{"id":1715,"date":"2021-07-30T14:54:03","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T14:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ofgeomech.com\/ofg20\/?page_id=1715"},"modified":"2021-07-30T15:34:31","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T15:34:31","slug":"wellbore-stability-evaluations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ofgeomech.com\/ofg20\/wellbore-stability-evaluations\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellbore Stability Evaluations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Wellbore
Drilling a well – perhaps as much as 5 miles or more away from the wellhead – requires proper engineering and geomechanics.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Mudweight is used to both prevent pressure inflows into the well and prevent the formation from failing (due to high stresses). However, too high a well pressure (called the ECD) can fracture the formation leading to fluid losses.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A primary deliverable of a wellbore stability evaluation is the determination of the minimum and maximum mudweight for a given formation and given well trajectory. As shown, this polar plot represents the minimum mudweight for a given formation at any well trajectory (vertical well at center, inclined wellbores for a particular azimuth outward)<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A wellbore stability evaluation, conducted properly from surface to well TD, provides critical input for shoe locations.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Another example of casing design\/shoe location based upon a wellbore stability evaluation.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Historically, wellbore stability evaluations<\/em><\/strong> have been the main application of geomechanics<\/em><\/strong> in the oil and gas industry. Wellbore stability evaluations<\/em><\/strong> are conducted in order to address the problems of stuck pipe, kicks, lost circulation, sloughing shales, and inflows. Over the recent decades, numerous publication have suggested that wellbore instability has resulted in some 40% of total non-productive time (NPT)<\/em><\/strong> during drilling operations, at a cost to the industry of up to $8 billion per year. These numbers have come down, particularly in Unconventionals; nonetheless, NPT<\/em><\/strong> is still a key driver of the capital cost of many wellbores, both onshore and off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wellbore stability evaluation<\/em><\/strong> starts with the development of a geomechanical earth model (i.e., the distribution of stresses, pore pressure and mechanical properties) along a well trajectory, typically this is a 1D geomechanical model<\/em><\/strong>. Each of the three geomechanics inputs – as well as well trajectory (geometry) – is critical to a successful stability analysis. Especially note that, unlike reservoir geomechanics<\/em><\/strong> that tends to be isolated to the reservoir formation itself, a quality wellbore stability evaluation is dependent upon solid geomechanics data in all<\/em> the formations the well will pass through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the proper geomechanics data, and using geomechanical tools (analytical or numerical) to evaluate stresses induced by the borehole and comparing with a failure criteria, the Safe Mudweight Window<\/em><\/strong> can be developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critical Factors in Wellbore Stability Analyses<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of critical inputs for a successful stability analysis. OFG will consider the following during a comprehensive wellbore stability evaluation<\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n