Geomechanics Analysis of Well Drilling Instability: A Review
Main Article Content
Abstract
Wellbore instability is a significant problem faced during drilling operations and causes loss of circulation, caving, stuck pipe, and well kick or blowout. These problems take extra time to treat and increase the Nonproductive Time (NPT). This paper aims to review the factors that influence the stability of wellbores and know the methods that have been reached to reduce them. Based on a current survey, the factors that affect the stability of the wellbore are far-field stress, rock mechanical properties, natural fractures, pore pressure, wellbore trajectory, drilling fluid chemicals, mobile formations, naturally over-pressured shale collapse, mud weight, temperature, and time. Also, the most suitable ways to reduce wellbore instability are selecting the appropriate drilling mud and maintenance, reducing the Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) by using suitable hydraulics, selecting hole-trajectory, and compatibility of drilling fluid with the formation being drilled. Moreover, factors such as (minimizing time spent open hole, using offset-well data, and monitoring trend changes (torque, circulating pressure, drag) must be considered. As a result of this paper, wellbore instability problems can be controlled by careful study of reservoirs to find the solutions to some issues or reduce them.
Article received: 28/09/2022
Article accepted: 28/10/2022
Article published: 01/08/2023
Article Details
Section
How to Cite
References
Aadnoy, B.S., and Looyeh, R., 2019. Petroleum rock mechanics: drilling operations and well design. Gulf professional publishing.
Abbas, A.K., Flori, R.E., Alsaba, M., and Al Dushaishi, M.F., 2020. Application of quantitative risk assessment for optimum mud weight window design. In ARMA US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium (pp. ARMA-2020).
Abdulaziz, A.M., Abdulridha, H.L., Dahab, A.S.A., Alhussainy, S., and Abbas, A.K., 2021. 3D mechanical earth model for optimized wellbore stability, a case study from South of Iraq. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 11(9), pp. 3409–3420. Doi;10.1007/s13202-021-01255-6.
Al-Ajmi, A.M., and Zimmerman, R.W., 2006. Stability analysis of vertical boreholes using the Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 43(8), pp. 1200–1211. Doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2006.04.001.
Alkamil, E.H.K., Abbood, H.R., Flori, R.E., and Eckert, A., 2017. Wellbore stability evaluation for Mishrif formation. In SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference (p. D031S031R004). Doi:10.2118/183668-MS.
Allawi, R.H., and Al-Jawad, M.S., 2021. Wellbore instability management using geomechanical modeling and wellbore stability analysis for Zubair shale formation in Southern Iraq. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology. Doi:10.1007/s13202-021-01279-y.
Barton, C.A., and Zoback, M.D., 2002. Discrimination of natural fractures from drilling-induced wellbore failures in wellbore image data-implications for reservoir permeability. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 5(03), pp. 249-254. Doi:10.2118/78599-PA.
Bell, J.S., 2003. Practical methods for estimating in situ stresses for borehole stability applications in sedimentary basins. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 38(3–4), pp. 111–119. Doi:10.1016/S0920-4105(03)00025-1.
Dakhiel, A.H., and Hadi, H.A., 2021. Integrated 3D mechanical earth modelling to intensively investigate the wellbore instability of Zubair oil field, southern Iraq. The Iraqi Geological Journal, 54(2E), pp. 38-58. Doi:10.46717/igj.54.2E.4Ms-2021-11-20.
Darvishpour, A., Cheraghi S.M., Wood, D.A., and Ghorbani, H., 2019. Wellbore stability analysis to determine the safe mud weight window for sandstone layers. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 46(5), pp. 1031–1038. Doi:10.1016/S1876-3804 (19)60260-0.
Dawood, J.K., 2020. Investigation of Wellbore Stability in a Horizontal Well Drilled in Interbedded Sandstone Reservoir of Zubair Field, (Doctoral dissertation, Politecnico Di Torino).
Ewy, R.T., 1999. Wellbore-stability predictions by use of a modified Lade criterion. SPE Drilling & Completion, 14(02), pp. 85-91. Doi:10.2118/56862-PA.
Haider, S.T., Al-Adili, A.A.-A., and Abbas, R.K., 2020. Using a novel approach to determine the pore pressure of West Qurna 15 oil well in South of Iraq. Journal of Engineering, 26(10), pp. 35–49. Doi:10.31026/j.eng.2020.10.03.
Hussein, A.F., Ali, A.S., and Al-Taie, A.J., 2021. Some geotechnical properties of plastic soil enhanced with cement dust. Journal of Engineering, 27(10), pp. 20–33. Doi:10.31026/j.eng.2021.10.02.
Kosset, T., 2014. Wellbore integrity analysis for wellpath optimization and drilling risks reduction: the vaca muerta formation in neuquén basin. Colorado School of Mines.
McLean, M.R., and Addis, M.A., 1990. Wellbore stability analysis: a review of current methods of analysis and their field application. In SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition (pp. SPE-19941). Doi:10.2118/19941-MS.
Mohammed, H.Q., 2017. Geomechanical Analysis of the Wellbore Instability Problems in Nahr Umr Formation Southern Iraq. MSc. Thesis, Department of Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Neeamy, A.K., and Selman, N.S., 2020. Building 1D mechanical earth model for Zubair oilfield in Iraq. Journal of Engineering, 26(5), pp. 47-63. Doi:10.31026/j.eng.2020.05.04.
Nmegbu, C.J., and Ohazuruike, L., 2014. Wellbore instability in oil well drilling: a review. International Journal of Engineering Research and Development, 10(5), pp. 11-20.
Plumb, R.A., 1994. Influence of composition and texture on the failure properties of clastic rocks. In SPE/ISRM Rock Mechanics in Petroleum Engineering (pp. SPE-28022). Doi:10.2118/28022-MS.
Rahimi, R., 2014. The effect of using different rock failure criteria in wellbore stability analysis. MSc. Thesis, Department of Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Shaban, S.D., and Hadi, H.A., 2020. Geomechanical analysis to avoid serious drilling hazards in Zubair Oilfield, Southern Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Science, 61(8), pp. 1994–2003. Doi:10.24996/ijs.2020.61.8.16.
Thiercelin, M.J., and Plumb, R.A., 1994. Core-based prediction of lithologic stress contrasts in East Texas formations. SPE Formation Evaluation, 9(04), pp. 251-258. Doi:10.2118/21847-PA.
Vernik, L., and Zoback, M.D., 1992. Estimation of maximum horizontal principal stress magnitude from stress-induced well bore breakouts in the Cajon Pass scientific research borehole. Journal of Geophysical Research, 97(B4), pp. 5109–5119. Doi:10.1029/91JB01673.
Zhang, J., 2011. Pore pressure prediction from well logs: Methods, modifications, and new approaches. Earth-Science Reviews, 108(1-2) pp. 50-63. Doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2011.06.001.
Zoback, M.D., Barton, C.A., Brudy, M., Castillo, D.A., Finkbeiner, T., Grollimund, B.R., Moos, D.B., Peska, P., Ward, C.D., and Wiprut, D.J., 2003. Determination of stress orientation and magnitude in deep wells. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 40(7–8), pp.1049–1076. Doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2003.07.001.