WORKSHOP ON

TECHNOLOGY IMPERATIVES
FOR
EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OF OIL & GAS
(21-24 December), Sivasagar

WELL STIMULATION TECHNIQUES

Dr A K Pandey
DGM(Chemistry)
Opening up new channels in the rock for the oil

and gas to flow through is called stimulation.

Three stimulation treatments are commonly used:

explosives to break up the rock, injection of acid to

partially dissolve the rock, and hydraulic fracturing

to split the rock and prop it open with proppants.

 COURSE OUTLINE

¾ TYPES OF FORMATION

¾ FORMATION DAMAGE

¾ ACIDIZATION

¾ HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

¾ WATER SHUT OFF/ INJECTION PROFILE

MODIFICATION

¾ SAND CONTROL
 Types of formation rock
¾ Sandstone
z Sand grains cemented by silica / calcium
carbonate
¾ Limestone
z Composed mainly of carbonate
¾ Shale
z Clay mineral and quartz
¾ Clay
z Kaolinite, Montmorillonite, Illite, Chlorite
 Sources of
Formation Damage
Formation damage may occur during
following operations
¾ Drilling
¾ Completion
¾ Workover
¾ Stimulation
¾ Production
¾ Water / Gas Injection
¾ IOR / EOR
 Formation Damage
Mechanisms
¾ Fines Migration
¾ Clay Swelling
¾ Induced particle plugging
¾ Asphaltene & Sludge deposition
¾ Emulsion Block
¾ Scale
¾ Bacteria
¾ Water Block
¾ Wettability Alteration
Origins of formation damage & remedies

¾ Formation damage during drilling

Damage mechanism Remedial measures

Particle invasion/ Filter cake Matrix acidization, Perforation,
Hydraulic fracturing
Swelling and dispersion of indigenous Matrix acidization
reservoir clays by the mud filtrate
Mutual precipitation of soluble salts in Matrix acidization
the filtrate and formation water
Slumping of unconsolidated sands Sand consolidation
techniques, Frac and Pack
Water block / Emulsion block Surfactant treatment, Matrix
acidization
Formation damage (drilling)

Filter
cake

Fracture Pore
Plugging Plugging
Wellbore
Cross Section

Shallow
Matrix
Damage
 Origins of formation damage &
remedies
¾ Formation Damage during cementing
Damage mechanism Remedial measures

Fines migration from the cement Matrix acidization, Perforation,

slurry into the formation Hydraulic fracturing

Precipitation of solids from the Matrix acidization ,Perforation

cement within the formation
Precipitation of secondary minerals Matrix acidization
following reservoir mineral
dissolution
Damage by Overbalance
Perforation
 Origins of formation damage &
remedies
¾ During Completion & Workover
Damage mechanism Remedial measures
Hydration and swelling of clay minerals Matrix acidization ,Clay stabilization

Movement and plugging by clay size Matrix acidization ,Clay stabilization

particles in the formation
Plugging by invading materials from the Matrix acidization
wellbore fluids
Emulsion and water blocks due to lost Surfactant treatment, Matrix
wellbore fluid acidization
Relative permeability effects Surfactant treatment
Precipitation of scales Acidization
Plugged perforations due to improper Acidization, Perforation
perforating conditions
 ¾ During Sand Control
Damage mechanism Remedial measures

Fines migration Acidization, Clay stabilization , Frac &

Pack , Acidization with foam based fluids

Perforation plugging Acidization

Polymer invasion Surfactant treatment, Matrix acidization

 ¾ During W.I. & Different EOR Methods
Damage mechanism
Solid invasion
Fines migration
Clay swelling
Clay de flocculation
Formation dissolution
Skim oil entrainment
Sand influx
Formation of insoluble scales
and Emulsification
Precipitate formation
Remedial measures
Acidization, Hydraulic fracturing
Acidization ,Clay stabilization treatment
High saline fluid
Surfactant treatment, Clay stabilization
treatment
Acidization, Hydraulic fracturing
Surfactant treatment
Sand consolidation treatment
Surfactant treatment, Solvent treatment
Acidization
 Quantifying Formation Damage -
SKIN
¾ Measurement of the severity of rs

the formation damage h

¾ Dimensionless factor Ks rw K

expressing the reduction in the re

formation permeability
compared to the original
permeability
⎛K ⎞ ⎛ Rs ⎞
s = ⎜⎜ − 1⎟⎟ × ⎜⎜ ln ⎟⎟
⎝ K s ⎠ ⎝ Rw ⎠
 Skin Measurement
¾ K = 200 md
rs
¾ Ks = 25 md
h
¾ Rs = 8.25 inch
Ks rw K
¾ Rw = 2.25 inch
re

