Stability analyses for deviated wellbores in unconsolidated cross-anisotropic formations
Name
cgj-2015-0456.pdf
Size
1.39 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
c76b00972efb70a03ca7cf1c92439e53
Author(s)
Akl, Sherif Adel
Whittle, Andrew
Date Issued
May 2016
Journal
Canadian Geotechnical Journal
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Citation
Akl, Sherif A.Y., and Andrew J. Whittle. “Stability Analyses for Deviated Wellbores in Unconsolidated Cross-Anisotropic Formations.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal 53, no. 9 (September 2016): 1450–1459.
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Production of oil from shallow reservoirs typically involves drilling highly deviated wells through unconsolidated (or poorly lithified) rocks or clays. This paper describes numerical analyses of the deformations and stability of deviated wellbores within a K0-consolidated clay. The analyses consider planar deformations in the plane orthogonal to the wellbore using a quasi threedimensional (3D) finite element model that represents coupled flow and deformations within the soil mass. Cross-anisotropic mechanical properties of the clay are described by a generalized effective stress model, MIT-E3, with parameters previously calibrated from laboratory thick-walled cylinder tests. The analyses compute the relationship between the drilling mud pressure and wellbore stability associated with either the onset of localized failure mechanisms or large plastic deformations around the cavity. The results show that short-term, undrained stability requires mud pressures in excess of the in situ formation pore pressures for more highly deviated wellbores at inclinations greater than 45°. The analyses examine the mechanisms for further destabilization, due to consolidation within the formation, and how they are affected by drainage conditions at the wellbore wall. The results provide qualitative information for the design and control of drilling operations for deviated wellbores in unconsolidated formations.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1139/CGJ-2015-0456
