Formation Damage Control in Sand Control and Stimulation Work
Authors: Christian W.W. , Ayres Hugh J. 
Published: December 2007

This paper was prepared for the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME Symposium on Formation Damage Control, to be held in New Orleans, La., Feb. 7–8, 1974. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is usually granted upon requested to the Editor of the appropriate journal, provided agreement to give proper credit is made. provided agreement to give proper credit is made. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines.

Development of techniques, materials and equipment for the elimination or improvement of some of the causes of formation damage has been an objective for several years. Interest has increased drastically recently because of an increased awareness of production loss due to these problems.

Specialized equipment has been built and research is continuing on improved equipment. The use of special tankage and blenders, internal tank and blender coatings, surface and subsurface filters, down-hole tools (including surge tools and washing tools for perforation clean-out) down-stream (of pump) sand injectors for gravel packing and other special devices have proven to have helped in this objective. Large amounts of trash have actually been recovered from filters placed directly on top of squeeze tools used in plastic sand consolidation jobs. Also, large amounts of trash have been found in filters that were filtering supposedly clean fluid just prior to sand control and stimulation jobs. Trash has been removed several joints above surge tools just prior to performing sand control jobs. All of this has performing sand control jobs. All of this has caused a new awareness of this severe problem in sand control and stimulation work where clean fluids are a necessity for successful jobs.

Research is continuing in the field of stimulation fluids to keep residue to a minimum after treatments. Additives for aqueous fluids may provide a non-swelling environment for clay-containing formations. Sequestering agents may be used to keep fines and precipitates released by acid solutions from restricting flow channels.

Equipment and materials have been used in the Gulf Coast and other areas to help relieve formation damage during sand control and stimulation jobs. Continuing research and field application are directed toward alleviation of the problem. problem

Introduction

While the general public and government agencies have only recently become concerned with the potential dangers of pollution, the producing segment of the petroleum industry producing segment of the petroleum industry and the companies which provide service and materials for downhole treatment of wells have been acutely aware of cleanliness for some time.