Case Study: Total E&P Angola achieves sand-free gas production with SLB SandAid technology

Chemical system eliminates sand production without damaging tight permeability, exceeding expectations by 75%

Total E&P Angola needed a way to produce gas from unconsolidated sandstone layers without making sand or pushing marginal well economics beyond viability. The company’s tight, shallow wells had zero-sand tolerance because surface facilities could not handle sand, and traditional resin-based sand consolidation was too damaging and costly for these low-permeability reservoirs. SLB offered SandAid sand conglomeration technology as a better fit for the tight formation conditions.

SLB delivered SandAid through coiled tubing from the Delta Biru barge, using a surfactant preflush, SandAid treatment, and surfactant overflush to treat the short interval precisely. The well was cleaned up after a 6-hour shut-in and then produced 3.5 MMcf/d of sand-free gas, exceeding expectations by 75% and reducing workover cost by 37% versus conventional resin-based consolidation.

Total E&P Angola