Patent ID: 8776883

Claim:
A process for controlling the production of loose sand particles from an underground formation during the production of hydrocarbons, the process comprising the steps of: introducing a magnetic source into a well bore traversing the underground formation such that it is positioned proximate to a producing section within the underground formation, where the producing section of the underground formation comprises loose sand particles and production fluid and where the production fluid includes hydrocarbons; treating at least some of the loose sand particles located within the underground formation such that the treated loose sand particles form that are operable to respond to the introduction of a magnetic field; operating the magnetic source such that a continuous magnetic field is generated from the magnetic source that penetrates the producing section of the underground formation for a distance from the magnetic source, where the treated loose sand particles within the continuous magnetic field experience a continuous repelling force directed away from the well bore; and producing the production fluid from the producing section of the underground formation at a production rate such that the treated loose sand particles experience a production drag force, where the production drag force is associated with the production rate and is directed towards the well bore; where the continuous repelling force is equal to or greater than the production drag force on the treated loose particles such that the treated loose sand particles within the distance from the magnetic source are not produced with the production fluid from the producing section.