Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Alberta
$192,500.00
Investigation of sand production and hydraulic fracturing in petroleum sandstone reservoirs
EF 2011-12
Résumé
This proposal relates to petroleum wellbore phenomena including rock degradation, sand production, and hydraulic fracturing. The proposed research takes a comprehensive approach in understanding and quantifying these phenomena in conventional and heavy oil reservoirs by fundamental and applied research through physical and mathematical modeling. Sand production in the petroleum industry is defined as the production of solid particles together with reservoir fluids. Estimates indicate 70% of the world oil reserves are in reservoir sandstones that are prone to producing sand at some time during their production life. Sand influx into the wellbore can increase the well productivity/injectivity. It also has negative aspects and, if massive, can lead to wellbore collapse. Therefore, reliable prediction of sanding, which is a focus of this proposal, is vital to optimizing wellbore operational conditions and increasing field profitability. Development of reliable sanding models is only possible if various influential phenomena are understood and captured through improved theories and techniques. This aspect is another focus of the proposed research and includes the formulation and implementation of a constitutive law that can capture the rock degradation process. The model will be enriched to avoid the effects of artificial conditions on the numerical results.
The proposed research also includes the development of a numerical model for reliable prediction of hydraulic fracture propagation in weak sandstone reservoirs. Sand production and hydraulic fracturing are two linked phenomena in injection wells. Ultimately, hydraulic fracture and sand production models will be integrated for injection well studies.
The developed prediction tools are to be validated against physical test results that are part of the research agenda. The validated tools will be used in the analysis of field-scale problems to develop calibrations necessary for scaling up laboratory sanding results to field conditions.
Programme
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Alberta, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
387606-2009
Name nom
Nouri, Alireza
Department département
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2011
Competition year année de concours
2009
Award amount
192500
Program id
CRDPJ
Program nane en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
1002
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Geotechnical engineering (including engineering geology)
Research subject fr
Géotechnique (y compris génie géologique)
Partie
2
Nb partie
4
Application title
Investigation of sand production and hydraulic fracturing in petroleum sandstone reservoirs
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
This proposal relates to petroleum wellbore phenomena including rock degradation, sand production, and hydraulic fracturing. The proposed research takes a comprehensive approach in understanding and quantifying these phenomena in conventional and heavy oil reservoirs by fundamental and applied research through physical and mathematical modeling. Sand production in the petroleum industry is defined as the production of solid particles together with reservoir fluids. Estimates indicate 70% of the world oil reserves are in reservoir sandstones that are prone to producing sand at some time during their production life. Sand influx into the wellbore can increase the well productivity/injectivity. It also has negative aspects and, if massive, can lead to wellbore collapse. Therefore, reliable prediction of sanding, which is a focus of this proposal, is vital to optimizing wellbore operational conditions and increasing field profitability. Development of reliable sanding models is only possible if various influential phenomena are understood and captured through improved theories and techniques. This aspect is another focus of the proposed research and includes the formulation and implementation of a constitutive law that can capture the rock degradation process. The model will be enriched to avoid the effects of artificial conditions on the numerical results.
The proposed research also includes the development of a numerical model for reliable prediction of hydraulic fracture propagation in weak sandstone reservoirs. Sand production and hydraulic fracturing are two linked phenomena in injection wells. Ultimately, hydraulic fracture and sand production models will be integrated for injection well studies.
The developed prediction tools are to be validated against physical test results that are part of the research agenda. The validated tools will be used in the analysis of field-scale problems to develop calibrations necessary for scaling up laboratory sanding results to field conditions.
