HYDROMECHANICAL ASPECTS OF THE SAND PRODUCTION PROBLEM

This paper examines the hydro-mechanical aspect of the sand production problem and sets the basic frame of the corresponding mathematical mo delling. Accordingly, piping and surface erosion effects are studied o n the basis of mass balance and particle transport considerations as w ell as Darcy's law. The results show that surface erosion is accompani ed by high changes of porosity and permeability close to the free surf ace. Quantities which can be measured in experiment, like the amount o f produced solids or fluid discharge, can be used in an inverse way to determine the constitutive parameters of the problem.