¾ ln (Rs / Rw) = 1.286

¾ K / Ks = 8
⎛K ⎞ ⎛ Rs ⎞
s = ⎜⎜ − 1⎟⎟ × ⎜⎜ ln ⎟⎟
¾ S = (8-1) * 1.286 = 9 ⎝ K s ⎠ ⎝ Rw ⎠
Skin : Effect on Production
kh( pr − pwf )
q=
⎛ re ⎞
141.2 μB⎜⎜ ln + S ⎟⎟
⎝ rw ⎠
 Pressure Transient analysis
¾ Drawdown test

¾ Build up test
 Pressure Transient analysis
¾ Injection Test

¾ Fall off test

ACIDIZATION
 What is acidization
Matrix stimulation by acidization is
accomplished by injecting chemicals to
dissolve and/or disperse materials near
the wellbore that impair well production in
sandstones or to create new, unimpaired
flow channels between the wellbore and a
carbonate formation.
 Acidising techniques
¾ Acid Spotting

¾ Matrix Acidisation
• Deep Penetrating Mud Acid
• Nitrified Acid
• Foamed Acid
• Selective Acidisation

¾ Acid Fracturing
 Acid pumper

Acidization
Acid Remove near wellbore
damage by injecting
Well
Displacing acid / reacting fluid into
fluid the formation below
fracturing pressure
1- 4ft
Shale
Reservoir
Shale
ACID PUMPER
COIL TUBING UNIT
Mechanism of Matrix Acid job:

¾To inject acid into formation at a pressure less

than the pressure at which fracture can be
opened
¾ To dissolve the clays, mud solids near the
wellbore which had choked the pores
¾ To enlarge the pore spaces
¾ To leave the sand and remaining fines in a
water-wet condition
 Fluid Selection
¾ Acid Type

¾ Concentration

¾ Volume
 Acid formulation

Lab studies involved

•Stimulation history
•Acid solubility
•Mineralogy (type of clay)
•Emulsion test
•Sludge test
•Core flow study
 Fluid Selection
Previous Stimulation Core
History Preparation

XRD Analysis

SEM Studies

Solubility Test
Acid
Acid
Formation rock Formulation Permeability
Response
Volume
Compatibility Optimization Curve* Improvement
Studies
Formation fluid

Additives
 Types of clays
¾ Kaolinite
z Minimum effect by acid
z Migrating clay, requires clay stabilizer

¾ Smectite (Montmorillonite)
z Water sensitive (swells)
z Can be dissolved by weak HF
¾ Illite
z Migrating clay
z Can be treated with HF

¾ Chlorite
z Contains High Amount of Iron
z Treatment with Iron Sequestering Agent
 Type of Acid

¾ Carbonate reservoirs
z HCl is used as basic rock dissolution chemical

¾ Sandstone reservoir
z HCl + HF (mud acid) is used as basic rock
dissolution chemical
 Carbonate acidising
¾ Carbonate formations generally
have a low permeability and can
be highly fissured
¾ HCl is used as basic rock
dissolution agent

¾ Wormholes form in the process

of dissolution of rock
¾ Other additives are used as per
compatibility with rock minerals
 Carbonate Acidising
Reactions
Calcite 2HCl+CaCO3 → CaCl2 + CO2+H2O

Dolomite 4HCl+CaMg(CO3)2 → CaCl2 +

MgCl2+ 2CO2+2H2O

Siderite 2HCl + FeCO3 → FeCl2 + CO2 +H2O

 Carbonate acidising
¾ For effective stimulation deep worm
holes are necessary to maximize
conductivity between reservoir and well
bore for enhancement of production

¾ The reaction rate between conventional

Plain HCl and carbonate is very fast at
reservoir temperature
 Carbonate acidising
¾ For effective stimulation of carbonate
reservoir following acid systems are used
z Emulsified acid system
• Acid emulsified with hydrocarbon(diesel)
z Gelled acid system
• Acid modified with gelling agent
(polymer/viscoelastic surfactants)
Role of emulsified/Gelled acid is
• To provide retardation
• To achieve deep penetration
• Compatible at high reservoir temperature
Sand stone acidization

