Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing sand control using fracturing is described. A curve is defined that correlates the percentage of flow through out-of-phase perforations (those perforations not aligned with fractures) with the fracture conductivity over formation permeability. Given a desired production flow, formation conductivity may be defined. This allows the well operator to perform the proper fracturing operation to achieve the desired fracture conductivity. Alternatively, after a well has been fractured, and sand production is observed, a critical flow rate and the corresponding drawdown pressure can be calculated to prevent sand production.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 5, 2000
Date of Patent:
August 13, 2002
Assignee:
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Inventors:
Frederic Guinot, Jun Zhao, Simon G. James