International Journal of Petroleum Engineering ISSN: 5675-0715 Vol. 2 (4), pp. 121-127, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Minimizing the risk of erosion damage of some wells in Niger Delta Field with clampon DSP monitor
Ikporo Bibobra1, Okotie Sylvester2 and Ichenwo John-Lander3
1Department of Chemical and Petroleum, Niger Delta University, Amasoma, Nigeria.
2Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria.
3Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
The mobilization of sand in oil and gas production facilities is one of the challenges plaguing the production department of petroleum industries. Its effects on oil facilities are detrimental to theproductivity of the well. This paper is a case study, which describes how Clampon DSP monitor was applied in sand management in an XY field in the Niger Delta oil province, with a key concern to minimize the risk of erosion damage to facilities from sand production, while maximizing production. In 2006, to optimize production without compromising safety and environment, management of the field initiated a project to minimize the risk of erosion damage to facilities by installation of a real time sand detection and erosion monitoring device on the wellheads of Wellwellheads: X15 and X17 and the inlet manifold of wells: WX3, WX4, WX5, WX6 and WX7. Employing varying choke sizes for maximum sand free rate (MSFR) or to a Maximum Acceptable SandRate (MASR). During the sand monitoring periods at their baseline (normal) chokes with subsequent bean-ups, depending on the well’s potential, the corresponding sand production rates were estimated amidst other factors. The result generated by the Clampon DSP monitor showed that majority of the wells were sand producers.
Keywords: Sand production/Mobilization, Clampon DSP Sand Detector, erosion damage,detection and erosion monitoring, surface and subsurface facilities, maximizing production.