Causes of Damage

• Mud & Mud filtrate invasion

• Cement solid & filtrate invasion

• Cutting invasion

• Perforation damage

• Created emulsions
 Sand stone acidisation
¾ Mud acid (HCl + HF) is used as basic rock
dissolution agent for acidization of sandstone
reservoir
¾ A preflush of HCl or organic acid is normally
used prior to injection of mud acid
¾ Additives are selected based on the rock
mineralogy and reservoir fluid properties.
¾ An overflush is injected to push all the mud acid
to formation
 Sand stone acidisation
Reactions
¾ Sand 4HF + SiO2 ' SiF4 (silicon tetrafluoride)
+ 2H2O
SiF4 + 2HF ' H2SiF6 (fluosilicic acid)

¾ Clay Al2 Si4 O10(OH)2 + 36HF → 4 H2SiF6

+ 12H2O
+ H3AlF6
 Sand stone acidization

H2SiF6 + 2Na+ → Na2SiF6↓↓+ 2H+

H3AlF6 + 3Na+ → Na3AlF6 ↓ + 3H+

 Hydrofluoric acid (HF)
treatment
(3) (2)
(1)
NaCl KCl
OVERFLUSH HF ACID FORMATION
+ + + WATER

SURFACTANT SURFACTANT
SURFACTANT

Liner Perforated Cement

Perforated Casing
Sand pack
 Acidization steps in general
¾ Pre-flush Stage (5% - 10% HCl)
z 50 to 100 gal/ft of formation in general
z To remove carbonates
z To push NaCl or KCl away from wellbore
¾ Acid Stage
z HF to dissolve clay / sand
z HCl to dissolve carbonates
¾ After-flush stage (10% EGMBE)
z To make the formation water wet
z To displace acid away from wellbore
 Acid additives
¾ Corrosion Inhibitor
¾ Surfactant
¾ Non-Emulsifier
¾ Anti-sludge Agent
¾ Iron Controller
¾ Mutual Solvent
¾ Friction Reducer
¾ Clay Stabilizer
¾ Diverting Agent
 Corrosion Inhibitor

¾ Factors Affecting Corrosion During an

Acid Treatment
z Temperature
z Contact Time
z Acid Concentration
z Metal Type
z Corrosion Inhibitor Used
 Surfactant
¾ Can act to :
z Change surface and interfacial tensions
z Disperse or flocculate clays and fines
z Break, weaken emulsions
z Change or maintain the wettability of reservoir
z Reduce acid-induced sludging
z Create or break foams
z Promote or prevent water blocks
 Non-Emulsifier

• Contains water soluble group (polymer)

• Temperature sensitive
• More versatile & results in
• Prevention of emulsion formation
• Lowered surface tension
• Damage prevention
 Anti Sludge agent

¾ “Sludge” is a precipitate formed from

reaction of high strength acid with crude oil
¾ Methods of sludge prevention
z Solvent (Xylene, Toluene) pre-flush to
minimize physical contact
z Use of low strength acid
z Anionic surfactant to minimize precipitation of
colloidal suspension
 Iron Controller
¾ Methods of Iron Control
z Chelating (iron chemically bound) e.g. Acetic acid,
Citric acid
z Sequestering (iron retained in solution) e.g. EDTA,
NTA
¾ The Precipitation of Iron
z Ferrous Ion (Fe++) pH 7 or Greater
z Ferric Ion (Fe+++) pH 2 to 3
¾ Sources of Iron
z Scale: Iron oxide, Iron Sulfide, Iron Carbonate
z Formation: Chlorite, Pyrite, Siderite
 Mutual Solvent

Reasons for using a mutual solvent

z To maintain a water wet formation
z To water wet insoluble formation fines
z To reduce water saturation near the
wellbore
z To help reduce the absorption of
surfactants and inhibitors on the formation
 Clay Stabilizer

¾ Reasons for using Clay Stabilizer

To keep clays and fines in suspension and to
prevent migration and swelling of clays

