Drilling & Well Completion

Saucier Criteria

Understanding the Saucier Criteria: A Practical Guide to Gravel Pack Sizing in Oil & Gas

The oil and gas industry relies on a variety of techniques to maximize production from wells, one of which is gravel packing. This process involves placing a layer of gravel around the wellbore to prevent formation sand from entering the well and potentially damaging equipment. Determining the appropriate gravel size for packing is crucial for the success of this operation, and one method commonly employed is the Saucier Criteria.

What is the Saucier Criteria?

The Saucier Criteria is a simple yet effective method for determining the median gravel size for a gravel pack. It relies on analyzing the size distribution of formation sand and employing a straightforward calculation. Here's how it works:

  1. Analyzing the Formation Sand: A sieve analysis of the formation sand is conducted to determine the particle size distribution. This data is then plotted on a cumulative percent retained curve, which displays the percentage of sand particles retained on each sieve size.
  2. Finding the 50% Intercept: The 50% intercept on the cumulative percent retained curve represents the particle size at which 50% of the formation sand is retained. This point is known as the D50.
  3. Calculating the Gravel Size: The Saucier Criteria dictates multiplying the D50 value by 6 to arrive at the recommended median gravel size for the pack. This ensures the gravel pack provides sufficient support and prevents sand production while maintaining optimal permeability.

Why use the Saucier Criteria?

The Saucier Criteria offers several benefits for gravel pack design:

  • Simplicity: The method is straightforward and easily understood, requiring only basic calculations and a simple visual representation of the data.
  • Efficiency: The calculation is quick and efficient, allowing for rapid determination of the optimal gravel size.
  • Reliability: The criteria has been proven to be reliable in numerous applications, resulting in successful gravel pack installations.

Limitations of the Saucier Criteria:

While the Saucier Criteria is widely used, it's important to acknowledge some limitations:

  • Simplified Approach: The method doesn't account for all factors influencing gravel pack performance, such as the formation permeability, fluid flow rates, and wellbore geometry.
  • Potential for Oversized Gravel: The multiplication by 6 can sometimes lead to oversized gravel, potentially reducing the pack's permeability and impacting well production.

Beyond the Saucier Criteria:

While the Saucier Criteria provides a valuable starting point, other factors should be considered for optimal gravel pack design:

  • Formation Properties: Detailed analysis of formation permeability, pore size distribution, and sand production potential is crucial for accurate gravel pack design.
  • Wellbore Conditions: Factors such as wellbore diameter, casing size, and completion design should be factored into the gravel pack selection.
  • Simulation Modeling: Advanced software simulations can help evaluate gravel pack performance under various conditions, further optimizing the design.

Conclusion:

The Saucier Criteria is a valuable tool for determining the median gravel size for a pack, providing a simple and efficient method for gravel pack design. However, it's important to remember that this is a simplified approach, and a thorough understanding of formation properties, wellbore conditions, and other factors is crucial for successful gravel pack installation. Combining the Saucier Criteria with other analytical tools and careful consideration of specific well parameters will lead to a more comprehensive and optimized gravel pack design.


Test Your Knowledge

Quiz: Understanding the Saucier Criteria

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What is the primary purpose of gravel packing in oil and gas wells?

a) To increase wellbore pressure b) To enhance fluid flow c) To prevent formation sand from entering the well d) To stimulate reservoir production

Answer

c) To prevent formation sand from entering the well

2. What is the "D50" value in the context of Saucier Criteria?

a) The median grain size of the gravel pack b) The maximum particle size of the formation sand c) The particle size at which 50% of the formation sand is retained d) The total weight of the formation sand sample

Answer

c) The particle size at which 50% of the formation sand is retained

3. According to the Saucier Criteria, how is the recommended median gravel size calculated?

a) D50 multiplied by 3 b) D50 divided by 2 c) D50 multiplied by 6 d) D50 divided by 4

Answer

c) D50 multiplied by 6

4. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using the Saucier Criteria for gravel pack design?

a) Simplicity and ease of use b) Efficiency in determining gravel size c) Accuracy in predicting gravel pack performance d) Reliability based on proven applications

Answer

c) Accuracy in predicting gravel pack performance

5. What is a significant limitation of the Saucier Criteria?

a) It does not consider the type of drilling fluid used b) It requires extensive laboratory analysis c) It does not account for all factors influencing gravel pack performance d) It is not applicable to horizontal wells

Answer

c) It does not account for all factors influencing gravel pack performance

Exercise: Gravel Pack Design

Scenario: You have a well with formation sand having a D50 value of 0.25 mm. You want to use the Saucier Criteria to determine the recommended median gravel size for the pack.

Task:

  1. Calculate the recommended median gravel size using the Saucier Criteria.
  2. Discuss two other factors you would consider in addition to the Saucier Criteria for designing the optimal gravel pack.

Exercice Correction

1. Recommended Median Gravel Size: - Using the Saucier Criteria, the recommended median gravel size is calculated by multiplying the D50 by 6. - Therefore, the gravel size = 0.25 mm * 6 = 1.5 mm 2. Other Factors to Consider: - **Formation Permeability:** The permeability of the formation is crucial, as it affects the flow of fluids through the gravel pack. A highly permeable formation may require a larger gravel size to maintain permeability. - **Wellbore Conditions:** The wellbore diameter, casing size, and completion design should be considered to ensure the gravel pack is compatible with the wellbore configuration.


Books

  • Petroleum Engineering Handbook: This comprehensive handbook by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) offers detailed information about gravel pack design and other completion techniques. It may cover the Saucier Criteria within the section on sand control.
  • Well Completion Design: This book by John P. Z. Lee provides insights into various aspects of well completion, including gravel packing. It might discuss the Saucier Criteria as part of sand control strategies.
  • Reservoir Engineering: Textbooks on reservoir engineering often contain sections on completion methods, potentially including discussions on gravel packing and associated criteria like Saucier.

Articles

  • "Gravel Packing: A Comprehensive Overview" by SPE: Search the SPE website for articles on gravel packing, as they often delve into the application of the Saucier Criteria.
  • "Sand Control and Gravel Packing" by journal publications: Journals such as SPE Production & Operations, Journal of Petroleum Technology, and others may have articles discussing gravel packing and specific criteria like Saucier.

Online Resources

  • SPE Website: The Society of Petroleum Engineers website offers a vast library of articles, papers, and other resources related to oil & gas production, including well completion techniques and gravel packing.
  • Oil & Gas Industry Publications: Websites of industry publications such as World Oil, Oil & Gas Journal, and others frequently publish articles on completion techniques, potentially including discussions on Saucier Criteria.
  • Technical Training Courses: Online training courses offered by companies specializing in oil & gas completion techniques often cover gravel packing and the Saucier Criteria.

Search Tips

  • Specific keywords: Search for "Saucier Criteria gravel pack" or "gravel pack design Saucier" to find specific articles or resources related to this method.
  • Combine keywords: Use keywords like "gravel packing," "sand control," "completion techniques," "oil & gas," and "well design" to broaden your search.
  • Advanced operators: Utilize Google's advanced search operators like "site:" to limit your search to specific websites (e.g., site:spe.org).

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