, the Sand Control Manual EP92-1150 published by SIPM in
September 1992. New items in this document are related to sand prediction, gravel pack, sand consolidation
and new mechanical sand control technologies.

To improve the organisational style and facilitate future update of the SMG, the manual was split into four
volumes. The document contributes to a structured group of guides which define a Sand Management System
within the frame work of the EP Business Model. This report should be of interest to Production Engineers,
Facility/Drilling Engineers and Operating Staff involved in well/facility system design and sand control
management.

Sand Management Guide (SMG): EP97-5250 Portfolio

Vol. 1 EP97-5251 Sand Control Management

Vol. 2 EP97-5252 Sand Prediction

Vol. 3 EP97-5253 Sand Tolerant Production Assets

Vol. 4 Sand Control Methods

Doc. 4.1 EP97-5254 Sand Consolidation

Doc. 4.2 EP97-5255 Gravel Packing

Doc. 4.3 EP97-5256 Other Methods of Sand Control

Volume 4 consists of a number of separate documents, such that they may readily be updated as and when
necessary to ensure the contents remain current, relevant and supportive to OU needs and implementation of
new technology.
SIEP 97-5250

INTRODUCTION
Massive sand production from unconsolidated sandstone can occur as soon as the well is brought on stream.
This may quickly lead to unmanageable problems in which case sand control methods will be required to
continue production. In more consolidated reservoirs, sand production may be restricted to short bursts as the
well is beaned up, followed by long periods of relative sand free production.

In some cases it is not certain if sand control was required. Conversely, sand influx in wells and surface
installations can cause a variety of problems which may have severe financial, safety or environmental impact
on production operations. The economic penalties of sand control require therefore a careful assessment of the
risk and consequences of sand production.

This update of the old SCM presents a framework to address Sand Management issues over the life cycle of
the well or field.

Sand Control Manual

EP 97- 5250

EP97-5251 EP97-5252 EP97-5253 Volume 4

Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Sand Control
Sand Control Sand prediction Sand Tolerant Methods
Management Prod. Assets

EP97-5254 EP97-5255 EP97-5256

Document 4.1: Document 4.2: Document 4.3:
Other Methods of
Sand consolidation Gravel packing Sand control

Volume 1 discusses how to define a sand production strategy for a production system. Guidelines to define a
sand production philosophy are presented and optimisation of well completion and surface facilities design
with respect to sand production is discussed.

Volume 2 covers a brief description of the sand prediction tool FIST which is based on laboratory
experiments, theoretical modelling and field observations. New application of new criteria to horizontal and
open hole completions is shown.

Volume 3 discusses design criteria for more sand tolerant surface facilities including transport and deposition
of sand and on the principle of erosion. Sand removal by jetting systems and subsequent sand disposal is
addressed.

Volume 4 (document 4.1 to 4.3) addresses the selection of sand control method, once the decision to
implement sand exclusion has been taken. The detailed design practices i.e sand consolidation, gravel packing
and other methods of sand control are presented.

KEYWORDS
Sand control, sand production, gravel packing, sand consolidation, well completion, sand prediction, sand
monitoring, WWS, PPS,SIS, FIST, SANDLIM.