WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 2026
TD TOOLS TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
JANUARY 2026
How Much Sand Is Enough?
A common question asked about sand jet perforating is "How much sand will it take?" Using five times the amount of sand required for making a perforation tunnel will create a perforation, but it also wastes material, fluid and valuable job time, not to mention wear and tear on equipment. We find that the over usage of sand is a very common mistake when creating a job program. Understanding the variables associated with the job and data created from past jobs can help optimize the sand jet perforating process. Let's take a look at ways that we understand sand quantities for sand jetting.
20-40 Mesh Silica Sand Commonly Used For Sand Jetting
Job variables for sand jetting include the size of the casing(s), type of tool being used, and the size and type of sand among other things. With 18 years of sand jetting experience, TD Tools has data related to many sand jetting jobs from which to draw information. Whether that is the perforation of 4.5" casing at the toe of a 20,000' unconventional well, perforating through production tubing and two casings in a 10,000' vertical well, or cutting 9-5/8" casing at 300', we have job data to help us understand what has worked in the past to help predict sand quantities for current jobs.
Sand Jet Perforation Testing With 5" Casing
One way to understand the sand required for a job is to simulate the job parameters through surface testing. Customers routinely send us samples of casing or tubing that might be a less common size, heavier weight, special alloy, or combination of casings and tubings for perforation testing. TD Tools has the testing equipment in house to perforate and generate data related to the following parameters:
· Cutting speed
· Perforation hole size
· Fluid pressure and flow rates
· Sand quantity and size
· Slurry concentration
· Gel performance
Understanding these operational parameters provides a foundation to optimize sand jetting job efficiency.
Coiled Tubing Unit Performing Injection Test
Confirmation of results through testing at the well location is another way to refine the amount of sand used for perforating. Injection tests can both confirm perforations and provide quantitative data for the connection to the reservoir. When multiple tubing strings are present, monitoring the annular space of the tubing provides useful information about the amount of pump time required to perforate. The pump time directly translates to sand quantities and allows for refinement of future procedures.
For more information about how you can fine tune sand jetting, contact:
Thomas Dotson at tdotson@tdtoolsinc.com
