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• Introduction
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Introduction
Production systems: sand problems
Sand problems
•Unconsolidated reservoir
•Long production fields
•Artificial lift inappropriate operation
Water-oil-gas-sand
Introduction
Production systems: sand problems
Water-oil-gas-sand
Introduction
Production systems: sand problems
Gas
Gas
Treatment
liquid-gas-sand
flow
Liquid-liquid Oil to
Crude storage or
treatment upgrading
C1 C2
Desanding
C1>>C2
Sand
Accumulation
Slurry
Sand Liquids
Cleaning
Wet sand
Sand
drying
Sand
Sand
Final disposal
transportation
C: is sand concentration
Sand handling surface systems
Liquid-gas-sand flow Liquid-gas-sand flow
C1 C2
Desanding
C1>>C2
Sand
Accumulation
Slurry
Sand Liquids
Cleaning
Wet sand
Sand
drying
Sand
Sand
Final disposal
transportation
C: is sand concentration
Selection Methodology
Information for selecting the desander
Fluid properties:
API Gravity Viscosity (cP) GOR (scf/bbl)
16 750 200 - 1200
Sand properties:
Sand consists of quartz and clay represent approximately 80 % (wt).
Particle diameters ranged from 8 to 679 µm
Percentiles of this sample are given in µm and these values are:
• D10 = 356.5, D40 = 174.6, D50 = 133, D70 = 67.5, D90 = 29.
Sand density is about 2,600 kg/m3.
Sand concentration is 0.0018 % (vol/vol)
Considerations:
In order to remove at least 90 % of sand, it is necessary to separate
particles diameter of 29 µm or larger.
Selection Methodology
Pre-selected Technologies
Selection Methodology
4. Finally, sensibility with liquid density, liquid viscosity and particle diameter.
Settling tanks/vessels:
viscosity and density influence
100000 1020
Dp=679 µm
Dp=510 µm
Dp=340 µm
10000 1000
Dp=148 µm
Dp=74 µm
Dp=29 µm
1000 Dp=8 µm 980
Viscosity 750 cP
Density (kg/m3)
100 960
Density (kg/m3)
tr (hr)
10 940
1 920
0.1 900
0.01 880
0.001 860
1 10 100 1000 10000 100000
Viscosity (cP)
Density (kg/m3)
tr (hr)
10 940
1 920
0.1 900
0.01 880
0.001 860
1 10 100 1000 10000 100000
Viscosity (cP)
3. Eleven criteria are selected, these were evaluated from 1 to 11, where 11
correspond to the most important criterion and 1 the less important.
5. The final solution is obtained when the value given of each criterion is
multiplied for the value of performance given to each technology,
Matrix Selection
Qualification of technological solutions
Qualification Settling Centrifugal Screen
Criteria of criteria Tanks/vessels devices filters
(Cj) (S1j) (S2j) (S3j)
Handle Viscous liquid (C1) 11 3 1 3
Separation efficient (C2) 10 2 1 2
Residence time (C3) 9 1 2 3
DP<29 µm (C4) 8 2 1 3
CS<0.5 % (C5) 7 3 3 3
Mobile parts (C6) 6 3 3 3
Energy require (C7) 5 3 3 3
Pressure drop (C8) 4 1 2 1
Flow rate (C9) 3 2 2 3
Operational cost (C10) 2 2 2 1
Operational flexibility (C11) 1 2 2 2
Matrix Selection
Algebraic solution
Settling Centrifugal Screen
Tech
Tanks/vessels devices filters
Criteria
(PS1) (PS2) (PS3)
Handle Viscous liquid (C1) 33 11 33
Separation efficient (C2) 20 10 20
Residence time (C3) 9 18 27
DP<29 µm (C4) 16 8 24
CS<0.5 % (C5) 21 21 21
Mobile parts (C6) 18 18 18
Energy require (C7) 15 15 15
Pressure drop (C8) 4 8 4
Flow rate (C9) 6 6 9
Operational cost (C10) 4 4 2
Operational flexibility (C11) 2 2 2
Total score 148 121 175
Solution
5. With respect to filter screen can be said that the separation performance does
not depend on liquid properties because it does not need residence time,
therefore, the density difference between the phases and liquid viscosity are
not variables that could affect the sand separation
6. Finally, screen filters were selected as the best solution to perform desanding in
heavy and extra heavy oil fields.
Final comments
•Regardless of desanding system installed, it must be designed with a capacity to
accumulate sand for some days, but avoiding extreme compaction and facilitating
sand removal.
Sand
Management
Handling Diposal
Faja Petrolifera del Orinoco the largest reservoir of heavy and extra heavy oil
Thank you