Sand Prediction Services

Accurate Sand Prediction

In sand-prone reservoirs, making an accurate prediction of sand production prior to drilling is critical to many aspects of well and facility design. All have a significant affect on well and field economics.

Production, reservoir, geomechanical and drilling engineers depend on sanding predictions for a wide range of key applications, including:

• Production rate design
• Perforation orientation
• Selection of surface equipment
• Sand screen installation

Sand prediction services from Knowledge Systems produce accurate, practical sanding information to support these applications. Using industry-leading technology and methodologies, our experts provide you with answers to determine:

• Maximum sand-free reservoir drawdown
• The best perforation strategy for maximum drawdown/minimum sanding
• Reservoir compaction and subsidence for a given production strategy
• The effect of production strategy on casing design
• The need for specialized sanding equipment and strategies during production

Geomechanical Expertise and Powerful Software

Sanding prediction is high-risk work with high rewards.

Failure to develop accurate sand production models costs the oil and gas industry hundreds of millions of dollars per year. These costs take many forms, including:

• Installation of surface equipment to separate sand from oil
• Adoption of expensive frac pack, gravel pack or sand screen completions
• Casing collapse and well abandonment from sanding cavities
• Reduced oil and gas production rates

Successful sand production modeling significantly reduces these costs.

Our modeling process includes:

• Geopressure and geomechanics analyses to determine reservoir pressure, in-situ stress, and rock strength
• Finite element methods (FEM) for optimizing borehole perforation orientation to reduce sanding risk and increase drawdown.
• Elastic and poromechanical modeling to develop critical bottom flowing pressure and reservoir drawdown, and predict sand production.
• Geostress geomechanical modeling to predict sanding-induced reservoir compaction and surface subsidence, and their affect on wells, casing and surface facilities.

Geopressure and Geomechanical Expertise

We’ve been the leading provider of advanced geopressure and geomechanical solutions in the industry for almost 20 years. By focusing exclusively on these services, we provide a uniquely independent source for understanding the wellbore environment.

Sand Prediction