Credibility of geomechanical sanding evaluation, examples from gas fields in offshore Otway and onshore North Perth basins
Abbas Khaksar A * , Ahmadreza Younessi A and Sadegh Asadi AA
Abbas Khaksar is a Global Geomechanics Advisor and subject matter expert for sand production prediction with Baker Hughes. He is based in Perth, Australia, and has 30 years of work experience. Abbas has been with Baker Hughes since 2009 and previously worked for Helix-RDS, Geomechanics International (GMI), University of Adelaide and Iran Geological Survey. He holds a PhD in Rock Physics (1998), an MSc in Petroleum Geophysics (1994) from University Adelaide and a BSc in Mining from Tehran University (1989). He is a member of SPE and American Association of Rock Mechanics. Abbas was an SPE Distinguished Lecturer 2019–2020 on ‘Use of geomechanics for sanding prediction and sand management’. |
Ahmadreza Younessi holds a BSc in Mining Engineering (2004), an MSc in Rock mechanics Engineering (2006) from Amir Kabir University and a PhD in Petroleum Engineering (2012) from Curtin University, Australia. He has worked in industry as a Geomechanics consultant since 2006 and joined Baker Hughes in 2012. He has been involved in numerous projects including 1D and 3D geomechanical modelling, wellbore stability, near-real-time analysis, sand production prediction, sanding rate quantification, compaction and subsidence, 4D modelling and fault reactivation analysis mainly in the Asia–Pacific region. He is the regional advisor in 3D/4D geomechanical modelling applications. He also actively contributes to technology and software development. He has more than 40 publications in peer reviewed journals, SPE papers and conference presentations. He has served as technical committee in several SPE conferences and technical workshops. |
Sadegh Asadi holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering (2011) from Curtin University, Australia, and BSc and MSc in Mining Engineering from Iranian universities (2002 and 2006). With 17 years of industry experience, he is currently a Geomechanics Advisor at Baker Hughes, Australia. His expertise includes reservoir geomechanics for exploration, development, mature and CCS appraisal fields. Since 2011 in Baker Hughes, Sadegh has been involved in 1D and 3D Geomechanical modelling, pore pressure and wellbore stability analysis, sanding evaluation and sand rate quantification, fracture permeability and fault reactivation analysis, hydraulic fracturing and water injection studies and integrated projects. He has published several papers in journals and conference proceedings and is an active member of the SPE, serving on technical committees for conferences and workshops. |
Abstract
Geomechanical sanding evaluation has become a key tool in the development of fit-for-purpose sand management strategies and well completion decisions. Geomechanical analyses identify the likely sand producing intervals, the timing (pressure conditions) and the severity of sanding. Sanding evaluations are ideally calibrated against field sanding observations. However, in the absence of field observations, the validity of geomechanical analyses can be a concern for field development planning, well design or well intervention decision. This paper focuses on the credibility of geomechanical sanding risk evaluation, conducted at appraisal and early field life stages. It includes two gas fields case studies from two different geological settings, stress regimes and rock strengths, well types and operation conditions. The case studies include: (1) the Geographe gas field, offshore Otway Basin in Victoria with nearly 2.5 km long open hole completion with pre-drilled liner and more than 11 years of production, and (2) the Waitsia gas field onshore North Perth Basin in Western Australia with cased and perforated completion which has been on production since 2016.
Keywords: depletion, gas wells, Geographe field, geomechanics, North Perth Basin, Otway Basin, sanding evaluation, Waitsia field.
Abbas Khaksar is a Global Geomechanics Advisor and subject matter expert for sand production prediction with Baker Hughes. He is based in Perth, Australia, and has 30 years of work experience. Abbas has been with Baker Hughes since 2009 and previously worked for Helix-RDS, Geomechanics International (GMI), University of Adelaide and Iran Geological Survey. He holds a PhD in Rock Physics (1998), an MSc in Petroleum Geophysics (1994) from University Adelaide and a BSc in Mining from Tehran University (1989). He is a member of SPE and American Association of Rock Mechanics. Abbas was an SPE Distinguished Lecturer 2019–2020 on ‘Use of geomechanics for sanding prediction and sand management’. |
Ahmadreza Younessi holds a BSc in Mining Engineering (2004), an MSc in Rock mechanics Engineering (2006) from Amir Kabir University and a PhD in Petroleum Engineering (2012) from Curtin University, Australia. He has worked in industry as a Geomechanics consultant since 2006 and joined Baker Hughes in 2012. He has been involved in numerous projects including 1D and 3D geomechanical modelling, wellbore stability, near-real-time analysis, sand production prediction, sanding rate quantification, compaction and subsidence, 4D modelling and fault reactivation analysis mainly in the Asia–Pacific region. He is the regional advisor in 3D/4D geomechanical modelling applications. He also actively contributes to technology and software development. He has more than 40 publications in peer reviewed journals, SPE papers and conference presentations. He has served as technical committee in several SPE conferences and technical workshops. |
Sadegh Asadi holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering (2011) from Curtin University, Australia, and BSc and MSc in Mining Engineering from Iranian universities (2002 and 2006). With 17 years of industry experience, he is currently a Geomechanics Advisor at Baker Hughes, Australia. His expertise includes reservoir geomechanics for exploration, development, mature and CCS appraisal fields. Since 2011 in Baker Hughes, Sadegh has been involved in 1D and 3D Geomechanical modelling, pore pressure and wellbore stability analysis, sanding evaluation and sand rate quantification, fracture permeability and fault reactivation analysis, hydraulic fracturing and water injection studies and integrated projects. He has published several papers in journals and conference proceedings and is an active member of the SPE, serving on technical committees for conferences and workshops. |
