First Successful Installation of Through-Tubing Ceramic Sand Screen in Seligi Oil Field, Offshore Peninsular Malaysia

The Seligi field, located 240 kilometers offshore peninsular Malaysia in the Malay basin was discovered in May 1971 and is one of the largest oil fields in Malaysia. Sand production in the Seligi field has been observed, especially from the J reservoirs group. Within the Seligi field, Well G was identified as one of the wells with sand production to surface that could lead to sand accumulation at surface facilities and erosion of equipment. Historically, there had been no in-situ sand control measures in the well. The default practice for sand control was to choke back the well, to prevent triggering of the surface sand probe (production with maximum sand-free rate). This approach however is a compromise, while it limits sand production, it also limits the production potential of the well (well technical potential). As part of the production enhancement assessment program, remedial sand-control methods were considered to increase the oil production while minimising sand production. Among the options considered was ceramic downhole sand screen installation. Ceramics have been used in many extreme erosion and corrosion applications, with ceramic sintered silicon carbide being 50 times harder than steel. Ceramic sand screens made with sintered silicon carbide offer much higher erosional resistance at speeds of 300ft/s sand impingement velocity. Due to the aggressive nature of the sands and high velocities of greater than 50ft/s in Well G, a through-tubing ceramic sand screen was selected. The ceramic sand screen served as a fit for purpose solution that allowed the well potential to be fully maximised, enabling a continuous production with minimal sand production at surface.This paper reviews the first successful pilot installation of through-tubing ceramic sand screen in Well G in the Seligi Oil Field, Offshore Peninsular Malaysia. Discussed are careful analysis and planning, i.e. velocity calculations, tool deployment simulations, tool inspections and detailed job procedure leading to a successful installation. With the ceramic sand screen installed, the well was able to produce at 100% production choke opening with lower tubing head pressure and has not produced sand at surface despite multiple shutdowns and well bean ups. The installation has also removed the need to have sand handling facilities at topside and has generated an implicated cost saving from expensive intervention programs. Given the success of this pilot installation, a baseline in sand control has been set for this field, with new well candidates being considered for future replication.