Publications

LN field is a gas field located in South Sumatra, Indonesia. In 2009, a trial of pressure system conversion from medium to low pressure led to sand production from several sand layers. Since then, wellhead de-sander and production rate control have been used as the sand control method. Meanwhile, down-hole sand control selection is very challenging due to limited availability of formation core and depleted reservoir pressure. A precise sand particle size distribution and compatibility analysis could not be performed for sand consolidation chemical, gravel pack, and frac-pack. A depleted pressure condition also brought about difficulties in any down-hole sand control deployment. Thru tubing sand screen method was then selected as an alternative for dealing with this LN condition. Rigless installation and flexibility of sand screen replacement are the main reasons why this method was selected. Thru tubing sand screen is installed using a regular slick-line unit, where the screen will be installed very close to the end of the tubing (EOT), the screen is set just around 2 feet above the EOT. There is no landing nipple available at that position. For this special case, special tubing packer with special setting tool was needed. This special tubing packer was set by using a non-explosive setting tool technology with a battery-operated and time- based device. Since the particle size distribution of sand was taken from surface sampling, the possibility of sand passing thru sand screen or sand plugging the screen is high. Flexibility of screen replacement will be very important and thru tubing method provides an easy way to install or uninstall the sand screen without any risk of formation damage . This paper will elaborate on how the down-hole sand control study was performed for the LN field, and how the study concluded on Thru-tubing sand screen technology and how the technology is applied and optimized to sustain the production life time and increase gas recoverable reserve.