Standalone Screen Selection Using Performance Mastercurves

Abstract

Abstract The performance of stand alone screens can be predicted by developing master curves for individual screens based on the screen opening pore size and an effective formation particle size factor. Screen mesh designs and pore structures have unique performance curves which can be used with particle size analysis from whole or sidewall cores to aid in the selection of screens which will meet performance criteria for solids production and flow capacity for a specific wellbore. The paper describes the procedures for developing the performance master curves for screen laminates . Examples are given illustrating the predictive data for solids production and flow capacity for a series of well core samples. Introduction Openhole completions in soft or poorly consolidated formations require that the drill-in fluid, the sand control screen and the cleanup system for removal of the drill-in fluid filtercake all perform together in order to provide acceptable solids control and production rates. Selecting the sand control screen for an interval which contains a range of formation particle size distributions requires consideration of the amount and size of formation material that can be tolerated in the production flow streams as well as the flow capacity necessary for the well to be commercially successful. Long horizontal completions often pose challenges in selecting effective sand control screens due to the wide variation in formation particle size distributions encountered across the interval. Laboratory testing of screens has determined that distinct performance curves or "mastercurves" for individual screen laminates and shroud combinations can be developed which can be predictive for the performance of the screen. The mastercurves are constructed by measuring screen performance for produced solids and retained screen permeability versus a ratio of an effective formation size divided by the size of the screen pore opening. Once a mastercurve has been developed for a screen laminate, it can be used to approximate screen performance in a wellbore containing multiple formation particle size distributions to reduce the amount of possible screen configuration options and to reduce the number of laboratory conformation tests that are needed to make a final selection. The curves can also be used to estimate worst case scenarios when there is a limited amount of formation particle size data available. As more test data becomes available for a specific screen, the mastercurves can be continuously improved as long as the laminate design and pore size does not change When developing performance mastercurves, it is important that the formation size distribution being deposited onto the screen be accurately known, as well as the pore size opening for the screen. To achieve these criteria, a specific test method has been developed and is used for data development. The method is designed to measure specific properties of the screen performance and interaction with the formation material and has been previously referenced by Hodge et al. [1] and is more fully described in Appendix I. Several authors have described other test methods that have been used by the industry to select wellbore screens [2–6]. While these methods have been helpful, it has been difficult to develop performance patterns for specific screen types from them. An example of work found in the literature is SPE 64398 by Gillespie, et al.[5] This paper contains produced solids data for premium and wire wrapped screens. Examining the data for three of the premium sintered mesh screens and converting produced solids to lb/ft2 of screen surface area leads to the data in Table 1.