Petroleum Production Operations Questions and Answers – Formation Clays

This set of Petroleum Production Operations Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Formation Clays”.

1. What is clean sand?
a) Sand that contains 10 to 20% of clay
b) Sand that contains 5 to 15% of clay
c) Sand that contains 0 to 1% of clay
d) Sand that contains 1 to 5% of clay
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Clean sand is a type of sand that contains 1 to 5% of clay. Nearly all producing sands contain clays within themselves. Clays act as a coating on individual grains. Dirty sand may contain 5 to greater than 20% of clay.

2. Along the United States Gulf Coast, which of the following clays predominates at shallow to medium depths?
a) Smectite and illite mixed layers
b) Chloride and kaolinite mixed layers
c) Montmorillonite
d) Kaolinite
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Along the United States Gulf Coast, mixed layers of Smectite and illite are predominantly found in the shallow to medium depths. Mixed layers are also called smectite-illite layers.

3. What is dirty sand?
a) Sand that contains 10 to 20% of clay
b) Sand that contains 5 to 15% of clay
c) Sand that contains 5 to greater than 20% of clay
d) Sand that contains 1 to 5% of clay
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Dirty sand is a type of sand that contains 5 to greater than 20% of clay. On the other hand, the clean sand is a type of sand that contains 1 to 5% of clay. Nearly all producing sands contain clays within themselves.
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4. Along the United States Gulf Coast, which of the following clay percentage decreases at deeper (9000-10,000ft) depths?
a) Smectite
b) Chloride and kaolinite mixed layers
c) Montmorillonite
d) Illite
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Smectite percentage decreases at deeper (9000-10,000ft) depths along the United States Gulf Coast. Some Kaolinite and Illite found at different ranges of depths. Nearly all producing sands contain clays within themselves.

5. Along the United States Gulf Coast, which of the following clay percentage increases at deeper (9000-10,000ft) depths?
a) Smectite
b) Chlorite, illite, and kaolinite
c) Montmorillonite
d) Chloride and kaolinite mixed layers
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Chlorite, illite, and kaolinite percentage increases at deeper (9000-10,000ft) depths along the United States Gulf Coast. Nearly all producing sands contain clays within themselves. Smectite percentage decreases at deeper depths.

6. What is the approximate diameter of dehydrated clay?
a) 4 Micron
b) 1 4 Micron
c) 40 Micron
d) 400 Micron
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The approximate diameter of dehydrated clay is 4 Micron compared to a pore size in the average sandstone of 10 to 100 microns. A high flow rate alone can be the cause of particle migration.

7. Clay dispersion is not affected by pH.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The statement is false. The corrected statement is clay dispersion is affected by pH. Scanning electron microscope studies have confirmed the effect of pH on clay disturbances.
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8. X-ray diffraction tests can determine the type and overall amount of clay in a sandstone unit.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The statement is true. X-ray diffraction tests can determine the type and overall amount of clay in a sandstone unit. These tests are used to indicate which formations warrant formation damage prevention measures that can be taken.

9. For many sandstone formations, how much percentage of KCl solution is sufficient to prevent the clay disturbances?
a) 4%
b) 25%
c) 10%
d) 2%
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: For many sandstone formations, 2 percentage of KCl solution is sufficient to prevent the clay disturbances. This result is acquired by laboratory experiments. The chemical formula for Potassium Chloride is KCl.
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10. Clay migration can be effectively controlled by the process using the _______
a) Hydrogen cation
b) Chlorine Anion
c) Aluminum cation
d) Hydroxy-Aluminium cation
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Clay migration can be effectively controlled by the process using the Hydroxy-Aluminium cation. This is a large cation that replaces the other cations. This forms a polymer coating on the surface of the clay.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Petroleum Production Operations.

To practice all areas of Petroleum Production Operations, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.

If you find a mistake in question / option / answer, kindly take a screenshot and email to [email protected]

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Manish Bhojasia - Founder & CTO at Sanfoundry
Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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