SPE 81034
Integrated Approach to Sand Control Delivers Zero Sand
Mike Travis SPE, Venture Production Trinidad Limited; Juan Tovar SPE, Innovative Engineering Systems Limited;
John L. C. Chambers, Venture Production Trinidad Limited
Copyright 2003, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum
Engineering Conference held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies, 27–30 April 2003.
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Abstract
Sand production is a serious historical production problem in
the Forest, Cruse and Nariva reservoirs of the Gulf of Paria
offshore Trinidad.
Venture Production Trinidad drilled, completed and tested 10
wells in 2002. Sand production has been no more than a trace
in all but one of the tests so far.
Sand control has been undertaken without recourse to the
traditional mechanical methods of sand screens and gravel
packs. A carefully planned approach integrating modern
methods of well-bore stress analysis and sand production
prediction from log interpretation has delivered this result.
A well-bore stress study reviewed all available data from the
Brighton Field, including old drilling reports and logs. The
study has been updated with modern data from the 2002
drilling programme. A well-bore stress model was developed.
A sand prediction study delivered an understanding of the
mechanics of sand production in the area which was fed into
the well-planning process. Well data and logging data were
analysed with very short turnaround times to deliver a sand
production prediction log. Perforated intervals were selected
using the log to avoid intervals with a high probability of sand
production. Perforating techniques were also selected to
minimise the likelihood of sand production without
compromising productivity.
Introduction and Background
In 2001/2002 Venture Production Trinidad Limited drilled a
series of 10 wells within the offshore Brighton Marine and Pt.
Ligoure Blocks in the Gulf of Paria. The acreage is located
within the southeastern part of the Gulf of Paria. See Map
Figure 1.
Brighton Marine
VPTL took over operatorship of Brighton Marine in 1999.
The field was producing around 250 bopd from some 146
wells and 9 offshore platforms of 1950’s-1960’s vintage. Data
on these wells was limited to basic logs and drilling
summaries. VPTL increased production to a peak of 1800
bopd in 2001 through a mixture of well intervention and new
well drilling. Primary production was through depletion of
reservoirs via solution gas drive. As depletion occurred, a field
wide comprehensive gas lift infrastructure was installed.
Water production is not significant making <10% of total fluid
production. Through the well intervention work, it was quickly
established that many of the existing wells were not producing
because perforations had sanded off. Clean-outs using coiled
tubing have been partially successful in restoring productivity
but this is typically short lived. It should be noted that there
were multiple perforated intervals. The source of the sand
production could therefore have been from any or all of the
intervals open. Sand control through conventional gravel
packing and/or screens would not be economic since separate
sand control would be required for each interval. This is
probably the reason that previous operators had not attempted
it on Brighton Marine.
New wells on Brighton Marine have to be drilled using a
Jack-up rig. The drilling environment is extremely challenging
with severe over-pressure throughout the Field at shallow
depths. Typically, 15 ppg mud weight is required to drill out
of surface casing set at 1500’. This is combined with depletion
of the stringer and blanket sands through long-term production
from a virgin pressure of 2100 psi to levels now typically
around 500 psi.
These challenges mean that well costs are relatively high,
requiring several casing strings. New wells are therefore
marginal at the production rates that can be delivered.
Installation of conventional sand control using rig time would
make the wells uneconomic.
Understanding the source of the sand production and then
dealing with it in an economic way was clearly an important
challenge, and needed to be solved in order to allow further
development drilling on the Field.
Point Ligoure
Point Ligoure lies 5 miles to the South of Brighton Marine.
A number of wells were drilled in the 1960’s on this field and
established the presence of hydrocarbons at several different
stratigraphic levels. A total of 34 wells produced oil at one
time or another on the block. An attempt was made in the
2 SPE 81034
1970’s to develop at least one these with a platform and 3
wells. The platform was abandoned after only 67000 bbls of
cumulative production. In many cases the wells seemed to
have failed because of catastrophic failure of the sand face and
sanding off of the productive interval. Although sand control
through gravel packs had been installed on two wells, these
wells had also failed for indeterminate reasons, but possibly
through poor gravel pack design. One well in the southern part
of the block, ALS-14, has been producing sand free in natural
flow for 15 years at rates in excess of 200 bopd. The well has
recently been put on artificial lift.
Once again sand production appeared to be a key risk to
