Advances and challenges of sand production and control in oilfields: A review

Abstract

• Thorough Literature Review: with the initial emphasis on the geological origin of sand production and in-depth analysis of the problems associated with SP in the realm of oil and gas fields and comprehensive analysis of mechanisms of sand production and control. • Sand control Assessment: An in-depth analysis, laboratory experiments, their challenges and limitations of various sand control technologies, including hydrocyclone desander, gravel packing, chemical consolidation, screenless completions, and autonomous inflow control devices, among others. • Under chemical sand control, laboratory experiments and Field Case Studies: The inclusion of real-world case studies on chemical treatments from diverse petroleum reservoirs, providing practical examples of successful chemical sand control implementations and lessons learned from challenging and limitations scenarios. • Recommendations for Future Research: Identification of gaps in current sand control methods and proposal of potential new innovative chemical method, with research directions to address emerging challenges and limitations in sand control operation. Sand production poses a critical issue in the oil and gas industry, particularly oil fields with unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs, resulting in equipment damage, wellbore instability, and heightened operational costs. The main causes of sand production include water breakthrough, unconsolidated formation, reduction in pore pressure, high production rate, gas to liquid ratio and phase change. Despite advancements in sand control methods, no single solution is universally effective for all reservoirs. Current technologies involve using advanced materials for screens, gravel packs, chemical treatment, different methods of sand prediction models, and emphasizing the integration of real-time monitoring systems to enhance sand control effectiveness. This paper discusses and analyzes the mechanisms of sand production, advanced sand management strategies, sand predictions model and monitory sensors, and challenges associated with sand control techniques, including mechanical, chemical methods, and hydrocyclone desanders. This paper highlighted some of the most used chemical agents in laboratory and field experiments for sand consolidation, are evaluated to determine their effectiveness in sand mitigation. Emphasis is placed on the limitations of existing chemical treatments and hydrocyclone desander, and the need for advanced chemical remediation techniques. Surface systems can be adjusted and maintained more easily than downhole sand control systems. Surface chemical treatment strategies such as introducing chemical sand coagulation-flocculation enhance hydrocyclone desander efficiency as new innovative sand control technology will serve as potential solutions for maintaining reservoir integrity and minimizing sand production.

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