Sand Cleanout Calculations - Sheet 1 of 2

Work through the numbered sections in the correct order to calculate the required parameters for a typical sand cleanout operation.
Pump rate will need to be estimated or calculated using tables or software such as Cerberus or HalWin.

1. Wellbore Tubing Info. 3. Coiled Tubing Info.

OD = in OD = in

Weight = lb/ft Wall Thickness = in

ID = in ID = in

Top of Section (MD) = ft Length = ft

Bottom of Section (MD) = ft Vol. per 1000ft = gal/1000ft

Volume (gals) per 1000ft = 40.8 x ID²
Length of Section = ft
Total Volume (gals) = gals
Volume per 1000ft = bbl/1000ft Total Vol. = Vol. per 1000ft ÷ 1000 x Length
Volume (bbls) per 1000ft = 0.9714 x ID² Total Volume (bbls) = bbls
Total Volume of Section = bbls gals / 42 = bbls
Total Vol. = Vol. per 1000ft / 1000 x Length
Tapered Coiled Tubing
2. Casing Info.
If required, to find the volume of a Tapered CT
Section use the following equation:
OD = in

L × (D 2 + (D × d ) + d 2 )
Weight = lb/ft Vol (gals) =
73.53
ID = in L = Length of Section (ft)
D = ID of Section at one end (in)
Top of Section (MD) = ft
d = ID of Section at other end (in)
Cleanout Depth (MD) = ft

Length of Section = ft
5. Annulus Info
Tubing & CT Annulus
Volume per 1000ft = bbl/1000ft
Volume (bbls) per 1000ft = 0.9714 x ID² Annular Capacity (gal/ft) = gal/ft
Total Volume of Section = bbls Annular Capacity (gal/ft) = (ID TUB2-ODCT2) x 0.0408
Total Vol. = Vol. per 1000ft / 1000 x Length Annular Velocity (AV) = ft/min
AV = Pump Rate (gpm) / Annular Capacity (gal/ft)
4. Sand Settling Velocity Net Particle Rise Velocity = ft/min
Annular Velocity - Particle
175 × PD × (PW - MW )
0 .667 Net Particle Rise =
Settling Velocity
SV =
MW 0.333 × cp 0.333 Length of Annulus = ft
From Top of Tubing to Bottom of Tubing

SV = Sand Settling Velocity in ft/min

Casing & CT Annulus
175 = Constant
PD = Particle Diameter = inches Annular Capacity (gal/ft) = gal/ft
(remember to use largest particle Annular Capacity (gal/ft) = (ID CSG2-ODCT2) x 0.0408
diameter and not average diameter)
Annular Velocity (AV) = ft/min
PW = Particle Weight = lb/gal
AV = Pump Rate (gpm) / Annular Capacity (gal/ft)
Particle Weight = Particle SG x 8.33
Net Particle Rise Velocity = ft/min
MW = Wt. of cleanout fluid = lb/gal
Annular Velocity - Particle
Net Particle Rise =
cp = Cleanout Fluid Viscosity = cp Settling Velocity
Length of Annulus = ft
Sand Settling Velocity, SV = ft/min From Bottom of Tubing to Cleanout Depth

Notes & Calculations

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 Sand Cleanout Calculations - Sheet 2 of 2
6. Sand Volume & Weight 7. Density of Settled Slurry 8. Well Pressure Calcs.
In the Casing
This is the density of the sand and fluid mixture Reservoir Pressure = psi

This is required to determine whether or not all the that has settled at the bottom of the well that Usually taken at the middle of the reservoir or mid
needs to be cleaned out. The fluid weight perforations
sand has been cleaned out or not. It is also required to
anticipate how much sand will need to be disposed of inbetween the sand particles may be different Reservoir TVD = ft
after the operation. from the cleanout fluid weight. It is required for
calculating the max RIH speed. Max. Allowable Well OB = psi

Sand Bulk Density = 3 This may be estimated or determined from past well
lb/ft
Sand Bulk Density = ppg experience. It should be low enough to avoid any fluid
loss during the operation. It should also include a
Height of Sand = ft lb/ft3 / 7.481 = ppg safety factor of at least 500psi. If this is unknown then
Height = Cleanout Depth - Top of Sand Sand Porosity = skip this section and use a fluid loading of 1ppg (or
%
1.5ppg for foam) when calculating the Max RIH
Vol of Sand = bbls speed.
Wellbore Fluid Wt. = ppg
= Casing Vol. per 1000ft / 1000 × Height of Sand
Max Reservoir Pressure = psi
Vol of Sand = 3
ft Density of Settled Slurry =
Calculate from Reservoir Pressure + Max OB
bbls x 5.615 = ft3 Sand Bulk Density + (Wellbore Fluid
Density x Porosity / 100) Max Fluid Wt in Annulus = ppg
Total Wt. of Dry Sand = lbs
ppg = Max Res.Press. / Res.TVD / 0.05195
3
Total Wt. = Vol (ft ) x Bulk Density

9. Max RIH Speed 10. Max POOH Speed

While Cleaning Thru Sand In Casing
If we POOH faster than this, it will cause the CT to
overtake the sand moving up the annulus.
Cleaning at a speed faster than this will cause the well
to be overbalanced more than we specified earlier.
Net Particle Ris e Velocity
This may cause fluid losses in the well which in turn Max POOH Speed =
can cause the coiled tubing to become stuck from sand ⎡ CT Ext. Ds p ⎤
1+ ⎢ ⎥.
falling down the well instead of being cleaned out. ⎣ Annular Capacity ⎦

In the Casing
Pump Rate = gal/min
Net Particle Rise Vel. = ft/min
Csg Capacity = gal/ft
Csg Capacity (gal/ft) = bbl/1000ft x 0.042 CT Ext. Displacement = gal/ft
Cleanout Fluid Weight = ppg (ODCT2 x 0.0408)

Annular Capacity = gal/ft

Reqd Fluid Weight = ppg
Reqd Fluid Weight = Max Fluid Weight in Max POOH Speed = ft/min
Annulus or if unknown use 1ppg over the
cleanout fluid weight. In the Tubing
Density of Settled Slurry
Net Particle Rise Vel. = ft/min
(Calculated Elsewhere) = ppg
CT Ext. Displacement = gal/ft
Max RIH Speed = ft/min

Pump Rate × [CleanFluid Wt. - Reqd.Fluid Wt.] Annular Capacity = gal/ft

Csg.Cap.× [Reqd.FluidWt. - SettledSlurry Wt.]
Max POOH Speed = ft/min

11. Time Calculations

Time to RIH Cleaning Thru Sand Sand Cleanout Time

Height of Sand = ft Time for Sand to get lifted up

=
CT / Tbg Annulus mins
Height = Cleanout Depth - Top of Sand
Time = Length of Annulus / Net Particle Rise Velocity
Max RIH Speed = ft/min
Time for Sand to get lifted up
=
Time to Clean Thru CT / Csg. Annulus mins
=
Sand mins Total Time to Lift Sand up
Time = Height of Sand / RIH Speed =
Complete Annulus mins

Notes & Calculations

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