Follow Us
Share
jpt-rgb-r.png
Sand management/control

Automated Workflow Mitigates Sand Influx by Determining Minimum Tubinghead Pressure

This paper describes an automated workflow that helps mitigate sanding caused by excessive drawdown by determining the minimum tubinghead pressure.

Locked
October 1, 2025
Journal of Petroleum Technology
Share
Fig. 1—Flowchart for sand-influx-mitigation workflow showing step-by-step analysis to arrive at the minimum THP limit to avoid sanding in wells.
Fig. 1—Flowchart for sand-influx-mitigation workflow showing step-by-step analysis to arrive at the minimum THP limit to avoid sanding in wells.
Source: SPE 220649.

The authors describe an automated workflow that helps mitigate sanding caused by excessive drawdown by determining the minimum tubinghead pressure (THP). The automated workflow is designed to autocalibrate, analyze, and recommend actionable measures to control THP to prevent sand ingression. This enables oil and gas operators to control sand production, resulting in production enhancement and fewer workover jobs.

Field Background

Field A is an onshore gas field producing for over 15 years. With bottomwater drive, no depletion of reservoir pressure was evident. The main reservoir sand, of Oligocene to Miocene age, is weak in nature and prone to sanding.

×
SPE_logo_CMYK_trans_sm.png
Continue Reading with SPE Membership
SPE Members: Please sign in at the top of the page for access to this member-exclusive content. If you are not a member and you find JPT content valuable, we encourage you to become a part of the SPE member community to gain full access.
Join SPE