Abstract Technological innovations in remedial sand control and development of brand-new improved completion and downhole filter mechanisms have challenged the conventional choice of gravel packing. Both premium mesh screens and gravel pack completion choices have an established performance track record globally, yet gravel packing is viewed as the superior option to control both the production of sand and provide better plugging resistance in reservoirs which consist of very fine, poorly sorted sands of silts and clays. The advancement of a conformable Open Cell Matrix Polymer (OCMP) has recently provided an alternative remedial solution to some oil and gas producing wells which have issues controlling a high percentage of finer grains. Laboratory testing using OCMP comprised of uniquely sized layers of PPI (pores per inch) material was performed using a reservoir sand with particle size characteristics commonly assigned to a gravel packing completion recommendation. Sand retention testing using reservoir sand and a small compressed OCMP section to replicate the configuration of the full-scale tool was carried out to assess performance. The results of the retention testing concluded that the outer convergence layer of OCMP which is an arrangement of coarse pore sizes generated an internal pack of sand. Comparable to that of a standard gravel pack, each individual pore space was occupied with fine grains of sand, together forming stable bridges to aid sand retention performance. Laboratory testing demonstrated a decrease in sand production, pressure profiles attributable to the sand characteristics and no evidence of plugging. This innovative piece of technology is entirely unique to all other products on the market and represents a significant step-change improvement in remedial sand control resolutions. With potential to substantially enhance the economics of restoring hydrocarbon production in failed sand control wells, the open cell matrix polymer has the means to challenge traditional completion choices.
Wigg et al. (Tue,) studied this question.