Early Identification of a Potential Unconsolidated Reservoir and the Prevention of Sand Flowback by Incorporating a Liquid-Consolidation Agent with a Fracturing Treatment in Saudi Arabia
- Authors
- Saad Hamid (Saudi Aramco) | Abdulrahman Almulhim (Saudi Aramco) | Emad Abbad Alabbad (Saudi Aramco) | Maharaja Palanivel (Halliburton)
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2118/191468-18IHFT-MS
- Document ID
- SPE-191468-18IHFT-MS
- Publisher
- Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Source
- SPE International Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition, 16-18 October, Muscat, Oman
- Publication Date
- 2018
- Document Type
- Conference Paper
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 978-1-61399-622-5
- Copyright
- 2018. Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Disciplines
- 2.5.2 Fracturing Materials (Fluids, Proppant), 3.2.3 Produced Sand / Solids Management and Control, 2.4 Hydraulic Fracturing, 2 Well completion, 4.1 Processing Systems and Design, 5 Reservoir Desciption & Dynamics, 7 Management and Information, 7.2 Risk Management and Decision-Making, 5.6.1 Open hole/cased hole log analysis, 5.6 Formation Evaluation & Management, 3.2 Well Operations and Optimization, 7.2.1 Risk, Uncertainty and Risk Assessment, 2.1.3 Completion Equipment, 4 Facilities Design, Construction and Operation, 4.1.2 Separation and Treating, 2.2 Installation and Completion Operations, 3 Production and Well Operations, 2.4 Sand Control
- Keywords
- Fracturing, Sand Flowback, Unconsolidated Reservoirs
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- 0 in the last 30 days
- 107 since 2007
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An engineering approach is discussed for identifying a potentially unconsolidated reservoir in an exploratory area and controlling sand flowback by fracturing using a liquid-consolidation additive as the binding agent.
A vertical gas well targeting an exploratory reservoir was completed and hydraulically fractured to help enhance productivity. A petrophysical evaluation was performed with openhole logs, and results showed a potentially unconsolidated pay zone that posed the risk of producing formation sand.
After identifying the issue, precautionary measures were taken to help prevent sand production. An engineered solution to hydraulically fracture the reservoir using a liquid-consolidating additive as a binding agent, opposed to the conventional resin-precoated proppant, was successfully performed.
The fracturing technique enhanced well productivity and allowed sand-free high production rate of hydrocarbons. Orienting the perforations toward the maximum horizontal stress direction helped reduce tortuosity and placement of the fracturing treatment.
This paper presents petrophysical analysis, treatment design, and application, including production analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.
Evaluation of the openhole logs and understanding the criteria for potential sand-producing formations can help identify sand flowback in the early stages of well completion to promote the application of solutions that will substantially reduce/eliminate problems associated with sand flowback during the life of the well. This technique helped achieve sand control without using screens, simplifying wellbore equipment while enhancing reservoir production. Early identification of the problem minimized production losses and non-productive time (days) for the operator and potential formation sanding problems.
| File Size | 1 MB | Number of Pages | 9 |
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