Challenges and Potentials for Sand Control Design and Management in OilReservoirs of Kazakhstan

摘要

Kazakhstan owns one of the largest global oil reserves(~3%).This paper aims at investigating the challengesand potentials for production from weakly-consolidated and unconsolidated oil sandstone reserves inKazakhstan.We used the published information in the literature,especially those including comparative studiesbetween Kazakhstan and North America.Weakly consolidated and unconsolidated oil reserves,inKazakhstan,were studied in terms of the depth,pay-zone thickness,viscosity,particle size distribution,clay content,porosity,permeability,gas cap,bottom water,mineralogy,solution gas,oil saturation,andhomogeneity of the pay zone.The previous and current experiences in developing these reserves wereoutlined.The stress condition was also discussed.Furthermore,geological condition,including the existingstructures,layers and formations were addressed for different reserves.Weakly consolidated heavy oil reserves in shallow depths(less than 500 m)with oil viscosity around500 cP and thin pay zones(less than 10 m)have been successfully produced using cold methods,however,thicker zones could be produced using thermal options.Sand management is the main challenge in coldoperations,while sand control is the main challenge in thermal operations.Tectonic history is more criticalin comparison to the similar cases in North America.The complicated tectonic history,necessitates thegeomechanical models to strategize the sand control especially in cased and perforated completion.Thesemodels are usually avoided in North America due to the less problematic conditions.Further investigationhas shown that Inflow Control Devices(ICDs)could be utilized to limit the water breakthrough,as waterconing is a common problem,which initiates and intensifies the sanding.This paper provides a review on challenges and potentials for sand control and sand management inheavy oil reserves of Kazakhstan,which could be used as a guideline for service companies and operators.This paper could be also used as an initial step for further investigations regarding the sand control andsand management in Kazakhstan.