the successful exploitation of the block. However, VPTL’s
ability to properly plan for sand control was limited by lack of
access to relevant data including cores and lack of ability to
accurately predict reservoir section.
VPTL was committed to a substantial work programme to
appraise and understand the block. Six wells were planned and
acquiring good production test data was an imperative. There
was a significant risk that the production tests would be
compromised by inappropriate or poorly designed sand control
installation. Data acquisition and careful sand control design
was an imperative.
In summary, the offset well data pointed strongly to a
requirement for sand control at initial completion, but the
requirements for production testing pointed to making every
possible attempt to avoid it, at least during the production
testing phase.
The Process Used
This paper describes the process used by VPTL to manage
around the potential sand control problem in both Brighton
and Point Ligoure. Refer to Figure 2.
Geo-mechanics Study
The Brighton Marine and Pt. Ligoure fields’ stress states were
described by combining geomechanical, geoscientific and
drilling data. The database consisted of drilling summaries and
a small amount of available core material from the 1960’s.
The only 4-arm caliper data available was that acquired by
VPTL during drilling in 2001-2002 and this was incorporated
into the overall understanding. This study was initiated to
better understand drilling hazards and constraints. A
significant historical difference in drilling performance
depending on well azimuth was noted with wells drilled
towards 140° or 320° taking on average a longer time to drill
than those 50° or 230°.
275 wells were drilled some 40 years ago in the Brighton field.
No leak-off test data were available and so a first estimate of
the principal stress magnitudes was made by combining
regional seismic focal plane solutions, geological data and
examples of lost circulation in the early wells. Stress azimuth
was estimated by orientating old core and measuring the time-
dependent strains following a series of diamond saw cuts.
Based on this first estimate, the wellbore stress concentrations
were estimated for the wide range of deviations and well
azimuths of 275 wells drilled some 40 years previously.
Predictions of wellbore instability in the thick Nariva shales
overlying the reservoir were prepared based on the computed
stress concentrations.
Instability was assumed to be a primary influence on drilling
times. The initial estimate of stress state could then be refined
by comparing the historical drilling times and predictions of
wellbore instability in the Nariva Shales. Finally, new data
were collected from well ABM 148, including 4-arm caliper
logs and a leak-off test. Despite the approximately 50º
deviation, the data from this well allowed further refinement
of the stress description.
The Brighton Marine stress conditions correspond to strike-
slip faulting with a strong overpressure in the Nariva Shales.
The derivation of the (pre-production) stress state is described
in detail in Harper and Chambers (in press). The stress state is
summarised in Table 1.
The Pt. Ligoure field includes a major, active strike-slip fault
with some 7 miles strike-slip displacement and 5500 ft vertical
displacement. Pore pressure in the field varies far more than
the pore pressure in the overpressured Nariva shales of the
Brighton Field. A variation occurs both from one geological
formation to another and geographically within the field. The
pore pressure range is approximately 0.45 – 0.85 psi/ft. Leak-
off tests conducted by Venture have revealed that the
magnitude of the least principal stress (horizontal) varies to
some extent but not to the extent of the pore pressure
variation. Therefore, the principal effective stresses, which
control sand failure, vary considerably throughout the field
and can be much higher than the effective stresses acting in
the Nariva shales. Apart from this variation, the stress state in
the Pt. Ligoure field is broadly similar to that deduced for the
Brighton Marine field.
Sand Production Prediction Study
A review of the reservoir, well and operating conditions was
undertaken to in order to determine the causes of sanding.
Using data and information from the Geomechanical study
described above, it was identified that the causes of sanding
were directly related to the following:
• High in-situ stress anisotropy as the fields are located
in an area where a strike-slip stress regime is present.
• Reservoir rock that has low to moderate strength but
is not unconsolidated.
This review was carried out for Brighton and Point Ligoure
fields using a Sand Production Management System to
determine the critical operating conditions in these fields. A
number of faults are present in the area and the fields are just
south-east of the Caribbean plate making its effect be felt on
the stress field. The offshore extension of the present day
active Central Range Fault System lies immediately north of
the Brighton Marine Block and the also active Los Bajos fault
crosses through the Point Ligoure Block. The following graph
illustrates the effect of the Los Bajos fault on the minimum
horizontal stress in the Point Ligoure field.
SPE 81034 3

