Abstract Sand production is a serious historical production problem in the Forest, Cruse and Nariva reservoirs of the Gulf of Paria offshore Trinidad. Venture Production Trinidad drilled, completed and tested 10 wells in 2002. Sand production has been no more than a trace in all but one of the tests so far. Sand control has been undertaken without recourse to the traditional mechanical methods of sand screens and gravel packs. A carefully planned approach integrating modern methods of well-bore stress analysis and sand production prediction from log interpretation has delivered this result. A well-bore stress study reviewed all available data from the Brighton Field, including old drilling reports and logs. The study has been updated with modern data from the 2002 drilling programme. A well-bore stress model was developed. A sand prediction study delivered an understanding of the mechanics of sand production in the area which was fed into the well-planning process. Well data and logging data were analysed with very short turnaround times to deliver a sand production prediction log. Perforated intervals were selected using the log to avoid intervals with a high probability of sand production. Perforating techniques were also selected to minimise the likelihood of sand production without compromising productivity.