¾ Normal treating concentrations

normally up to 1% (V/V)
 Diverting Agent
¾ Why Diverting Agent?
To place the reactive fluid evenly
z Among the pay zones in wells completed in

multiple layers with permeability contrast

z Wells completed in single layer with very

long interval with heterogeneity within the

layer
z Wells completed in single layer with

different magnitude of damage within the

layer
 Diversion Techniques
¾ Mechanical diversion techniques
z Mechanical isolation of pay zones with packers
Chemical diversion techniques
z Ball sealers
z Particulate diversion
z Foamed acid diversion
z Viscous fluid diversion
• Self diverting acid (SDA) based on polymer/surfactants
• Diversion with Emulsified acid
• Diversion with viscous slug
 Ball Sealers
¾ Ball sealers are rubber-coated balls that are
designed to seat in the perforation

¾ Reactive fluids carry the balls and place on the

perforation tunnel of high perm zone, blocks them,
diverts acid to other intervals.
 Particulate diversion technique

¾ Fine particles are added and placed against the

high perm/less damaged zone

¾ Creates a relatively low permeable filter cake on

the formation face of high perm zone

¾ Resists flow of reactive fluid to high permeable

zone and divert the fluid to the zone of interest
 Particulate diversion technique
Diverting agent s Concentration
1. Oil soluble resin/ polymer 0.5 – 5.0 gal/1000 gal
2. Benzoic acid 1.0 lbm/ft
(not to use with HF)
3. Rock salt 0.5-2.0 lbm/f
4. wax beads 1.0 – 2.0 lbm/ft
5. Naphthalene flakes 0.25 – 1.0 lbm/ft
(not to use in injection wells)
 Foamed diversion technique
¾ Foams are stable mixture of liquids and
gases
¾ In oil field, foam is produced by Injecting Nitrogen
into water mixed with foamer
¾ Nitrogen gas is trapped into the liquid, occupies
50-60% of total volume of foam
¾ Foam restricts the flow of reactive fluid to high
perm layer and diverts the fluid to low perm layer
 Viscous fluid diversion technique
Self-diverting Acid(SDA) system
¾ Acid modified with polymer/surfactant
¾ Preferably enters into the high perm zone and
increases the viscosity in-situ during acid
spending process
Diverts remaining acid to the low perm or more
damaged zone at elevated pressure.
Acid diversion process
Flow Back
 Retarded Mud Acid
(For Retarding and clay stabilizing)
¾ Used mainly to increase penetration depth.
¾ Chemistry
z NH4HF2 + HCl ⇔ 2HF+ NH4Cl
z H3BO3+ 4HF ⇔ HBF4 + 3H2O
(Tetra Fluo-Boric Acid)
z HBF4 + HOH ⇔ HF (Slow generating)
¾ Limitation
z Suitable for low BHT wells
 Acid formulation design
Treating Fluid Formulations Volume of
fluid/m
Pre flush 3% NH4Cl+6.5% HCl+ 3% 690 Lit
Acetic acid
6.5% HCl + 1.5% HF +
Mud acid 3% Acetic acid + 0.5% 1150 Lit
Citric acid + 0.3%
surfactant +1% ACI

After flush 6.5% HCl +3% Acetic 690 Lit

acid 10% EGMBE
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
Hydraulic Fracturing
• Hydraulic fracturing is the most common mechanism

for increasing well productivity

• In certain carbonate reservoirs fracturing is

performed with acid

• In other carbonate and sandstone reservoirs propped

fracturing is used
Why Fracture?

• By-pass near wellbore damage

• Increase well production by changing flow

regime from radial to linear

• Reduce sand production

• Increase access to the reservoir from the

well bore
Near Wellbore Permeability Damage
 Radial Flow Regime
By its nature, radial flow is inefficient
Effect of Hydraulic Fracture on Flow Regime

If properly created, hydraulic fractures can

change flow regime from radial to linear
 Pressure Traverse In HF Job
Idealized Surface Pressure and Rate response during an HF treatment
 Fracture Orientation

Vertical fracture usually occurs at a depth below 6000 ft.

Fracturing Gradient = bottom-hole frac-pressure/ Depth

 Fracture Orientation

Horizontal fracture usually occurs at a depth above 6000 ft.

