Experimental investigation of sanding propensity for the Andrew completion

One of the main concerns during the completion phase of the planned Andrew horizontal wells was sand production. Analytical models based on inputs fro m log details and core analyses favoured the use of perforated, cemented li ner completions to lessen the likelihood of sand production. To further str engthen this recommendation and to perform a risk analysis of formation fai lure at the time of underbalance perforation and expected producing conditi ons, laboratory experiments were conducted on three reservoir core samples selected from two pilot wells. The core samples were perforated with shaped charges under simulated downhole conditions. The perforated core samples w ere flowed, while monitoring any sand production resulting from the effects of increasing rate (change in drawdown), onset of water cut and depletion (increasing effective stress). The core samples did not show any propensity to produce sand during single- phase oil flow rates of up to 20 cm(3)/s/perforation). When water cut was i ntroduced, transient sand production was observed, indicating the productio n of perforation-generated rock debris. As the percentage water cut was inc reased, the sand production declined. The core samples did not show any pro pensity for sand production during depletion testing. The wells were subseq uently completed with perforated cemented liners with no sand control. Now, into two years of production no sand problems have been encountered. These experiments are presented as a means of complimenting existing sand predic tion models in completion designs for sand prevention.