Implications of accurate geomechanical modelling and systematic core testing for sanding evaluation and sand control decisions – a case study from Perth Basin
Sadegh Asadi A D , Abbas Khaksar A , Mark Fabian B , Roger Xiang B , David N. Dewhurst C and Claudio Delle Piane CA Baker Hughes Company, 631 Karel Avenue, Jandakot, WA 6141, Australia.
B Mitsui E&P Australia, Level 11, Exchange Tower, 2 The Esplanade, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.
C CSIRO Energy, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: Sadegh.Asadi@bakerhughes.com
The APPEA Journal 60(1) 267-281 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ19172
Submitted: 16 December 2019 Accepted: 4 February 2020 Published: 15 May 2020
Abstract
Accurate knowledge of in-situ stresses and rock mechanical properties are required for a reliable sanding risk evaluation. This paper shows an example, from the Waitsia Gas Field in the northern Perth Basin, where a robust well centric geomechanical model is calibrated with field data and laboratory rock mechanical tests. The analysis revealed subtle variations from the regional stress regime for the target reservoir with significant implications for sanding tendency and sand management strategies. An initial evaluation using a non-calibrated stress model indicated low sanding risks under both initial and depleted pressure conditions. However, the revised sanding evaluation calibrated with well test observations indicated considerable sanding risk after 500 psi of pressure depletion. The sanding rate is expected to increase with further depletion, requiring well intervention for existing producers and active sand control for newly drilled wells that are cased and perforated. This analysis indicated negligible field life sanding risk for vertical and low-angle wells if completed open hole. The results are used for sand management in existing wells and completion decisions for future wells. A combination of passive surface handling and downhole sand control methods are considered on a well-by-well basis. Existing producers are currently monitored for sand production using acoustic detectors. For full field development, sand catchers will also be installed as required to ensure sand production is quantified and managed.
Keywords: active and passive sand controls, geomechanics, in-situ stress regime, poroelastic sanding evaluation, rock mechanics properties, sand production, well completion optimisation.
Sadegh Asadi is a Geomechanics Advisor for Baker Hughes Asia Pacific region based in Perth, Australia. Sadegh holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from Curtin University of Australia and a BEng and MSc in Mining Engineering from Iranian universities. Sadegh has 12 years of experience in the petroleum industry and worked at Curtin University before joining Baker Hughes in 2011. He has conducted various subsurface and geomechanics studies for exploration and production projects in the Asia Pacific region. Sadegh is an active member of SPE and ISRM and he has published numerous papers in conference proceedings and journals. |
Abbas Khaksar is a Global Geomechanics Advisor and Subject Matter Expert for sanding evaluation with Baker Hughes, based in Australia. Before joining Baker Hughes in 2009 in the UK, he worked for Helix RDS (Australia and UK), Geomechanics International-GMI (Asia Pacific), University of Adelaide and the Iran Geological Survey. Abbas has a PhD in Rock Physics and a MSc in Petroleum Geophysics, both from University of Adelaide, and a BSc in Mining Engineering from Tehran University. In the last 20 plus years, he has worked extensively on many aspects of oil field geomechanics, involving more than 250 studies worldwide, and he has numerous journal publications and conference presentations. He is a short course instructor and software developer on reservoir geomechanics and sanding applications. Abbas was a SPE Distinguished Lecturer in 2019–2020. |
Mark Fabian is Subsurface Manager (– onshore WA) at Mitsui Exploration and Production, Australia. He holds a BEng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Adelaide. He has worked with various operating companies since 1982, including Santos Ltd, Canadian Occidental, Santos Europe, Mobil exploration and production (Australia), Newfield Australia, Arc Energy and AWE. Mark is a member of SPE. |
Roger Xiang graduated from the University of New South Wales with a BSc (Hons 1) in Geology and a BA in International Relations. Roger joined the oil and gas industry in 2006, working for AWE Limited, and now works as a Senior Geologist for Mitsui exploration and production, Australia. His responsibilities at Mitsui include development planning, well planning, geoscience operations and post well analysis. He is a member of SPE. |
Dave Dewhurst is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Energy in Perth. He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Geology from the University of Sheffield (UK) and a PhD in Physics from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK). He previously held post-doctoral positions at the University of Birmingham (UK), the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (UK), the Institut Français du Pétrole near Paris and Imperial College, London, before moving to CSIRO in 1998. He works on mechanical and physical properties of rocks for petroleum exploration and development, specialising in overburden and gas shales, as well as reservoir and seal evaluation for geological storage of CO2 and other gases. |
Claudio Delle Piane is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Energy in Perth. He has a degree in Earth Sciences from the Roma III University in Italy and a PhD in Geology from the Swiss Polytechnic Institute (ETH) of Zurich. As a geologist with a background in structural geology and rock deformation, he joined CSIRO in 2008 as a Research Scientist specialising in the integration of microstructural analyses with petrophysics, geomechanics, structural geology and rock physics for the characterisation of subsurface porous rocks and the understanding of their geological history. |
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