Determining the mud window, geomechanical model (MEM), and well wall stability analysis, using analytical and numerical methods in one of the wells in Iran’s southwest fields

Authors

1 Expert in Geomechanical Studies of National Iranian Drilling Company, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Expert in Petrophysical Studies of National Iranian Drilling Company, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Nowadays, according to the increase in fuel demand, the oil wells drilling process has increased to exploit the reservoirs. The most important issue in oil and gas wells drilling topic, is the appropriate drilling rate and reducing the cost. Studies and the usage of geomechanical methods can play an important role in this matter. One of the studies regarded to the topic of reducing drilling costs that has received a lot of attention today is the well wall stability and determining the appropriate mud weight to avoid instability in the well wall. In recent years, a lot of research has been done in this field. In the present study, the well wall stability status of one of the excavated wells in Iran’s southwest oil fields, in 88.3 inches, in the upper section of Sarvak Formation was analyzed by using analytical and numerical methods through FLAC3D software. The input parameters in this research are obtained by interpreting the data from Dipole Shear Sonic Imager (DSI), the logs from Formation Micro Imager (FMI), density, caliper and gamma, MDT tools and also from the daily excavation and geology reports. Also, the window for the required mud weight to meet the dissipation situations, fracture opening, well wall symmetric downfalls, and well eruption was determined. The beneficial results of this study can be used to reduce the time spent on excavating the wells in the investigated field in the future, which results in saving drilling costs.

Keywords

References

Abija, F.A., Tse, A.C., 2016. Geomechanical evaluation of an onshore oilfield in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. IOSR J. Applied Geology and Geophysics 4(1), 99–111.
Ameen, M.S., Smart, B.G.D., Somerville, J.M., Hammilton, S., Naji, N. A., 2009. Predicting rock mechanical properties of carbonates from wireline logs (A case study: Arab-D reservoir, Ghawar field, Saudi Arabia). Marine and Petroleum Geology 26(4), 430–444.
Archer, S., Rasouli, V., 2012. A log based analysis to estimate mechanical properties and in-situ stresses in a shale gas well in North Perth Basin. Petroleum and Mineral Resources 21, 122–135.
Asef, M.R., Farrokhrouz, M., 2010. Governing parameters for approximation of carbonates UCS. Electron Journal of Geotechique Engineering 15, 1581–1592.
Awal, M.R., Khan, M.S., Mohiuddin, M.A., Abdulraheem, A., Azeemuddin, M., 2001. A new approach to borehole trajectory optimisation for increased hole stability. SPE Middle East Oil Show.
Bakhtiyari, E., Almasi, A., Cheshomi, A., Hassanpour, J., 2017. Determination of Shear Strength Parameters of Rock Mass using Back Analysis Methods and Comparison of Results with Empirical Methods. European Journal of Engineering Research and Science 2(11), 35–42.
Ghazban, F., 2007. Petroleum geology of the Persian Gulf. Joint publication. Tehran University Press and National Iranian Oil Company, Tehran.
Lacy, L.L.,1997. Dynamic rock mechanics testing for optimized fracture designs. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition.
Lal, M.,1999. Shale stability: drilling fluid interaction and shale strength. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition.
Moos, D., 2006. PEH: Geomechanics Applied to Drilling Engineering. Ed. Robert F. Mitchell. Drilling Engineering. Ed. Larry W. Lake 2, 1–87.
Matiei, H., 1993. Geology of Iran, Zagros Stratigraphy, National Geological Survey of Iran: First Edition, p.536.
Nairn, A.E.M., Alsharhan, A.S., 1997. Sedimentary basins and petroleum geology of the Middle East. Elsevier.
Peng, S., Zhang, J., 2007. Engineering geology for underground rocks. Engineering Geology for Underground Rocks, 1–319. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73295-2.
Prats, M., 1981. Effect of burial history on the subsurface horizontal stresses of formations having different material properties. Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal 21(06), 658–662.
Rahimpour‐Bonab, H., Mehrabi, H., Navidtalab, A., Izadi‐Mazidi, E., 2012. Flow unit distribution and reservoir modelling in cretaceous carbonates of the Sarvak Formation, Abteymour Oilfield, Dezful Embayment, SW Iran. Journal of Petroleum Geology 35(3), 213–236.
Sharland, P.R., Archer, R., Casey, D.M., Davies, R. B., Hall, S.H., Heward, A.P., Horbury, A.D., Simmons, M.D., 2001. Arabian Plate sequence stratigraphy. GeoArabia Spec Publ 2. Gulf PetroLink, Manama, Bahrain.
Yi, X., Valkó, P.P., Russell, J.E., 2005. Effect of rock strength criterion on the predicted onset of sand production. International Journal of Geomechanics 5(1), 66–73.
Zare, M.R., Shadizadeh, S.R., Habibnia, B., 2010. Mechanical stability analysis of directional wells: a case study in Ahwaz oilfield. Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition.
Zhang, L., Radha, K.C., 2010. Stability analysis of vertical boreholes using a three-dimensional hoek-brown strength criterion. In GeoFlorida 2010: advances in analysis, modeling and design (pp. 283–292).
Zienkiewicz, O.C., Taylor, R.L., Zhu, J.Z., 2005. The finite element method: its basis and fundamentals. Elsevier, 1st edition, 714 pp
Advanced Applied Geology
Volume 12, Issue 1
May 2022
Pages 1-11

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics