Multiphase & Single-Phase Flow Study for Sand Transport in Inclined Well

Understanding sand transport behavior in oil and gas wells is essential for designing effective sand management strategies. This case study presents a pilot-scale experimental loop designed to replicate wellbore conditions using tubular test sections with the same diameter as actual well designs, albeit at shorter lengths. The setup allows for both single-phase and multiphase flow studies to evaluate sand transport in inclined wells under realistic operating conditions.

Tridiagonal’s test facility is equipped with a 2200 cfm gas compressor system capable of generating pressures up to 7 bar, and an in-house sand screw feeder offering adjustable sand dosing rates between 50 g/hr and 2000 g/hr. Advanced instrumentation, including laser particle size distribution (PSD) analysis and Maximum Pore Passage (MPP) testing as per API 19SS, ensures detailed characterization and evaluation of sand transport dynamics.

Download the full case study to explore how our pilot-scale loop provides valuable insights into sand movement mechanisms—helping optimize well design and sand control strategies for improved field performance.