Employing Geomechanical Characteristics for the Sandstone Reservoirs to Mitigate the Hazards Associated with Sand Production

Sand production has become a prominent issue affecting the development of oil and gas fields. The most significant consequences of sand production are formation collapse, degradation to both surface and downhole facilities, hydrocarbon production losses, and environmental difficulties. These challenges can potentially cost the petroleum industry billions of dollars annually. To evaluate the risk of sand production, a field case study in the south of Iraq was conducted and focused on the upper sand unit, which is a crucial sandstone reservoir. To achieve the study's objectives, a one-dimensional mechanical earth model (1-D MEM) must be developed, with the shear wave velocity ( \({V}_{\text{s}}\) $V_{\text{s}}$ ) being crucial in its construction. Due to the difficulty and cost associated with its measurement, the \({V}_{\text{s}}\) $V_{\text{s}}$ was unavailable. A simple and reliable model, termed multiple regression analysis, was developed using well-logging data to forecast the \({V}_{\text{s}}\) $V_{\text{s}}$ for the sandstone formation. Subsequently, a 1-D MEM for the upper sand stratum was established to compute the critical drawdown pressure (CDDP) for various depleting rates, thus ensuring the well could operate safely without encountering sanding issues. Then, five threshold criteria depending on geomechanical parameters were finally used to identify unsafe intervals that could present a sanding risk. The findings demonstrate that at various depths (e.g., 3322, 3350, and 3400 m), the CDDP reaches zero at varying rates when the rock strength value is between 1400 and 2500 psi. Ultimately, this study could serve as a reference for sand management to get the most effective completion efficiency.