Prediction and Evaluation of Sanding and Casing Deformation in a GOM Shelf Well

Sand production is an important well completion issue impacting well economics and possibly casing stability. This study compares predictions of sanding and casing deformation for a well in the GOM shelf, done prior to completion of the well to the results of a post-sanding event for this well. The sanding event was adequately predicted considering the uncertainty of the data input into the model. The casing deformation monitored by the post-sanding survey was also consistent with the prediction of helical buckling caused by depletion of fluids only when cavities of vertical extent greater than 7 ft exist (e.g. due to sand production) around the wellbore. This study supports the use of these predictive methods in well completion design.