and its main components that allow determination of the

0 critical operating conditions.
Once the initial study was carried out VPTL decided to use
1000
the drilling and work-over activity planned to enhance the
Min Horz Stress = Depth / 1.3316 acquisition of data required to upgrade and validate the model.
2000
Dipole sonic logs and 4 arm callipers were run in a number of
wells in the area allowing better rock strength estimations to
DEPTH [ft]

3000
be made. The initial studies gave VPTL confidence to
4000 Los Bajos approach the potential sand production problem using a
management approach as opposed to the traditional control
5000 strategy used in the area. There were a number of benefits that
could be realised from implementing a sand management
Min Horz Stress= (Depth - 2203.3) / 0.9713
6000 system for these fields, these were:
Significant reduction in the CAPEX since no sand
7000
control equipment was required.
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500
Improved productivity as PI was not to be
MIMIMUM HORIZONTAL STRESS [psi] affected by the sand control method and as the
wells produced, sand existing skins would
Determination of the in-situ field stresses was carried out decrease.
using drilling data from across the field, while a strength Rock strength contrast was sufficient to allow a
model was based on sensitivities to log parameters where selective perforation strategy to be implemented
available. The results were later re-calibrated when additional successfully.
log data became available with the drilling of new wells. The In most wells, crude viscosity and flow rates
in-situ stress regime present in the area was found to be a would allow the produced sand to be transported
strike-fault regime indicating that to surface.

