A Coupled Reservoir-Geomechanics Model and Applications to Wellbore Stability and Sand Prediction (2001)

A Coupled Reservoir-Geomechanics Model and Applications to Wellbore Stability and Sand Prediction Yarlong Wang; Yarlong Wang Petro-Geotech Inc. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Baoping Lu Baoping Lu China New Star Company Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela, March 2001. Paper Number: SPE-69718-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/69718-MS Published: March 12 2001 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Wang, Yarlong, and Baoping Lu. "A Coupled Reservoir-Geomechanics Model and Applications to Wellbore Stability and Sand Prediction." Paper presented at the SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium, Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela, March 2001. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/69718-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil Symposium Search Advanced Search AbstractSand production and open hole collapse during production have been a great concern for production engineer, as the detrimental consequences are often associated to a desirable high production. Sand production usually occurs under a high- pressure gradient in poorly cemented formations. Whereas wellbore collapses could occur if a bottom hole pressure is below a certain level or production reaches a certain rate, i.e. during underbalanced drilling, under a high rate production, or when an aggressive well completion for high production is used. To determine the critical flow rate or bottom hole pressure, a coupled reservoir-geomechanics model is developed to simulate the interaction between reservoir flow and deformation. The model is developed and implemented numerically in Finite Element method by fully coupling a comprehensive geomechanics model to a three-phase reservoir behavior model. Gas component behavior is only considered below a bubble point, and it remains inside the oil phase before a critical gas saturation can be reached in our simulations. The effects of multiphase behavior on near well stresses and deformations, including high compressible gas component in the solution gas phase (foamy oil) are analyzed. Both Mohr-Coulomb and Drucker-Prager criteria are introduced to outline the plastic yielding surface and to govern the plastic flow. The effects of the stress-dependent formation moduli and permeability changes are permissible. The final stability and the onset of sand production are determined by a critical effective plastic strain and zero effective radial stress, whichever condition occurs first. Our studies indicate that, other than the well known factors such as bottomhole pressure and drawdonw, well stability and sanding risks are critically controlled bythe solution-gas behavior,the formation stiffness, andthe residual cohesion.The latter can be senstitive to the wetting phase saturation. Considering production enhancement and formation damage, the reservoir porosity increase due to formation dilation is simulated, which can generate a negative skin near a well and result in a production enhancement. Our model can be used to calculate both the enhanced production and the ranges of the enhanced zone. Keywords: plastic, criterion, upstream oil & gas, reservoir-geomechanic model, wellbore design, strength, displacement, permeability, deformation, onset Subjects: Wellbore Design, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Formation Evaluation & Management, Wellbore integrity, Reservoir geomechanics, Flow in porous media This content is only available via PDF. 2001. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.