Fracturing Gradient = bottom-hole frac-pressure/ Depth

 Purpose Of Fracturing
To increase productivity by penetrating blocked permeability near the well bore.
 Purpose Of Fracturing
To increase the total volume of oil that a well can produce in primary recovery
before the economic limit of production is reached.
 Fracturing -Classification
¾ Acid Fracturing
¾ Non Acid Fluid Fracturing
z Water Based

z HC Based

z Poly Emulsion

¾ Non Conventional
z Nuclear

z Explosive

z HEGS(high energy gas stimulation)

Good Candidates For Fracturing

¾ Sufficient Recoverable Reserves

¾ Sufficient Reservoir Pressure
¾ Low Permeability (Less Than 10 mD)
¾ O/W And O/G contacts Not Very Close
¾ Good Cementation
General Criteria For Well Selection

¾ State of depletion of producing formation

¾ Formation composition & consolidation
¾ Formation permeability
¾ Formation thickness
¾ Isolation of the zone to be treated
¾ Condition of well equipment
¾ Production history of the well
¾ Offset production history
¾ Location of water, oil-water and gas-oil contacts
 Frac Fluids - Properties
¾ Reservoir Compatiblity
¾ Low leak off rate
¾ Ability to carry the propping agent
¾ Low friction loss
¾ Easy removal from the formation
¾ Stability at reservoir condition
¾ Availability
¾ Safety
¾ Cost economics
 Type Of Frac Fluids
¾ Water base
¾ Oil base
¾ Acid base
¾ Fluid emulsions
¾ Foamed fluid
 Characteristics
Of
Major Fluid Systems

¾ Water base
z Gelled water: medium viscosity, low friction
z Cross linked water gel: high viscosity, high
proppant carrying capacity, low friction loss
(with the help of delayed cross linker)
¾ Oil base
z Compatible with reservoir, high viscosity, high
friction loss
¾ Emulsion base
z Good viscosity, low fluid loss, good clean up
¾ Acid base
z Low viscosity, unstable at high temperature
FRAC PROCEDURES /
OPERATIONS
 Spearhead
¾ Spearhead reduce breakdown pressure
z Typically 5 - 10 bbl HCl acid ahead of pad
¾ Formations can be difficult to breakdown,
due to perforation damage, etc.
z Pump 50% into formation at matrix rates
z Shut down 5 minutes
z Pick up rate and Frac the last 50% of acid
z Continue with main Frac
 PAD
¾ Initiate fracture
¾ Breakdown the perforations
¾ Develop width required for proppant
z like a wedge to initiate fracture
¾ Sometimes use extra-viscous pre-pads
¾ Sometimes referred to as ‘clean fluid’
 PAD
¾ Small pads may not develop sufficient
width for proppant, potentially causing
screen-outs
¾ Excessive pad may delay closure for a
significant period of time, allowing
proppant convection out of zone.
 RATE
¾ Rate must exceed leak-off into the
formation in order to propagate the frac

z Typically performed 15-25 bbl/min

z In some cases, either higher or lower

rates are required.
 Proppant Schedule
¾ Defines the proppant addition rate into the
slurry
¾ Typically 1 - 16 ppg
z e.g. 5 ppg means that 5 lb of proppant is
added to 1.0 gallon clean fluid, for a total of
1.225 gallon slurry.
¾ Increase either in a ramp or increments of
1 - 2 ppg.
 Proppant Stages
¾ Immediately follow the pad
¾ Slurry is ‘clean’ fracturing fluid mixed with
proppant - sometimes referred to as ‘dirty
fluid’
¾ Continue to generate length and width
¾ Start proppant at 1 -3 ppg
¾ Slowly increase proppant concentrations.
 Proppant Stages
¾ Perforation and near - wellbore may not
accept higher concentrations of proppant
early in the treatment ( i.e if wedge isn’t
large enough)
¾ Erode the perforation and the formation
 Flush
¾ Immediately follows the proppant stages
¾ Pump clean (non-sand-laden) fluid to
displace the proppant to within a short
distance of the perforation and remove it
from the wellbore
¾ Use low friction, economical fluid
¾ Often friction reduced based fluid is used.
 Under-Flush
¾ Volume by which the proppant is under-
flushed to the perforation
z Safety factor to ensure that proppant in not
accidentally over-flushed into the perforation,
as this gives poor conductivity near the
wellbore
¾ Usually, under-flush :
z 3 bbl down tubing
z 6 bbl down casing or annulus
Real Time Monitoring
Fracture Initiation
Proppant Initiation
 Ideal Frac Completion

Pad Created Fracture Vol. = Proppant Laden Fracture Vol.

