Properties of the Two Classes of Produced Solids in Oil & Gas Production (B-FSM008)
Produced Sand Sample with Seeds, Newspaper, and Chicken Feathers
There are two classes of produced solids associated with oil & gas production: Natural Solids and Artificial Solids.
Natural Solids Production
- Reservoir material flowing to surface
- Primary Mode: Completion in place and functional, low concentration of solids at steady-state production
- Failure Mode: Completion failure or production step change (e.g. water breakthrough) which leads to long-term production of transient rate high-concentration solids
- Natural solids production is an unplanned event
Properties of Natural Solids
Density: ~2650 kg/m³
Shape: High angularity
Particle Size:
- 100-150 micron median size
- Up to 5000 µm top size
- Generally low amount of fines
- Looks/feels like beach sand
- May form friable agglomerates
Concentration: 100 ppmw at primary mode and up to 1 weight % at failure mode
Color: white, brown, or gray
Mineralogy: mostly silica quartz
Artificial Solids Production
- Solids introduced from external intervention (e.g. something put downhole that comes back up)
- Includes fracture sand, proppant, corrosion products, gravel pack particles, drill mud, cement fines, injection fines, etc.
- Primary Mode: Short-term production of high-concentration solids at transient rate
- Artificial solids production is a planned event
Properties of Artificial Solids
Density: 2800-3500 kg/m³
Shape: Less angularity, rounder
Particle Size:
- >1000 micron median size
- Up to 5000 micron top size
- Negligible fines
Concentration: up to 5 weight % for short-periods
Color: varies widely
No consistent “mineralogy”
Often full of contaminants
All oil & gas wells produce solids. To handle these solids, it is critical to follow the 1st Rule of Sand Management: “Know what comes out of your well.” The information above is a guideline for initial characterization of these solids. Further details on full physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization of produced solids will be published in future articles.
Bibliography:
- Rawlins, C.H., Hewett, T.J. “A Comparison of Methodologies for Handling Produced Sand and Solids to Achieve Sustainable Hydrocarbon Production.” paper SPE-107690, European Formation Damage Conference, Scheveningen, The Netherlands, 30 May – 1 June 2007.
