Sand Management in Bongkot Field, Gulf of Thailand: An Integrated Approach

摘要

Sand production in the Bongkot Field, Gulf of Thailand, hasrnled to significant incremental costs and has increased the riskrnof potential key flowline and control equipment failures. Therngeological complexity of the field and the many layers thatrnmay be perforated in any given well, makes directrnidentification of sand producing zones problematic.rnA multi-disciplinary sand production task force wasrnestablished to identify the current sand productionrnmechanisms; to evaluate various technical options forrnimplementing sand control; and to recommend appropriaterncompletion and intervention strategies. An integrated core,rnlog and reservoir data acquisition programme allowed therndevelopment of a continuous, log-derived and core-calibratedrnrock strength prediction model, which was coupled to twornindependent sand prediction models. The models were used torndelineate high risk sanding zones and indicated that sandrnproduction in Bongkot results from rock failure brought aboutrnby rapid and progressive reservoir depletion. The predictivernmodels represent key tools in the development of effectivernsand management and control strategies for the reservoir liferncycle.rnConventional downhole sand control methods are largelyrninapplicable to Bongkot since they are constrained by thernexisting well completion types, sand layer heterogeneity, andrnpractical installation problems in both existing and new wells.rnCost effective containment of sand production in Bongkot willrnrest on the application of “best practice” reservoirrnmanagement policies and the application of emerging sandrncontrol technology where conditions allow. Modellingrnindividual well and field network performance will form anrnimportant platform for designing and evaluating sandrnmanagement strategies.