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Collaborating Authors
Results
An Experimental Investigation into Sand Control Failure Due to Steam Breakthrough in SAGD Wells
Mahmoudi, M.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Fattahpour, V.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Roostaei, M.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Kotb, O.. (University of Alberta) | Wang, C.. (University of Alberta) | Nouri, A.. (University of Alberta) | Sutton, C.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Fermaniuk, B.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.)
Abstract In Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) projects, it is essential to heat the reservoir evenly to minimize the potential for the localized steam breakthrough. Steam breakthrough can cause erosive damage to the sand control liner by the flow of high-velocity wet steam, and, in extreme cases, can compromise the mechanical integrity of the liner. This research investigates the sanding mechanism during the high-quality steam injection into the SAGD production wells. A large-scale Sand Retention Test (SRT) was used to investigate the role of steam breakthrough in the sand control performance. Produced sand and pressure drops along the sand-pack were the main measurements during the tests. The test procedure and test matrix were designed to enable the examination of the impact of steam breakthrough on sand production for different steam rates. Two possible sanding mechanisms are postulated in steam breakthrough events: (1) local grain disturbance caused by the high-velocity steam near the liner, (2) effect of the complex phase behavior of the steam and the subcool level. Two different testing procedures were designed to examine these mechanisms. The local grain disturbance mechanism was investigated by injecting air at a wide range of velocities. Results indicate that this mechanism could not lead to a significant sanding when there is a bit of effective stress near the liner. Hence, it looks like that the steam velocity poses a higher risk in early stages of SAGD production when the near-liner stress is very low. The effect of high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT), low- to high-quality steam flow and the subcool level will be investigated in the next phase of the study. This work addresses the effect of high-quality steam breakthrough on the sand control performance of the liner in SAGD producer wells. The findings in this paper help the researchers to direct their research to better understand the steam breakthrough. This research will eventually help the engineers in their liner design and evaluation for the entire wellbore life cycle as the near-well stress evolves.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- North America > Canada > Alberta (0.72)
Sand Control Testing for Steam Injection Wells
Fattahpour, V.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Mahmoudi, M.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Roostaei, M.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Wang, C.. (University of Alberta) | Kotb, O.. (University of Alberta) | Nouri, A.. (University of Alberta) | Sutton, C.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.) | Fermaniuk, B.. (RGL Reservoir Management Inc.)
Abstract Injector wells in thermal field developments in Western Canada are usually completed by slotted liners. The purpose of liner installation is preventing sand production after a shut-in, keeping a stable wellbore, and providing an appropriate steam distribution. The objective of this paper is to quantify the role of slot width and slot density on the sanding performance of the liner in cycles of injection and shut-in in a SAGD injection well, through a series of laboratory sand control tests. A large-scale sand retention testing facility was developed and employed to conduct a series of tests on slotted liner coupons with different slot widths and densities. These tests were tailored to simulate steam injection and backflow during the shut-in. Three representative particle size distributions for the McMurray Formation were used in this study ranging from coarse to fine sand. The experimental set-up allows to measure the amount of produced sand. Since the produced sand in steam injection wells is not usually cleaned out, the acceptable threshold for sand production in the injector should be more conservative than the same for producer wells. Testing results indicate that the sand control performance of the liner is governed by the slot width and density, and formation particle size distribution. Results indicate a negligible amount of produced sand with gas backflow for a properly designed liner even at very high gas velocities. Historically, there has been little attention to the sand control design for injector wells. This work highlights the significance of slot density and slot width in the sand control performance for steam injection wells. The paper provides the basis for the proper design of an effective sand control in SAGD injectors.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- North America > Canada > Alberta (0.51)