Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S82510/01
Title:	Micro mechanical studies of sand production problems in wellbores
Principal Investigator:	Stepanek, Professor F
Other Investigators:	Blunt, Professor MJ Lawrence, Professor CJ
Researcher Co-Investigators:	Professor Y Sheng
Project Partners:	Schlumberger
Department:	Chemical Engineering
Organisation:	Imperial College London
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 December 2004	Ends:	31 March 2008	Value (£):	203,513
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Ground Engineering Oil & Gas Extraction
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Sand production is one of the most severe wellbore problems in the petroleum industry. Despite its critical importance and previous research input, the mechanisms of sand production have not been fully understood because of its complexity. Studies aimed at predicting sand production have predominantly addressed the more readily observable transient and catastrophic types of sand production, few studies have addressed the modelling of the continuous sand erosion process, which is of great importance in practice.In this project, experimental and numerical modelling methods are proposed to elucidate the micro mechanical factors in sand production. Proposed experimental work will include parametric studies of the onset of sand erosion, the initiation of the dislodgement of sand, and the rate of sand production under various flow, stress and saturation conditions. Then a CFD/DEM coupled numerical method will be developed incorporating new capillary models with the consideration of water breakthrough, to simulate the dynamic process of the dislodgement of sand particles, the formation of micro cavities, and eventually the whole sand production process.The research will provide a theoretical understanding of the mechanisms of sand production, criteria to identify the onset of erosion of the sandstone and the propagation of sand production under various conditions, and a 3D numerical tool to predict the initiation, propagation, and rate of sand production.
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