TY - THES

T1 - Application of Ultrasonic Waves for Sand Screen Cleaning in Wellbores

AU - Napravnik, David

N1 - no embargo

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Several projects at the University of Leoben are evaluating the application of ultrasound in the Petroleum industry. This thesis focuses on the evaluation of ultrasonic cleaning for wire-wrapped sand screens. The foundation of this thesis is a used sand screen, provided by the industry, which shows different kinds of precipitations. For an objective evaluation of ultrasonic cleaning, it is essential to have a clear understanding about the chemical composition of the fluids and of the precipitations. Therefore, several analyses are performed to identify the chemical composition. The inspection under a fluorescence stereomicroscope to get a basic understanding about diversities and similarities of the precipitations X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) is performed to identify the exact mineral composition. The extraction of hydrocarbons and separation of asphaltene, NSO, saturated- and aromatic fraction takes place for further analysis. To figure out diversities and to classify the hydrocarbons of the precipitations a gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) is performed. Furthermore, an analysis of the formation water performed by a third party is evaluated. Two experiment setups, each with a different ultrasonic device, are prepared to conduct the ultrasonic treatment on screen parts. Based on permeability measurements before and after the treatments the cleaning effect is evaluated. For a better understanding, the skin effect before and after the treatment is calculated. Further, the skin is converted to pressure losses to calculate the Vogel Inflow Performance Relationship. Based on those calculations the percentage reduction in pressure losses due to permeability increase is evaluated. The results in this thesis can be used as a foundation for further research projects. Next research steps could include the prediction of precipitations and the travel and cleaning depth of the ultrasonic waves into the gravel pack and near-wellbore zone.

AB - Several projects at the University of Leoben are evaluating the application of ultrasound in the Petroleum industry. This thesis focuses on the evaluation of ultrasonic cleaning for wire-wrapped sand screens. The foundation of this thesis is a used sand screen, provided by the industry, which shows different kinds of precipitations. For an objective evaluation of ultrasonic cleaning, it is essential to have a clear understanding about the chemical composition of the fluids and of the precipitations. Therefore, several analyses are performed to identify the chemical composition. The inspection under a fluorescence stereomicroscope to get a basic understanding about diversities and similarities of the precipitations X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) is performed to identify the exact mineral composition. The extraction of hydrocarbons and separation of asphaltene, NSO, saturated- and aromatic fraction takes place for further analysis. To figure out diversities and to classify the hydrocarbons of the precipitations a gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) is performed. Furthermore, an analysis of the formation water performed by a third party is evaluated. Two experiment setups, each with a different ultrasonic device, are prepared to conduct the ultrasonic treatment on screen parts. Based on permeability measurements before and after the treatments the cleaning effect is evaluated. For a better understanding, the skin effect before and after the treatment is calculated. Further, the skin is converted to pressure losses to calculate the Vogel Inflow Performance Relationship. Based on those calculations the percentage reduction in pressure losses due to permeability increase is evaluated. The results in this thesis can be used as a foundation for further research projects. Next research steps could include the prediction of precipitations and the travel and cleaning depth of the ultrasonic waves into the gravel pack and near-wellbore zone.

KW - Ultraschall

KW - Bohrlochfilter

KW - Reinigung

KW - Probenanalyse

KW - Inflow Performance Relationship

KW - Skin

KW - Druckverlust

KW - ultrasound

KW - ultrasonic waves

KW - cleaning

KW - Inflow Performance Relationship

KW - Skin

KW - pressure losses

KW - sample analysis

KW - permeability

KW - wire-wrapped screen

KW - precipitation

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -