Sand erosion management is a challenge in oil and gas well exploitation and transport that is very complex and costly to monitor. Problems arise because
Sand entrained in the carrying fluid impinges on the pipe and/or equipment walls and removes material, which leads to wear and premature mechanical failure.
Erosion wears away the protective coating applied to metals to prevent corrosion.
Erosion wear is a complex process dependent on a wide range of factors, such as configuration of the flow system, flow rate, composition and properties of the carrying fluid, loading, size and shape of entrained solid particles, and physical properties of the target material.