Conversely, it increases with proppant size. Proppant control measures should be employed both during and after the fracturing process. Applying sand control measures during fracturing is much more cost effective than remedying problems after the fact. Sand Consolidation with Steam Injection. Like many California fields, sand production is a prevalent problem in thermal operations in Wilmington Field's unconsolidated turbidite sands.
Conventional completions are open hole, gravel packed with a slotted liner.
Empirical experience indicates that minimum steam volume is 750 barrels of cold water equivalent per perforation. The hot alkaline liquid phase causes sandstone dissolution, preferentially acting on sand grains with high specific area such as clays, rock fragments, and micas. The technique creates secondary porosity resulting in increased permeability. As the injected fluids exit the perforations and cool, various precipitates drop out at different temperatures. High temperature precipitates bond the sand grains around the perforations, controlling sand movement.