Plugging due to fines migration in sandpacks

Abstract

This paper intends to show the plugging problem due to fines migration when sandpacks are used. Plugging causes pore throat blocking which causes permeability to decline. Sandpacks and glass bead packs were used in the experiments. The porosity and absolute permeability were determined prior to further tests of waterfloods and miscible floods. The permeability profiles over the injection periods were studied. There were plugging by fines in the sandpacks and the severity depends on the sand quality and flowrates. There was no plugging when glass bead packs were used.