Dome Petroleum's Experience With Sand Control In Lloydminster Heavy Oil Fields
Authors: Marjerrison Douglas M. , Sayre John A. 
Published: March 2010

The most persistent problem facing heavy oil producers is sand production. Frequent servicing caused by sand may increase the operating cost per barrel of oil dramatically. Disposal of the large volumes of sand produced a/so continues to be a problem.

The oil and gas industry has investigated methods of sand control on primary wells/or 25 years. Early attempts were largely unsuccessful and the investigation was not aggressively pursued. In (he 1980s Dome's interest in sand control was stimulated by higher sanding frequencies associated with the start-up of various thermal projects.

This paper reviews Dome's experience with sand control at the following projects, which have used the types of recovery listed:

(List Available In Full Paper)

Screened and unscreened completions have been tried at each site but inherent problems required different, and sometimes innovative, solutions. Dome Petroleum does not feel that the final solution has been found but that there certainly are situations where the well completion or operating method can benefit the economics of a thermal project.

Introduction

Heavy oil produced in the Lloydminster area usually contains a significant amount of sand. This results in frequent well servicing and sand handling equipment requirements on surface. Well servicing mainly service rigs and bottomhole pump repairs, constitutes one of the largest costs in heavy oil operations. Other expenses related to producing sand involve equipment abrasion, cleaning problems and subsequent disposal. In light of current industry conditions, all methods of sand control must be evaluated to determine the most cost-effective.

Heavy oil production is carried out according to two general Philosophies. The first is producing the oil and entrained sand, tolerating the servicing problems and handling the produced sand through surface production facilities. The second involves separating the sand and oil before it is pumped to surface, which should result m fewer servicing problems and lower sand volumes. Work is being done which focusses on consolidating the sand in the immediate wellbore area through the use of chemicals and/or high temperatures(l). The most accepted method of controlling sand production is the installation of mechanical fillers, Le. screens, gravel pack, etc.

Primary heavy oil operations generally do not justify increased expenditures for sand control equipment as they are only marginally profitable at low oil prices. Experience with sand control has been obtained at three enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects, two of which are currently operating. Approximately 110 wells are involved in these projects. Fluctuating wellbore conditions, due to stimulations and varying production rates, disturb unconsolidated sands, causing higher sand production than primary operations. Once this happens, conscious decisions are required to control and/or handle sand.

Previous Work

Amoco Canada Ltd. has previously done work in the Lindbergh area investigating various methods of sand control which included open hole, gravel packing and cased completions With scrccnst21 Amoco's conclusion was that cased completions with screens worked the most effectively. In the U.S.A, the majority of the completions in unconsolidated sands use slotted liner installations.