SAND CONTROL IN NIGER DELTA FORMATION
Oloro John.
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Delta State University, Oleh Campus
Email:joloroeng@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
In poorly consolidated sandstone formations, grain of sand that make up the sandstone are pulled loose from the formation and are carried off by the fluid flow. The sand causes a lot of problems that can mean a considerable decrease in productivity and adverse safety conditions. Costly work over operations may become necessary as a result. This paper, generally review the meaning of sand production, its causes, effects and control. TEGA Well 002 of SPDC in Niger Delta was used as a case study .The well was drilled and completed as a dual string produce on 21st November 1999 to a total depth of 6789ft. Sand production was influence by certain factors at the depth of 6660ft.Which include :Natural cause(un-consolidation producing) and failure of sand consolidation and the following were some of the effect of sand production:(i)The erosion of choke (ii)corrosion accelerated (iii)Deposits are laid down in the flowlines or in the process facilities equipment (iv) Loss of man-hour during the period of close-in in terms of wages, which add up to overhead cost. The method of sand control adopted in TEGA well 002 was discussed and also while sand consolidation (SCON) method failed, Internal gravel packing was chosen as the cost-effective method of sand control in the well.Finally,conclusion and recommendation were base on the benefits derived from the installation of internal gravel packing(IGP).