The effect of well inclination angle on sand production using FDM-FEM modelling; A case study: One of the oil fields in Iran

The drilling angle of the well is an important factor that can affect the sand production process and make its destructive effects more severe or weaker. This study investigated the effect of different well angles on sand production for the Asmari Formation, located in one of the oil fields southwest of Iran. For this purpose, a finite difference model was developed for three types of vertical (90 degrees), inclined (45 degrees), and horizontal (0 degrees) wells with casing and perforations in the direction of minimum and maximum horizontal stresses, then coupled with fluid flow. Here, finite element meshing was used, because the geometry of the model is so complex and the implementation of finite difference meshes is impossible or very difficult for such models. Using a combined FDM-FEM model with fluid flow, the sand production process in three different modes with different flow rates for the Asmari sandstone was investigated in this study. The results of numerical models show that the intensity of sand production is directly related to the in-situ stress state of the oil field and well drilling angle. Since the stress regime in the studied oil field is normal, the highest amount of produced sand was in inclined wells (especially wells drilled in the direction of minimum horizontal stress) and the lowest amount of sand production was related to vertical wellbore. Also, the Initiation time of sand production in inclined wells was much shorter than in other wellbores.