Track: Undergraduate Research Presentation

Abstract

There are various methods available to control sand production from oil and gas wells, among them is through the application of downhole screen. However, conventional screens have their own operational issues such as erosion due to production of fines through the screen openings leading to development of localized high-velocity hot spots in the screen filter media and subsequent failure of the media. The aim of the present work is to investigate the chemical resistance and temperature stability of geotextile material as screen filter media through exposure to reservoir fluids and temperatures. Limited studies exist on examining geotextile material as screen filter media as its applications generally revolves around civil, coastal and marine engineering. In this study, woven polypropylene and woven polyester geotextile samples were selected and exposed to crude oil for a period of 1 to 5 days through immersion test and temperatures ranging from 150°F to 219°F through thermal stability test. The samples were then analyzed and characterized by the use of analytical equipment such as Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope to observe deformation after the exposure. Results revealed that the test samples were remained in their original state and did not degrade after the treatments.