E.R. Davis

Guidelines for Solving Sand Problems in Water Injection Wells

Since formation failure and sand production problems in water injection wells are less common, than in producing wells, no general guidelines on how to complete water injection wells has appeared in the literature. However, formation failure related sand problems in water injection wells are serious enough that they should be taken into account during the selection of a completion method. This paper provides information on field-observed sand related problems encountered in water injection wells, and discusses the mechanisms leading to sand problems. It reviews the injectivity efficiency of several completion options, and provides guidelines for selecting completion methods for water injection wells drilled through formations prone to sand production. The paper emphasizes that even though sand problems in injection wells are less severe than in producing wells, careful selection and design of completion methods for injection wells can significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of future injectivity problems.

Fracturing, frac-packing and formation failure control: can screenless completions prevent sand production?

Some successful results have been reported for screenless frac-packing methods, however, no scientific guidelines are given on the conditions under which a screen can be eliminated from a well. This paper collects field data from sand producing wells and reviews the onset and the rate of sand production for those wells with and without hydraulic fractures. From these field observations and numerical modelling analysis, guidelines are established for when a screen must be run and when a screen can be eliminated.