Proactive Decision-Making Through Real-Time Geomechanical Support Leveraging Drilling a Long Horizontal Section Through a Tight Unconventional Reservoir of an Oil and Gas Field: Middle East
Authors: Saha Sankhajit , Chakrabarti Prajit , Vossen Johannes , Mitra Sourav , Podder Tuhin 
Published: December 2021

This paper discusses the Integrated Role of Geomechanics and Drilling Fluids Design for drilling a well oriented towards the minimum horizontal stress direction in a depleted, yet highly stressed and complex clastic reservoir. There are multiple challenges related to such a well that need to be addressed during the planning phase. In this case, the well needs to be drilled towards the minimum horizontal stress direction (Shmin) to benefit multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. At the same time, the most prominent challenge is that this well orientation is more prone to wellbore failure and requires a maximum mud weight, due to the present strike slip stress environment.

Well planning challenges in such an environment include (a) the determination of formation characteristics and rock properties, (b) the anticipation of higher formation collapse pressure during the course of drilling the lateral section within the reservoir, (c) the determination of the upper bound mud weight to prevent lost circulation due to a low fracture gradient against depleted sections, or due to the presence of pre-existing natural fractures, d) mitigating the higher risk of differential sticking against depleted porous layers, and determining appropriate bridging in the drilling fluids, (e) recognizing the prolonged exposure time of the formation due to the length of the lateral and the lower rate of penetration against the tight highly dense formations.

For successful drilling, and to mitigate the above risks, the first step is to prepare a predrill GeoMechanical model along with adequate fluid design and drillers action plans to be considered during drilling. Offset well petrophysical logs and core data are considered for the preparation of the predrill GeoMechanical model, along with the drilling experiences in the offset locations. Based on the above, a predrill GeoMechanical model is prepared, a risk matrix is being established, and a representative mud weight window is recommended (Wellbore Stability Analysis). In most cases, the offset well locations considered are vertical- or inclined-, or lateral wells of different trajectory azimuth than the target well location and the predrill GeoMechanical model can incorporate such variations easily; however, any Geology uncertainty, leading to a different rock property- and stress set-up (or even different pore pressure than expected), at the actual well location will be part of the uncertainty of the predrill GeoMechanical model and Wellbore Stability Analysis. This is where the real time monitoring is playing out its full potential: giving an updated model and wellbore stability analysis during drilling.

While drilling the lateral section, the wellbore condition is being monitored using LWD (logging while drilling) tools, e.g. Gamma Ray, Density, Neutron, Acoustic Caliper, Azimuthal density image and ECD (equivalent circulating density). While gamma ray helps in determining the lithology, density logs help to understand the formation hardness, and they can be used to generate a calibrated pseudo acoustic log. Based on this pseudo acoustic log, the rock strength and other rock mechanical properties of the pre- GeoMechanical model can be updated as soon as they become available. This gives insight into the model differences and helps to understand model variations and adjust Wellbore Stability recommendations accordingly.

While the neutron log helps to determine the zones of high porosity, and thus potential risk zones for differential sticking, the azimuthal density image clearly indicates the breakout zones caused by the shear failure of the wellbore. The presence of wellbore failure (breakout) is further confirmed by acoustic caliper data, and accordingly wellbore stability related recommendations are communicated to the operator, for an increase in the specific gravity of the mud, and thus, to balance the wellbore. From a mud rheology perspective, high performance OBM (oil-based mud) parameters are maintained consistent with the formation properties, to minimize fluid loss, optimize wellbore strengthening characteristics and minimize at the same time solids concentrations in order to avoid excessive ECD (equivalent circulating density) which may open pre-existing natural fractures resulting in downhole losses and in consequence might lead to differential sticking.

In the case study presented herein, the proactive implementation of GeoMechanics and its Wellbore Stability application as well as the integration of drilling fluids services, resulted in the smooth and successful drilling of the lateral section, and also in the delivery of an in gauge hole necessary for multi-stage fracturing (MSF) completion optimization.