Numerical simulations of sanding under different stress regimes

Abstract

Laboratory experiments of sand production conducted under true-triaxial stress conditions were simulated numerically using ABAQUS program. The experiments were performed in a true-triaxial stress cell on 100×100×100 mm3 cubes of synthetic sandstones. Two and three dimensional numerical analyses were conducted to investigate the impact of the magnitude of far-field intermediated principal stress and pore pressure on the failure in the vicinity of a borehole. Different stress boundary conditions were modeled for this purpose. The results provide a better understanding on how the stress anisotropy may have an impact on borehole failure and sand production mechanism. The simulation was used as a tool to optimize and plan the future tests conducted in the laboratory on cube samples. The results of the numerical models will be presented and interpreted.