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A Well Completion Technique for Controlling Unconsolidated Sand Formations by Using Steam

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This paper will discuss a competitively-priced and superior well completion technique for controlling unconsolidated sand formations by injecting high temperature and pressure steam to geochemically bond the sand grains in the perforation tunnels. Wells applying this method are cased and cemented through the desired producing interval and completed with only a few small diameter perforations. This well completion technique has been applied in 12 horizontal wells and 22 vertical wells with over 90% of the wells capable of production or injection after two years. The use of the hot alkaline / steam sand consolidation technique to complete wells is based on the geochemical bonding of unconsolidated formation sand grains with a lattice of primarily high temperature complex synthetic silicate cements and possibly other lower temperature precipitates such as silica cements and carbonate scales. The complex silicate cements and other mineral precipitates are created by the high temperature and high alkaline pH steam condensate which preferentially dissolves sand grains with high specific surface area. The injected fluids rapidly lose heat to the formation and various cements precipitate with changes in temperature, alkalinity, and contact time. The lattice of cement bonds are created by the relatively high volume and high velocity steam vapor phase which dissipates through the near-wellbore region quickly and carries away excess cements and other precipitates where they do not adversely affect formation porosity and permeability. The wells completed with this technique have equivalent or higher productivity and injectivity than wells completed with opened-hole, gravel-packed slotted-liner completions. In addition, this technology can significantly lower drilling and completion costs, improves fluid entry or injection profile control, provides a low cost means to eliminate unwanted completion intervals, and provides flexibility to use the wells interchangeably as producers or injectors.

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Last Updated September 29, 2016, 14:27 (LMT)
Created September 29, 2016, 14:27 (LMT)
Citation Philip Scott Hara, Julius J. Mondragon III, David K. Davies, ---- Roy Long, A Well Completion Technique for Controlling Unconsolidated Sand Formations by Using Steam, 2016-09-29, https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/a-well-completion-technique-for-controlling-unconsolidated-sand-formations-by-using-steam
Netl Product yes
Poc Email Roy.long@netl.doe.gov
Point Of Contact Roy Long
Program Or Project KMD
Publication Date 1999-6-30