σH > σv > σh Well Specific SPP Log Generation

The model’s output was presented in a log format and is
Estimated stress magnitudes vary between both fields but not known as the Sand Production Prediction logs – SPP. The log
significantly, Table 1 illustrates the gradient of the main is presented in three (3) tracks, the first track on the left
principal stresses for both areas. presents the Gamma ray – GR and resistivity measurements
used for depth correlation and identification of porous layers.
The right hand track presents the log-derived strength based
Location σH σv σh Remarks on the DSI, density and GR logs. The centre track presents the
critical draw-down pressures that are considered safe for the
1.1 psi/ft 1.0 0.8 psi/ft Brighton field
Above the fault
psi/ft well to produce sand free. It should be noted that this draw-
down pressure is presented in a format that allows the effects
1.44 1.0 0.76 Point Ligoure of depletion to be taken into account. VPTL engineers were
Above the fault
psi/ft psi/ft psi/ft field
able to review the depletion effects and take them into
1.14 1.0 0.6 psi/ft Point Ligoure consideration prior to making the decision of completing a
Below the fault
psi/ft psi/ft field particular interval. Figure 4 illustrates a typical SPP log output
for VPTL well ALM-22 in the Point Ligoure field.
Table 1 In Situ Field Stresses For the new wells, the logs were electronically transmitted
from Trinidad to the Aberdeen offices for processing and
Determination of the critical draw-down for these wells was within a 48 hours period an SPP was generated indicating
initially carried out using production data from well ALS-14 critical pressure draw-down and rock strength across the
in Point Ligoure that has been producing naturally for a reservoir. This allowed the reservoir engineers on site to select
number of years without sanding. Production history was the intervals to be perforated as well as the equipment to be
matched using NODAL analysis techniques and indicated that used. This process significantly reduced rig time.
the Forest sandstone in this area of the field was being
produced with a pressure draw-down of +/- 720 psi without Perforated Interval Selection
failure. As a result, preliminary estimations of rock strength A sand management strategy means that every effort has to be
indicated a rock with an average strength of +/- 1400 psi. made to minimise the conditions that will lead to massive and
Sand production prediction was carried out using a continuous sanding. However, it also assumes that sand will
computational Pseudo 3D poro-elastic model that utilised the be produced in quantities that can be managed effectively by
maximum deviatoric stress and a failure criteria to determine first ensuring that it is transported to surface without any risk
the maximum critical draw-down pressures. The model allows of erosion or production impairment and secondly that it can
sensitivity analysis to reservoir pressure, well deviation and be disposed effectively. VPTL decided to implement a
orientation to be carried out. Figure 3 illustrates the process selective perforation option as part of the sand management
strategy. Oriented perforating was also considered because of
4 SPE 81034
the significant stress anisotropy present in the rocks and in
theory should help reduce propensity to produce sand.
However, available technology did not have the ability to
orient the perforating guns in the non-horizontal well-bores
and so orientated perforating was not persued.
Reservoir interval to be perforated was selected based on
two main considerations:
Rock strength
Critical draw-down pressure
Other factors such as water production and depletion were
also considered in the selection process. Stress distribution
around the well-bore was determined to determine the
magnitude of the stress anisotropy present and how it could
affect perforation cavity stability.
Deep penetrating charges using TCP were considered to be
the optimum for these conditions; proposed orientation went
along with the identification of the in-situ field stresses acting
in the area. Table 2 presents the general recommendations for
selective perforating in the Brighton field.
Type Charge Density Phasing
Underbalance
TCP >22g 4-8 spf 90 deg
<200 psi
above critical
pressure
Table 2 General Perforating Recommendations for
Brighton
In practice both TCP and through tubing guns were used
for perforating the various wells.
Brighton Results
To date VPTL have completed 3 Brighton wells in the prolific
Blanket sand; ABM 148, ABM 150 and ABM 151.
ABM 148
ABM 148 was targeted at a deeper play and so had 9-5/8”
casing set through the Blanket sand. The section below was
abandoned following mechanical difficulties. The full suite of
logs required for the SPP log were run over the blanket and
stringer sands on this well. The SPP log and perforated
interval are shown in Figure 5. The well was completed using
6” tubing conveyed perforating (TCP) guns with 90 degree
phasing and deep penetrating charges at 12 shots per foot.
The well has been on production with gas lift since
December 2001. Bottom hole pressure surveys have confirmed
that the flowing bottom hole pressure is only 200 psi.
The SPP log predicts that the blanket sand interval
perforated will not produce sand even when depleted and
drawn down. This is consistent with the results of the initial 12
months of production from this interval.
Note that the SPP log predicts that critical draw-down for
the stringer sands in this well is above the present draw-down
if stringer sands were to be added. They have not therefore
been added.
ABM 150
ABM 150 was targeted as a blanket producer based upon
the success of ABM 148. The well was again completed with
9-5/8” casing across the Blanket Sand and was again
perforated using 6” TCP guns at 12 shots per foot and 60 deg
phasing, in the same reservoir compartment as ABM 148. This
well was only logged using MWD and therefore shear sonic
was not acquired. However, an SPP log was still generated and
used to confirm perforated interval. This well has been on
production since September 2002 at around 250 bopd and has
yet to produce sand.
ABM 151
This well was drilled in a different part of the field and is a
free-standing well connected to the production facilities by
3000’ of flow-line. It is even more important to avoid sand
production on free-standing wells since flow-line blockage can
easily occur. This part of the field is close to virgin reservoir
pressure.
Again wireline logs were not run, in order to save cost and
rig time. This time the Blanket sand was completed in 7” liner.
The completion was run using the rig but the well was not
perforated using TCP. This was to save rig time. Instead the
Blanket sand was perforated using low debris through tubing
perforating guns using a lift boat after the rig had moved off.
An SPP log was generated for a nearby exploration well
drilled earlier in the programme. This well, G-10 had similar
formations at similar depths plus the full suite of wireline logs
was run including DSI. This SPP log is shown in Figure 6.
It can be seen that in this case the Blanket Sand is again
robust. However, in contrast to ABM 148, the overlying
stringers should also be able to produce sand free at significant
depletion and draw-down pressures.
Based on the SPP log the stringers above the blanket sand
will be added in the near future. This is expected to result in an
increase in production of 250 BOPD.
This well has been on production since October 2002.
To date only traces of sand have been produced by this
well. This has been confirmed by analysis of wellhead
samples.
Overall Result for Brighton
Three Blanket Sand producers are on production at very
high draw-down but with no sand production consistent with
the prediction of the SPP log.
Production from stringer sands may produce sand in some
cases but the SPP log can be used to manage this in order to
perforate selected thin sands.
Point Ligoure Results
Four of the wells drilled by VPTL in the Point Ligoure Block
have been tested to a floating production barge. These wells
were ALM 20ST, ALM 22, ALM 25, ALM26.
ALM 20ST
The SPP generated for this well together with the perforated
interval is shown as Figure 7. The well was completed in the
Forest Sandstone from 4671 - 4755 feet. A full suite of logs
including the DSI(sonic) were run on this well.
The well was completed and perforated with 4-5/8” TCP
guns at 4 SPF and 90 degree phasing. A short clean-up flow
was conducted with the rig. The well produced a total of 1121
bbls of oil before cutting to water. It was then shut-in. No sand
SPE 81034 5