WATER CONTROL

WHY & HOW

 Why Water Control
¾ For every barrel oil we produce 3 barrel water.
¾ For a typical well with 80% water cut the we
spend $4 /bbl for water
Reasons of additional cost
¾ Lift and separation
¾ Treatment & disposal
¾ Corrosion & Scaling
¾ Formation damage, loss of productivity
 Water Types
¾ Sweep water 1. Active aquifer
2. Injection water
¾ Good water Unavoidable
1. Water in oil at OWC
2. Oil in water emulsion
3. Injection water
¾ Bad Water Avoidable
1. Water competing with oil
2. Mechanical failure
3. Operational mistake
 Good Water
Injector

Producer

Injector Injector
 Bad Water

Casing Leak Crossflow

Channeling Fracture

Coning Rise of OWC Breakthrough

Casing, tubing or packer leaks
 - Channeling -
Flow behind casing
Coning
Movement of oil water contact
Vertical Window - Cross-flow
Fracture or Fault from a water
layer
Injection water breakthrough
Producer
Injector
Well Diagnostics & Candidate selection
Key to water control is proper diagnosis

¾ Screen wells suitable for water control

¾ Determine the type of problem
¾ Find the correct water entry point
¾ Find the best control system
¾ Find suitable placement method
Well Diagnostics & Candidate election

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

Well History :
¾ Drilling history
¾ Well geometry
¾ Mud loss history
¾ Filtration loss
Well Diagnostics & Candidate election

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

¾ Geological data
¾ Reservoir data
¾ Water analysis data
¾ Oil analysis data
Well Diagnostics & Candidate election

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

Production history
™ Recovery plot
™ Production history plot
™ Decline curve
™ Diagnostic plot
Well Diagnostics & Candidate election

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

Well Logs
¾ Open hole logs
¾ Cased hole logs
¾ Production logs
¾ USIT
¾ FMI
 Water Control Solutions

Mechanical
Physical

Chemical
 Water Control Materials
Mechanical Solutions & Well Techniques
¾ Packers
¾ Bridge Plugs
¾ Casing Patches
¾ Infill Drilling
¾ Side Tracking
¾ Pattern Flow Control
¾ Horizontal
¾ Multilateral
Physical Plugging Agents
Conventional Cement Squeeze
Ultra Fine Cement
Foam-cement
Particulates
Sand Plug
Conventional Cement Squeeze
Often performs well as a blocking agent
Good solution for large casing hole
Long life
Near wellbore application
Poor penetration
Provide Mechanical strength to Polymer
gel
Economical
Ultra-fine Cement (Size - < 10 micron)
Better penetrability than conventional
cement

¾Small size casing hole

¾Micro-channels
¾Can be mixed with ultra fine silica
¾Thermal stability
¾Expensive
Hydrocarbon based ultra-fine Cement

¾ Reacts slowly upon contact with water

¾ Moderate penetration depth
¾ Can be used in conjunction with polymer
gel
 Foam Cement

¾ Reduced weight
¾ Moderate penetration depth
¾ Can be used in conjunction with polymer gel
 Particulates

¾ Clay gels
¾ Carbonates
¾ Various Loss control materials
To be used in combination with other
chemical system,
 Sand plug

¾ Rig-less alternative to cement plug

¾ Low cost
¾ To be applied with binder
¾ Supporting agent to
low strength polymer gel
¾ Inexpensive
Monomer Systems

¾ Water thin gellant

¾ Thermal & catalytic activation
¾ In-situ polymerization
¾ Designable placement time
¾ Matrix treatment in low permeable reservoir
¾ High volume application possible
¾ Applicable upto 140 0C
¾ Total to partial sealant
¾ Easy to mix
Cross-linked Polymer Systems

¾ Mainly acrylamide ter-polymer

¾ Organic or Inorganic cross-linker
¾ Variable concentration
¾ Low to very high viscosity
¾ Designable placement time
¾ Applicable in sand stone & carbonate
¾ Large volume application possible
¾ Applicable upto 140 0C
¾ Total sealant
 Cross-linked Polymer Systems

