Investigation of Pore-Blocking Mechanism in Gravel Packs in the Management and Control of Fines Migration

Abstract

Investigation of Pore-Blocking Mechanism in Gravel Packs in the Management and Control of Fines Migration Yann Bigno; Yann Bigno Heriot-Watt U. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar M.B. Oyeneyin; M.B. Oyeneyin Heriot-Watt U. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar J.M. Peden J.M. Peden Heriot-Watt U. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Formation Damage Control Symposium, Lafayette, Louisiana, February 1994. Paper Number: SPE-27342-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/27342-MS Published: February 07 1994 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Bigno, Yann, Oyeneyin, M.B., and J.M. Peden. "Investigation of Pore-Blocking Mechanism in Gravel Packs in the Management and Control of Fines Migration." Paper presented at the SPE Formation Damage Control Symposium, Lafayette, Louisiana, February 1994. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/27342-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE International Conference and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control Search Advanced Search AbstractThe migration of fines into gravelpacks from both unconsolidated reservoirs and through the injection of fluids from the wellbore, is characterised by permeability reduction which may be gradual or instantaneous depending on the invasion process and the pore blocking mechanism. In an attempt to define the maximum allowable levels of fines that can be tolerated by a typical gravelpack which will ensure optimum production capacity over the economic life of the well, an experimental project on pore blocking mechanisms in gravelpacks was initiated in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in order to define the gravelpack permeability decline as a function of production time.In this paper, the results of the experimental studies which show the trends of gravelpack permeability reduction as a function of the pore blocking phenomena are presented. Five prevailing pore blocking mechanisms were identified, each characterised by the profile of permeability reduction against time. Based on the characteristic profiles, specific pore blocking mechanism models were developed to quantify gravelpack impairment as a function of gravel-fines size ratio, fines concentration, and fluid production rate. These models have been incorporated into a computerised well performance model which can be utilised to predict both the initial and lifetime performance of a gravelpacked well.Specific case studies, using field data, to illustrate how the well performance model can be utilised to conduct sensitivity analysis of the productivity index to fines concentration, gravel size and production time. Application of the studies to the analysis of gravelpacked well performance especially with respect to maximum allowable level of fines injection during water flooding for injection wells or formation fines production level for specific commercial gravels are presented. The paper also illustrates how the system can be used to predict possible plugging time of a typical gravelpack.IntroductionGravelpacks are installed primarily to control the migration of load-bearing formation sand grains and other fines from unconsolidated reservoirs. The design of the gravelpack is therefore geared primarily towards:prevention of sand migration into the wellbore maximisation of productivity through the use of specially processed pack sands (gravel) minimisation of impairment as a result of particle pluggingAchievement of these objectives require the use of rigorously defined criteria in the choice of gravel size. Most gravelpack designs have been geared towards achieving optimum control of sand migration or absolute stoppage with some sacrifice on productivity.P. 29^ Keywords: upstream oil & gas, recovery, particle, migration, society of petroleum engineers, mechanism, single pore, spe 27342, concentration, pore-blocking mechanism Subjects: Gravel pack design & evaluation, Sand Control, Completion Operations This content is only available via PDF. 1994. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.