In this study an extensive experimental program has been carried out in order to characterize the mechanical behavior of two weak sandstone formations of an offshore field for application to sand production modeling. The experimental tests included Scratch tests, Triaxial tests and Advanced thick wall cylinder tests (ATWC) where the sand production initiation and the cumulative sand produced were registered.
Numerical simulations of experimental tests were then performed using an advanced elasto-plastic constitutive model. Triaxial tests simulations allowed calibrating the constitutive model parameters. These parameters were employed for the numerical simulation of the ATWC in order to determine the equivalent plastic strain threshold required to the onset of sand production observed in laboratory for sanding assessment.
Results obtained highlight the importance to use a realistic representation of the rock behavior focusing on post-yield behavior in order to build confidence in model predictions.
A sand production prediction model for weak sandstone reservoir in Kazakhstan