Advancements in Remedial Sand Control Solutions - Successful Deployment in Three Well Campaign

Regaining sand control integrity in existing completions has been become an increasing challenge to overcome in recent years. Sand control challenges can occur over the life of the well, in the initial completion design, failure of existing downhole equipment or due to increased water production in later life. All of which need to be addressed using a technology which does not succumb to the same fate as any existing technology. Conventional remedial sand control methods vary in complexity, cost, risk, longevity and have associated weaknesses often resulting in reduced production. A novel thru tubing remedial sand control solution has recently been deployed for an operator in Indonesia which can be run on coil tubing or slickline. It is designed to transit tight restrictions within the upper completion and still set and conform to larger casing/screen IDs where control of sand has been lost. The key to the technology is the use of a unique conformable open cell matrix polymer (OCMP) as the sand retention layer which enables the tool to be fully compressed during deployment but will enlarge when at depth, filling the annular gap. The OCMP creates a tortuous flow path and the polymeric nature of the filter removes the energy out of any sand grain impingement reducing erosional effects. We present a review of three recent well interventions in both oil and gas wells that utilized this technology.