Experimental Study on Ultra-Light Sand Packing in Multi-Lateral Horizontal Well for Natural Gas Hydrate Reservoirs

Peng Ji, Zhiyuan Wang (), Liyong Guan, Weigang Du, Zeqin Li and Jianbo Zhang
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Peng Ji: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Zhiyuan Wang: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Liyong Guan: Well Services Branch of CNPC Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300451, China
Weigang Du: Well Services Branch of CNPC Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300451, China
Zeqin Li: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Jianbo Zhang: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: We investigated the use of gravel packing sand control technology in multi-lateral horizontal wells to support the development of natural gas hydrate reservoirs. An experimental apparatus was developed to investigate the effects of well configurations and operational parameters on ultra-light sand packing behavior and to estimate the field operational parameters through the application of similarity criteria. The results showed that the ultra-light sand packing process includes four stages in a single horizontal main bore, i.e., sand bank formation, alpha-wave, beta-wave, and simultaneous annulus packing, and two stages in lateral wellbores: a sand bank formation and then an alpha-wave pattern or an initial alpha-wave pattern followed by a slope pattern. At comparable injection rates and sand concentrations, the packing sequence is predominantly governed by leakage rates and the quantity of lateral wellbores. When the lateral wellbore is 1 m and the leakage rate exceeds 20%, the lateral packs first. When the lateral wellbore is 2 m and the leakage rate is below 30%, the main bore packs first. For the field prototype (480 m main bore and 200 m lateral wellbore), the deviation angle of lateral wellbores should be controlled within 30°, and it is recommended that the distance between the junction point and the heel of the horizontal main bore be 160 m. When the leakage rates exceed 50%, the recommended injection rates are less than 1.69 m 3 /min. When the leakage rates range from 10 to 50%, the recommended injection rates range from 1.69 to 3.38 m 3 /min, with predicted end-of-packing pressures ranging from 6.56 to 19.92 MPa. This study provides valuable insights into the development of gravel packing sand control technologies in a multi-lateral horizontal well for hydrate reservoirs.

Keywords: multi-lateral horizontal well; well configurations; ultra-light sand; packing process; packing sequence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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