Sand production in an oil or gas well can cause operational difficulties, but it contributes to production enhancement by improving the well inflow performance. To assess the relative magnitude of those effects and to optimize the well completion and operation, a quantitative forecast of the expected amount and rate of sand production must be made. This forecast requires a correct description of all the mechanisms involved in sand production, sand transport in particular. The proposed numerical method considers that the geomechanical problem (rock failure) interplays with the transport of sand. Equilibrium equations that control rock failure (solid mechanics) and sand transport (fluid mechanics) are solved simultaneously by an iterative coupled scheme at the wellbore scale.
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