Sand Extraction
Advanced Sand Removal for Complex and Low-Pressure Wellbores
In many oil and gas wells, formation pressure is lower than hydrostatic pressure, meaning the natural reservoir pressure is not sufficient to support a full fluid column from the perforations to surface, which makes conventional cleanout methods more complex and nitrogen-dependent. For these sub-hydrostatic conditions, traditional coiled tubing cleanouts typically require nitrification to safely remove solids and fluids from the wellbore.
The Sand Extraction with dual coiled tubing offers a highly effective alternative by enabling efficient cleanouts in sub-hydrostatic wells without the need for nitrogen, significantly simplifying operations and reducing costs. A key advantage of this system is its ability to create a localized drawdown at any point along a highly deviated or horizontal wellbore, particularly when operating in production mode. This localized drawdown is highly effective at removing formation sand, proppants, and drilling mud damage while maintaining control over well conditions.
In addition to cleanout operations, the Sand Extraction provides valuable diagnostic capabilities, allowing operators to evaluate oil, water, and sand production from specific zones along the wellbore. When combined with memory pressure and temperature gauges, the tool delivers enhanced insight into well performance, supporting better decision-making for remediation, optimization, and long-term production management.
Benefits of Sand Extraction
Nitrogen-Free Sub-Hydrostatic Cleanouts
Enables effective cleanouts in sub-hydrostatic pressure wells without the use of nitrogen.
Low-Rate Cleaning of Large or Multi-ID Completions
Cleans large and multi-ID completions efficiently by circulating liquid at low pump rates.
Cost-Effective Fluid Systems
Uses only water with friction reducer to perform cleanouts, reducing chemical and operational costs.
Effective in Extremely Low Pressure Gradients
Performs reliably in wells with very low pressure gradients, including 0.1 psi/ft or lower.
Removal of Formation Sand and Damage
Removes formation sand, proppants, and drilling mud damage from the wellbore.
Balanced or Slightly Underbalanced Operations
Extracts sand while maintaining balanced or slightly underbalanced well conditions.
Preserves Natural Sand Pack Integrity
Removes sand without inducing flow into the well or disturbing the natural sand pack behind slotted liners.
Jetting and Stimulation Capability
Utilizes jetting mode to break up hard solids bridges or deliver stimulation fluids where required.
Gas Well Deliquification
Completely deliquifies or removes the liquid column in gas wells when operated in production mode.
Localized Diagnostic Analysis
Uses localized drawdown to evaluate production contributions and sand cut from specific wellbore zones.
Enhanced Diagnostics with Memory Gauges
Provides improved diagnostic accuracy when paired with memory pressure and temperature gauges.