Sand-control alternatives for horizontal wells
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States)
- Baker Sand Control (US)
This paper reports that it has been well documented that horizontal completions increase production rates, as much as two to five times those of conventional techniques, because more of the producing formation is exposed to the wellbore. Although productivity improvements are highly sensitive to reservoir parameters, it is becoming generally accepted that optimum horizontal lengths will be 2,000 to 4,000 ft. The length of these completions generally causes the velocity of the fluid at the sandface to be an order of magnitude less than that observed in conventional completions. Because drag forces contributed to sand production, horizontal wells can produce at higher sand-free flow rates than conventional completions in the same reservoir. While it is frequently argued that horizontal wells do not need sand control, the potential for sand production increases significantly as reserves deplete and rock stresses increase. This is becoming more evident today in several major North Sea oil fields with conventional completions. Also, many unconsolidated formations produce sand for the first time with the onset of water production, a typical problem in such areas as the Gulf of Mexico. Operators must decide whether to implement sand control in the original horizontal-completion program because of an immediate concern or because the potential exists for a problem to arise as the well matures.
- OSTI ID:
- 5679276
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States) Vol. 43:5; ISSN JPTJA; ISSN 0022-3522
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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