Rock engineering systems adopted for sanding prediction in perforation tunnels
Ahmadreza Younessi A and Vamegh Rasouli ACurtin University of Technology
The APPEA Journal 50(1) 613-622 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ09039
Published: 2010
Abstract
Sand production is an important issue in reservoirs with weak or unconsolidated sand formations. Production of sand not only causes several problems in maintaining wellbore integrity but also is a problem during production where damages through the tubing and surface facilities are likely to occur due to the sand grains being transported along this path.
The rock engineering systems (RES), initially introduced in mining and civil related geomechanics problems, is one approach to analysing the interrelationship between different parameters involved in a rock engineering project. This is the approach that was adopted in this work to study and predict the sanding potential in perforation tunnels.
Sanding mechanism in perforation tunnels during production was reviewed and all effective parameters were identified. An interaction matrix was introduced to study the sanding mechanism through the interrelation between pairs of parameters. The interaction matrix was coded using a semi-quantitative rating approach to determine the interaction between each pair of parameters. The interaction intensity and dominance of each parameter in the system were studied through the cause-effect diagram to classify the parameters. This will assist in finding a better engineering action to mitigate or eliminate instabilities.
A sensitivity analysis was conducted on a data set, and major parameters playing in sand production in a perforation tunnel were identified using analytical formulae. The results of sensitivity analysis were compared with the cause-effect diagram derived from the interaction matrix. A good agreement between the two methods was observed. This shows the usefulness of RES for identifying potential sanding solutions through the interaction matrix analysis.
Ahmadreza Younessi is a PhD student of petroleum engineering in Curtin University of Technology. After completing his MSc in rock mechanics engineering in 2006 from Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Ahmadreza started his career as a Geomechanics Engineer in Schlumberger’s Data and Consulting Services (DCS). He was in charge of developing the geomechanics business in IRG. He was involved with several consulting projects such as geomechanical modelling, wellbore stability analysis and real-time pore pressure prediction in Iran, India, Australia and Malaysia until 2009. Ahmadreza was also trained as a wireline field engineer during his career in Schlumberger. Ahmadreza started his PhD in 2009, focusing on sand production prediction methodologies under true triaxial stress conditions. He is still involved in consultant geomechanics projects in Australia conducted from Petroleum Geomechanics Group of Curtin (PGGC). Ahmadreza.YounessiSinaki@postgrad.curtin.edu.au |
Vamegh Rasouli is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and is a registered engineer with the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) of Australia. After completing his PhD in 2002 from Imperial College, London, Vamegh took up the position of assistant professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology (Iran). In 2006 Vamegh joined the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University as a senior lecturer to add support to the delivery of the Department’s Master of Petroleum Well Engineering degree, and to carry out research in his specialist area of wellbore stability, sanding, hydraulic fracturing, etc. He established the Curtin Petroleum Geomechanics Group (CPGG), and he supervises five PhD students and number of Masters students. CPGG has completed a number of successful research and consulting projects. Vamegh is also a consulting engineer on various geomechanics related projects with Schlumberger’s Data and Consulting Services (DCS) in Perth. V.Rasouli@curtin.edu.au |