was produced. The maximum draw-down on this formation
was maintained well below the critical draw-down pressure by
careful manipulation of the test choke.
ALM 22
This well was initially completed and tested at 5900 feet in
the Cruse Formation. The interval depleted on test. No sand
was produced despite a final draw-down of 1200 psi.
A short DST was conducted on a shallow interval behind
13-3/8” and 9-5/8” casing between 3473 and 3522’. Intervals
of low rock strength as indicated by the SPP log were avoided
within this gross interval. This interval flowed 16° API oil and
during the DST only a trace of sand was observed. The well
was subsequently killed with brine and completed and re-
perforated. The SPP log for this shallow interval is shown in
Figure 8. The log demonstrates a good example of selective
perforating in order to avoid a high risk interval.
The well was then connected to the production barge but
would not flow. An attempt was made to lift the well in using
Nitrogen. This resulted in a very large draw-down in excess of
1300 psi being excerpted on this low strength formation. The
SPP log predicts a sand face failure that seems to have
occurred. The well appeared to sand up rapidly which was
confirmed by tagging with a sand bailer.
ALM 23
This well was completed and tested in a Forest Sandstone
interval 4310’-4360’. Referring to Figure 9, this interval
includes rock with a predicted critical draw-down pressure of
less than 500 psi. In this case it was decided to perforate the
entire clean sandstone interval since the pay was limited and
attempt to control the draw-down by careful choke
manipulation. This well was tested for 25 days to the
production barge that depleted the test interval. The final
bottom hole flowing pressure at the perforated interval at the
end of the test is estimated to be 850 psi. The depletion of the
interval was of the order of 1400 psi. The model predicts sand
failure under these conditions, however this does not appear to
have occurred. The model would therefore appear to be
conservative on this occasion since no sand was detected
during the test.
ALM 26
Initial completion was perforated with TCP guns from
6120-6220’ in a Cruse reservoir. The SPP log for this interval
is shown in Figure 10. Critical draw-down pressure is in
excess of 750 psi over almost all of the interval with one or
two spikes weaker intervals still above 500 psi. Again, this
depleted on test without producing sand. Further intervals
were perforated using through tubing guns. The zones also
depleted rapidly on test but again, no sand was produced.
Maximum draw-down estimated at the end of the test is
around 800 psi.
across the perforated interval in weeks rather than years. It
was possible to validate the prediction that sand would not be
produced, even at large draw-downs in a very short space of
time.
The method explained why sand was produced on ALM-22.
It is unclear why sand was not produced under the extreme
conditions of depletion on wells ALM-23 and ALM-26
however, rock strength data is log derived and actual strength
might be higher than what it was originally estimated,
explaining these events. A strengthening effect in the near
wellbore area as a result of the high stress anisotrophy may
also have contributed.
Well ALM 20ST rapidily water out which allowed validation
of the impact of water production on the prediction. No sand
was observed under 100 % water production.
Acknowledgements
Tim Harper, Geosphere UK conducted the Geomechanical
studies used as input into the Sand Production Prediction
Model.
Ronald Daharu SPE, Venture Production Trinidad, Reservoir
Engineering support and review of paper.
References
Harper, T.R., Chambers, J.L.C., in press. Stress state and its
influence on drilling and secondary migration in the Brighton
field, Trinidad submitted to the Geol. Soc. Lond., Spec. Pub.
Oil and gas in compressional belts.
Abbreviations
bbls = barrels
bopd = barrels of oil per day
g = grams
ppg = pounds per gallon
psi = pounds per square inch
psi/ft = pounds per square inch per foot
spf = shots per foot
SPP = sand production prediction
TCP = tubing conveyed perforating
VPTL = Venture Production Trinidad Limited

Conclusions
The results obtained from the VPTL 2001/2002 drilling
programme validate the sand production prediction process
used to minimise the chances of sand production on the wells.
The accumulations were depleted rapidly and therefore it was
possible to see the effect of depletion and large draw-down
6 SPE 81034

Figure 1 Map of Brighton and Point Ligoure Fields Figure 4 Typical SPP Log
Gulf of Paria, Trinidad

Geomechanics
Geomechanics-
Well-bore
well-bore Stress
stress study
Study 148
Weak stringer
Sand prediction sand
study

Gather data
during drilling

Well specific
sand prediction log

Perforated interval
Select perforated interval 3008-3098’
using SPP log

Take care not to exceed

critical drawdown initially

Figure 2 Sand Management Process Figure 5 SPP Log ABM 148

Drilling & Reservoir G 10 Stringer sands

Data Review
unlikely to produce
sand
PRODUCTION
In-situ Field
HISTORY Stresses
MODEL OUTPUT
Critical Pressures
Mechanical Integrity
Time to Sanding
Wellbore Optimum Interval
POINT LIGOURE
Strength Model Selection
GEOMECHANICAL
Perforation Strategy
MODEL

Logging Rock Mechanical Properties Core Testing

Data Determination Program

Data In Computations Data Out

Figure 3 Computational Model Figure 6 SPP Log G10

SPE 81034 7

Perforated interval
ALM 26
Perforated interval Estimated Draw-down 6120-6220’
4670-4754’

ALM 20ST

Figure 7 SPP Log ALM 20ST Figure 10 SPP Log ALM 26

Perforated intervals
3473-3482, 3501-3522’ ALM 22

Figure 8 SPP Log ALM 22

ALM 23
Perforated interval
4310-4360’

Figure 9 SPP Log ALM 23