Application
¾ Bottom water shutoff
¾ Coning
¾ Channel from Injector
¾ Casing leak
¾ Fracture into injector/aquifer
¾ Plugging operation/zone abandonment
¾ Gas shutoff
 Relative permeability Modifier (RPM)

¾ Xantham co-polymer (XC)

¾ Inorganic cross-linker
¾ Low to very high viscosity
¾ Shear thinning
¾ Applicable in sand stone
¾ Large volume application possible
¾ Applicable upto 100 0C
¾ Designable gel strength
Relative permeability Modifier (RPM)

¾Permeability of oil/waterupto 10
¾Bull head treatment possible
¾Needs mechanical support
¾Low cost
¾Applicable in 3-D conning &
¾unpredictable watered out zone
Resins

¾ 2 or 3 component system
¾ Low viscosity
¾ Permanent solution
¾ Irretrievable
¾ Relatively higher cost
¾ Applicable for channel repair and casing
leak
 Placement Strategies

Casing Leak Crossflow

Channeling Fracture

Coning Rise of OWC Breakthrough

SAND CONTROL
 Geological Sands
¾ Marine deposited sands:
z Cemented with calcareous or siliceous
material.
z Well consolidated.
¾ Erosion deposited sands
z Cemented with soft clay/silt.
z Partly consolidated.
z Unconsolidated.
Factors Affecting Sand Production

¾ Overburden, Friction, Differential Stresses.

¾ Cementing material, Degree of
consolidation.
¾ Fluid viscosity, Production velocity, Drag
forces.
¾ Capillary forces, Water production.
•OVERBURDEN

•CEMENTING
•CAPILLARY
•DRAG
 Sand Control
¾ Definition
z Stop sand movement & maintain maximum
production.
¾ Success measures:
z Stop sand movement.
z Maintain maximum production
z Pay out cost.
 Why Sand Control?

¾Sand fill up Hole, Casing, Tubing

¾Erosion Down hole tubular,Safety
valves,
Chokes, A/L equipment
¾ Sand Surface lines, Equipment
accumulation
¾ Abrasive wear Surface control, Valves,
Pipes
¾ Buckling of casing
¾ Handling & disposal
 Methods Of Sand Control
¾ Restrictive production rate.
¾ Mechanical methods:Slotted liner, Wire-
wrapped screen, Pre-packed screen, Frac
pack, Gravel pack, High rate water pack.
¾ Chemical methods.
¾ Combination methods.
STEP: 1

Resin coated sand is pumped through perforations, filling voids

and re-stressing formation. It will harden in this shapes form a
permeable mass.
STEP: 2

The mass is drilled out to return the well to production. The

production of the mass remaining hdps prevent production of sand.
 Gravel Pack
Sand Gravel Screen
¾ Consists of sized
particles placed
in the annular
space between an
unconsolidated
formation and a
centralized
screen.
¾ open or cased
hole. OIL GAS
 Laboratory Analysis
¾ Sand sampling:
z Rubber sleeve cores.
z Conventional cores.
z Side-wall cores.
z Bailed samples.
z Produced sand.
¾ Sieve analysis
¾ Clay content.
CUMULATIVE % OF SAMPLE
Sieve Analysis

50 % SIZE

10 % SIZE

U.S. MESH
 KRUMBEIN & SLOSS CHART
SPHERICITY

ROUNDNESS
 Well Preparation
¾ Perforation:
z Type: Over balance, TCP, EOB
z Density: 12 SPF
z Entry hole dia.: 0.75”
¾ Perforation Cleaning:
z Back surging
z Perforation washing
TYPICAL
GRAVEL
PACK
SYSTEMS
 Sequence Of Operation
1. Clear bottom
2. Perforate/ Re-perforate
3. Scrap the well
4. Set bridge plug
5. CTC
6. Make up GP assembly
7. Tag bridge plug
8. Set packer
9. Mark circulating / Squeeze / Reverse position
10. Acidize in squeeze mode
11. Pump slurry till screen out/pack
12. Reverse out excess gravel
13. Stab seal
CROSS OVER
TOOL
LANDING
NIPPLE

BLANK
PIPES

SCREEN

POLISHED BORE RECEPTACLE

WITH “O” RING
LOWER TELL
TAIL