INTRODUCTION
The production of sand with the oil and gas is
one of the oldest issues of the oilfields
associated with unconsolidated or partially
consolidated formations. This may be
associated with the strength factors (sand grain
strength, inter-particles friction, and capillary
forces) and operational factors (strategies of
drilling, and completion, depletion of the
reservoir) [1]. The reservoir with loose
formations or unconsolidated formations,
having a greater permeability is more prone to
sand production. Such production fields can
exhibit sand production at its initial stage of
production.
There is only one fundamental parameter
formation strength which is responsible for
the sand production in oil fields. Formation
strength is developed due to overburden
pressure, by capillary forces, and by
cementation between sand grains [2, 3].
Oil bearing loose sand formation fails to hold
sand grains together under the reservoir
conditions due to insufficient cohesion
between the particles. These types of loose
sand formations may even collapse during
drilling or well completion operations [4]. The
requirement of sand control comes when
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Water Production
A survey on water production from oil field
says that an oil field produces three barrel of
water for each barrel of oil [29]. Water
production may cause dissolution of
cementing materials between sand grains
which brings decrement in the degree of
cohesion and may weaken the rock. Water
production brings significant changes in the
surface tension and capillary forces which may
weaken holding pressure between load bearing
solids [3031]. Friction due to multiphase flow
may destabilize the sand. When clay material
comes in contact with water, swelling of clay
material may block porous medium and
increases the pressure gradient which
decreases the stabilizing force [32].
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Unconsolidated Formations
Unconsolidated formations or loose formation
refers to have very low cohesive forces
between sand grains, to have very low degree
of cementation so that sand grains can be
dislodged very easily; may enter into the
wellbore, flow up to the surface and may cause
failure of equipment [40].
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DEVELOPMENT IN CHEMICAL
SAND CONSOLIDATION
Chemical sand consolidation is highly
recommended and having been used in oil
fields applications since 1940s [48, 5]. Sand
production has many negative implications to
oil production and various techniques have
been developed in order to stop the sand from
being produced [44]. Many researchers have
worked on different chemicals such as resins,
polymers, organosilanes, nanoparticles and
others.
Resin Systems
From last more than 50 years, resin forming
mixtures with appropriate catalysts/hardeners
were used to inject into the desired formation
through tubing by positive pumping action
[49]. Till now only three systems: (1) one step
operation system in which the porous medium
is saturated with the two reactive components:
resin and curing agent in a proper proportion;
(2) two step operation system that involves the
injection of first concentrated reactive
component in to the desired formation pores
followed by the dilute solution of second
reactive component. This displaces the first
solution up to its residual saturation.
The degree of sand consolidation depends on
the immiscible process [50]; (3) the phase
separation system includes the injection of a
dilute solution of the reactive component into
hydrocarbon solvent into the loose formation
with an appropriate curing agent. After
placement of curing agent, the reactive
component and solvent phase are separated
after a definite period of time and reactive
component solidifies and bind the sand grains
together [51]. With the advancement of
chemicals and polymer sciences, these
methods have become more useful by
incorporating different chemical and polymer
combinations to enhance the efficiency of the
processes. Accurate control of resin placement
is critical because of over displacement which
results in unconsolidated sand near well-bore
area. Epoxy resins, furan resins, fufuryl
alcohol, phenolic resins, organosilane, mixture
of these chemicals in appropriate proportion
and some other chemicals like nanoparticles,
steel slag, carbonates, etc. had been used in the
oilfields that are struggling with the problem
of sand production.
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CONCLUSION
In this review we have shown a number of
effective techniques to treat the loose sand
formation. We have highlighted the
advantages and the limitations of the methods.
We have tried to elaborate in such a way to
enhance the readability/easiness to make it
understand. From the above discussion we can
conclude that a lot of work has been done on
the resin system i.e. epoxy, furfuryl alcohol,
furan,
phenol-formaldehyde,
urea
formaldehyde etc. These have been proved to
be effective systems which can deliver desired
results. New chemicals and techniques have
been developed for better results. Ordinarily
resins are viscous and placement of these
chemicals into the desired formation through
all perforations is critical to success. They are
difficult to pump in a reasonable length of
time. Currently the sand control has been the
key to recover the hydrocarbons economically
from the unconsolidated formations. Each of
the techniques has its own advantages and
limitations. Hence, the methods should be
chosen based on the requirement, reservoir
conditions i.e. temperature and pressure,
presence of fluids, pH etc. The development of
new chemicals, new techniques, fluid
dynamics and geological theories will enhance
further improvements in chemical methods of
sand consolidation, therefore further research
is needed.
REFERENCES
1. Bianco LC. Phenomena of Sand
Production in Non-Consolidated Sand
Stones. Thesis in Petroleum and Natural
Gas Engineering. PhD Thesis. The
Pennsylvania
State
University,
Department of Energy and GeoEnvironmental Engineering. 1999.
2. Lahalih SM, Ghloum EF. Polymer
Composition for Sand Consolidation in
Oil Wells. SPE Production and
Operations Conference and Exhibition.
Tunis, Tunisia. 810 Jun 2010. SPE
136024.
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